To honest they do need to see what he is like there because him and Washy will be covering Horney and Longy.

Tansey
Calderwood
Yeaman
Hall
Briscoe
Horne
Long
Dowes
Berro
Radford
Tickle
Lauaki
Fitz

Subs
O'Meley, Manu, Houghton, Whiting

Use Lauiki as a 4th prop, taking into account both Radders and Dowes can play 60 mins comfy. Houghton there as its Berro's first game in a long time. Whiting has to be there for me as we have no cover for positions 1-6 and offers more versatility and experience for such a big test than say Turner. Cussack not in the 17 for me.

No but 80 minutes for him to make Horneys position his own (Which I have a feeling may just happen !!)

I'm sure he will, but imo was the least effective of the back rowers on Sunday and i was not that impressed with him last year in all honesty.

I hope so, it will be interesting to see how he goes in that position, personally I believe he will do well
there

I'd go with ...

1 Tansey
2 Calderwood
3 Yeaman
4 Hall
5 T. Briscoe
6 Horne
7 Long

8 Cusack
9 Berrigan
10 O'Meley
11 Tickle
12 Fitzgibbon
13 Washbrook

14 Houghton
15 Manu
16 Lauaki
17 Moa

Think the weather will have an important part in the team selection, a cold rainy night and you'll see more of a grinders team with Rads, Dowes, Cusack, Tickle, Fitz and Washy all in there somewere, with Houghton (unless Berros not fit) and one of Luaki & Moa missing out.

My choice:-

1 Tansey
2 Calderwood
3 Yeaman
4 Hall
5 T. Briscoe
6 Horne
7 Long

8 Radford
9 Berrigan
10 O'Meley
11 Manu
12 Fitzgibbon
13 Washbrook

14 Houghton
15 Cusack/Dowes
16 Moa
17 Lauaki

1 Tansey
2 Calderwood
3 Yeaman
4 Turner
5 T. Briscoe
6 Horne
7 Long

8 Radford
9 Berrigan
10 O'Meley
11 Manu
12 Fitzgibbon
13 Washbrook

14 Houghton
15 Cusack
16 Moa/ dowes
17 Lauaki

I would go with that, with only one change 7.Turner..

1 tansey 2 calderwood 3 turner 4 yeaman 5 briscoe 6 horne 7 long 8 radford 9
berro 10 cusack 11 luaki 12 tickle 13 fitz 14 manu 15 omeley 16 moa 17 washy

Tom Briscoe, Peter Cusack, Craig Fitzgibbon, Sean Long, Richard Horne and Berro are all rested for the forth coming friendly !!!!


WHY ?

Tansey
Calderwood
Hall
Turner
Briscoe
Horne
Long
Radford
Berrigan
O'Meley
Tickle
Manu
Fitzgibbon

Houghton
Moa
Cusack
Lauaki

why shouldnt they be?

How about, we have a number of new players in our squad who still need to 'gel' and 'suss' out how each other plays as well as us only have two friendlies so all players surely need more game time than 80 minutes before they are up to speed.

It was clear on sunday the players need time to learn each others game more especially with Long. Sometimes he was so far ahead of the others in his thinking he was left stranded.

IMO One game is not enough !

i think we can match saints in the forwards, the backs is were im worried, having starting line up with hall in the centre would imo leave us light on one side with the quality of saints backs, so i would go with turner for the centre spot at saints

1 tansey
2 calderwood
3 turner
4 yeaman
5 briscoe
6 horne
7 long
8 radford
9 berrigan
10 o meley
11 cusack
12 tickle
13 fitzgibbon
subs
14 washbrook (interchange with berro if houghton shows no improvemnt v sheff)
15 moa
16 manu
17 lauaki

Most sides don't play all the first teamers in both their friendly matches, one game usually has more youngsters in the team.

Maybe if our team had played together all last season and knew how each other played I would agree. Simply dont think one game is enough for our new recruits to 'gel'.

Maybe they've got slight knocks and it isn't worth risking them.

Yeah, Maybe your right.

don't see how you can say lack of quality with Hall then put Turner in. Not saying Turner is a bad player but Hall has played more games at centre and is not going to reduce his weaknesses and become a better player by not playing him against the better sides.

also don't know if its intentional but cusack in the 2nd row?

If Soliola is presumably playing left centre for Saints, and Gidley on the right then I'd go with Whiting or Yeaman as our right centre looking at the size of Soliola.

1 Tansey
2 Calderwood
3 Yeaman
4 Hall
5 T. Briscoe
6 Horne
7 Long

8 Cusack
9 Berrigan
10 Radford
11 Tickle
12 Manu
13 Fitzgibbon

14 Houghton
15 O'Meley
16 Lauaki
17 Moa

Turner, Whiting, Washbrook & Dowes not in the side god we're strong this year

Aye, One of our lads is in for a tough afternoon !!!

and hopefully both of their lads are too!