Needed to add thunder?

By Wildwillie
March 23 2011

Leeds Carnegie were spared any embarrassment last weekend. They were without a fixture due to the climax of the 6 Nations. This weekend it is business as usual in the Aviva Premiership as the squad travel to Edgeley Park on Friday evening to play the  Sale Sharks.

Time is running out for Leeds as the squad struggles for continuity of form. Anything short of a win on Friday will be too little too late and relegation will become just a little more certain than it already is. Neil Back may well be without several key players who are struggling with niggling injuries. The most important "doubtful" is Marco Wentzel. With Tom Denton already ruled out it will be a blow if we have to start with Browne and Hoeneck in the second row. Both players blow hot and cold on the pitch. The return of Steve Thompson will add grunt to the front row. Who joins him there depends, dare I say, on the fitness (or lack of it) of Lachlan MacKay. If Mackay is not fit then Gomez and MacDonald must start to give us any chance of supremacy in the scrums. The back row currently selects itself so expect Myall, To'ala and Fourie to make the starting XV.

As usual the backs selection is open to debate. Neither scrumhalf has made the shirt his own this season but Mathie gets my vote to start alongside Jarvis in the halfbacks. We really need Lee Blackett back this week to bring some heart into the backs. Wackett and Blackett to join Stephenson in the back three. This leaves our other problem positions - 12 & 13. I think it is time for Luther Burrell to show NB what a good player he is - Luther to start at 12 with the indominatable Henry Fa'afili outside him.

Where will the game be won? Clearly the forwards need to secure enough possession for AJ to keep Leeds deep in Sale territory. Jarvis is up against the master of kicking from hand and needs to win that individual battle to give Leeds any chance at all in the game. The game could well be lost through unforced errors. If the lads can cut these out they have a chance. Recent history tells us that mistakes have now become  an integral part of our game as the confidence ebbs.

The storm clouds are gathering over Headingley. Opportunities to ride out the storm are being spurned with alacrity. With five games left we must win, in my opinion, four of them. It does not have to be pretty. It does have to start on Friday evening.

Riders on the Storm

Discussion started by TykesRugby.co.uk (IP Logged), 24/03/2011 06:04

TykesRugby.co.uk
24/03/2011 06:04

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Bran
24/03/2011 09:24

I hope its not business as usual, we've not done too well playing that theme. Its time for us to change, I hope the lads do.

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farmertyke
24/03/2011 11:00

Cannot fault your team selection WW....nor your view of the situation. I fear we will miss Wentzel.

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