So, what does everyone think will actually emerge as our team sheet for Falcons? *

* If you want to post that this is all a guess and we'll know when it happens, please instead just don't join in

JK's injury updates say lots of players likely to be fit, so despite how many times those have turned out to be wrong, I'm going to include the ones he said would be back (and yes, it may not be his fault if they're not, medical science isn't an exact science)

It also depends on returning internationals -- but have a feeling they may all be available this year, other than maybe Marler, who probably needs recovery time.

Here's full list of who we can have back if all these things are true:

Swiel, J Chisholm, Collier, Horwill, Wallace, Evans, Robshaw, Brown, Care, Visser, Roberts, Sinckler, Marler

Is this what you'd do?

1 Lambert (assuming no Joe)
2 Gray
3 Sinckler
4 Merrick
5 Horwill
6 Robshaw**
7 Wallace**
8 Clifford**

**(Robshaw has no match fitness but is a legend and desperate to make the Lions, so will want to start. Baby Chis our best player this year, so you bench him to bring on when Robshaw tires..)

9 Care
10 Evans
11 Visser
12 Roberts*** (well, it should be automatic..but..do you play him?)
13 Marchant
14 Yarde
15 Brown (if rested then grown-up Chisholm)

But my big problem is this lot barely know each other this season, and given how poorly organised we've looked...



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 20/03/2017 09:45 by blucherquin.

I'd start Swiel, Evans to be 'finisher'.

Difficult with Baby Chis as you rightly say our most consistent player this season but neither he or Clifford are 7s but Wallace has been so poor by his standards.

How about Captain Fantastic to 7, Chis to 6 and Clifford at 8 with Wallace & Luamanu to come on later?

I'd want to rest Marler as Lambo can hold an end up quite well.

Brown has to play for me but can see the sense in resting him for Sarries, so ok with little big Chis.

Newcastle will come down with a lot of expectation that they can do a job on us so out of the traps quickly for us and bloody defend as a unit.

Quote:

Banstead Quin
How about Captain Fantastic to 7, Chis to 6 and Clifford at 8 with Wallace & Luamanu to come on later?

That's exactly what I had in the first draft -- on the same basis of Wallace not being the player he was, Luamanu has also found his mojo now...

I guess why I changed my mind in the end was CR has no chance at 7 for the Lions..which might be an irrelevant thought but that's why I switched it.

I'd start Buchanan personally. I'd also start Marler, Sinckler, Care, Brown, Visser and Roberts without question. Same with Robshaw and Horwill if fit. If Marler and Brown need to be rested, then the Sarries game is the time to do it. I'd be tempted to keep Ward for another game at 7 if Wallace is fit and make the latter prove his fitness from the bench.

If Wallace, Robshaw and clifford are all fit, I'd go into the game without specialist lock cover.

Marler only played 40 mins in Dublin so why does he need a rest?

The back row selection will be fascinating. If Robshaw's fit he has to start, but Ward has been outstanding in adversity at 7 in the past few weeks with Chisholm Jnr also making a strong case for selection. I may be wrong but I don't recall JK mentioning Clifford in the list of potential returnees so he could be the one to miss out. I'd be tempted to start Robshaw 6, Ward 7 and Luamanu 8 with Chisholm and Wallace on the bench. I guess it depends if Horwill is fit and can play a full 80. I'd also start Lambert with Marler to come off the bench with 20 mins to go - Falcons front row wouldn't look forward to that !

Quote:

Monte
Marler only played 40 mins in Dublin so why does he need a rest?

Because he's played a lot of high intensity rugby over the last 6-7 weeks.

---

O Fortuna, velut luna statu variabilis,
semper crescis aut decrescis

I'd be surprised if Ward isn't retained based on his performances, even if it means him hooking - his throwing is no worse than the other two's!!

Quote:

Cookie
I'd be surprised if Ward isn't retained based on his performances, even if it means him hooking - his throwing is no worse than the other two's!!

This. He's our best hooker in the loose and at the breakdown I reckon, but his throwing is poor. Gray's used to be almost faultless, but seems to have dropped off and I'm not sure he offers much else. Buchanan seems to have gone downhill during the course of the season and is one of the opposition's best players at stopping our attacking lineout mauls

Quote:

Jammy Git

Quote:

Monte
Marler only played 40 mins in Dublin so why does he need a rest?

Because he's played a lot of high intensity rugby over the last 6-7 weeks.

Yes this, it's got nothing to do with what he did last week.

I'm sure someone will soon post that none of them should have a rest, they should all be playing for their clubs...blah blah blah

Quote:

Jammy Git

Quote:

Monte
Marler only played 40 mins in Dublin so why does he need a rest?

Because he's played a lot of high intensity rugby over the last 6-7 weeks.

Just before half time on Saturday he was getting treatment. Not sure if he played any further part before the whistle, so I hope his replacement wasn't due to injury.

Quote:

I'd be surprised if Ward isn't retained based on his performances, even if it means him hooking

Agreed. He's very useful in the loose and his throwing isn't too bad.

Yeah, I couldn't work out what to do with Ward, so I dodged the issue by dropping him to the bench.

On the Clifford thing, there's nothing wrong with him is there? He was just dropped for the Italy game?

Quote:

blucherquin
Yeah, I couldn't work out what to do with Ward, so I dodged the issue by dropping him to the bench.
On the Clifford thing, there's nothing wrong with him is there? He was just dropped for the Italy game?

It was reported he had a knock, which is why he was unavailable for Exeter. Hopefully he'll be ok.

Quote:

blucherquin

Quote:

Banstead Quin
How about Captain Fantastic to 7, Chis to 6 and Clifford at 8 with Wallace & Luamanu to come on later?

That's exactly what I had in the first draft -- on the same basis of Wallace not being the player he was, Luamanu has also found his mojo now...

I guess why I changed my mind in the end was CR has no chance at 7 for the Lions..which might be an irrelevant thought but that's why I switched it.

Let's be honest Blucher, Gatland will find any excuse to not pick Englishmen so you're probably right.

Everyone who is available plays - internationals can rest against Saracens!

Brown
Yarde
Marchant
Roberts
Visser

Swiel
DC

Marler
Buchanon
Sinkler
Merrick
Horwill
J Chisholm
Wallace
Clifford

Collier
Ward
Lambert
Matthews
Robshaw
Dickson
Evans
Hopper

I suspect Brown and marler will play no part as they have played most minutes of internationals. Chis and Lambo to start. This gives Joe and Mike this week and next to rest. Coming out firing for sarries in 2 weeks

May be bit controversial but I think Mulchrone has to be involved as he has been a revelation during the 6 Nations. Probably won't start, but deserves to be on the bench at least. I'd go for;

Brown
Yarde
Marchant
Roberts
Visser
Swiel
Care

Marler
Buchanan
Sinkler
Merrick
Horwill
Robshaw
Clifford
J Chisholm

Ward
Lambert
Collier
Matthews / Luamanu
Wallace
Mulchrone
Evans
Alofa Alofa

Fair shout NLB but why not starting Robshaw?

He's our best back row and arguably our best and most consistent player and we'll need all of our best players for the rest of the season.

Ward made the most (11) turnovers in the anglowelsh cup this season and was 3 away from topping the clean breaks stat. Clean breaks!

Quote:

Adi Nako
Ward made the most (11) turnovers in the anglowelsh cup this season and was 3 away from topping the clean breaks stat. Clean breaks!

Rip and run! It's like watching the U12s I coach...