How is your strongest 23 looking?

Well there are several weeks yet until the season starts, so I'm bored and thought I would set up a thread to list what you think your club's strongest 23 will be this season.  You can also assess the strength and weaknesses as you see fit.  It can either be your preferred 23 or what you think the coaches will pick (what do they know eh?)

Edinburgh (this is what I think the coaches will go for)

1 Al Dickinson
2 Ross Ford (I’d prefer McInally)
3 WP Nel
4 Anton Bresler
5 Grant Gilchrist (although he’ll probably be injured – Ben Toolis if he is)
6 Cornell Du Preez
7 John Hardie
8 Nasi Manu

9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne
10 Duncan Weir
11 Rory Scholes
12 Phil Burleigh
13 Michael Allan
14 Damien Hoyland
15 Blair Kinghorn

Subs – Rory Sutherland, Stuart McInally, Simon Berghan, Ben Toolis, Hamish Watson, Sean Kennedy, Jason Tovey, Junior Rosalea

Strengths

An easy one – the pack. For all our other failings we have tended to have one of the top packs in the league, particularly in the set piece where we’ve often had the upper hand in the scrums. The front row and backrow are particularly menacing.  I am looking forward to hopefully getting a full season out of Nasi Manu (Super Rugby winning captain) – he will be like a new signing given how long he was injured last season.  Plenty competition in the 2nd row too.

Weaknesses

Another easy one – the backs! One of the main reasons we’ve struggled is that although our pack wins us lots of ball, we tend to do bugger all with it. This is mainly down to Solomons’ tactics but also some fairly negative selection choices in the backline.  We have a few new backs this year that I don’t think represent a huge stepup in quality from last year, but there were signs at the tail end of last season that Solomons had finally realised that there are 7 blokes standout outside the forwards looking for something to do.

Another point of note is that having had 0 standoffs last year we now have 2! Weir and Tovey will give each other good competition and should give us more direction than we have had of late – putting our pack in the right parts of the pitch to cause damage.

Bit of a worry at tighthead – WP Nel is a top international prop now but our backup options are very much unproven at pro level.  There is promise there so hopefully one or two players come through.

Agree with all of that, and the 23 as well. Difficult to know where and how the new signings will fit into the equation (the bloke from Sale and Bryce in particular), and it may seem harsh to leave out Tom Brown after a strong year last season.

That 23, if it stays fit, is stronger that we had last season. Obviously whether or not that 23 ever stays fit is a big question mark, and also the relative improvement versus our competitors who are also strengthening.

Spare moment at work - so for Quins I would think something like this (fellow Quins supporters - feel free to disagree).
Easter is a recent loss that will hurt!

Marler,
Ward
A.Jones
Merrick
Horwell
Robshaw
Wallace
Clifford
Care
NEv
T.Visser
Jamie Roberts
George Lowe
M.Yarde
Mike Brown

Lambert (Solid Club man)
Grey or Buchannan (interchangeable depending on form)
Sinkler (good impact over Collier)
Twomey- cant think of other 2nd row cover (not Charlie Matthews)
Matt Loumanu (James Chisholm is knocking on the door)
R. Jackson (Covers 10 and 15)
K.Dickson (Or Mulchrone if he is any good)
Harry Sloan

Do you not think Sinckler should be starting over Jones prop?

Hi BamBam - Jones is a bit of a penalty machine at the scrum. Last season when he started he played 60mins with Sinkler coming on to add some dynamism - one of the few things that worked quite well.
If Collier gets back to any sort of form then he may well move into starting shirt - I'd still keep Sinkler on the bench for impact though.

There were a lot of things that didn't work for Quins in the 2nd half of last season. Something that I really hope that they will have worked on is ball carrying and breakdown work in the pack.
Other sides lost similar number of players during international windows - but Quins really suffered in that perio. Most of their new signings look to be club players who will be able to step up in that period and hopefully maintain some level of form.

Very envious seeing Rory Scholes in your 23 RDW

For Ulster its probably

1. McCall  2.Best  3.Herbst
  4. VdMerwe 5. O'Connor
6.Henderson     7. Henry/Reidy
           8. Coetzee

     9.Pienaar
                10.Jackson
   12. McCloskey 13. L. Marshall

11. Piutau         14. Trimble
                15. Payne

16-23-Black, Herring, Ah You/Lutton, Tuohy/Treadwell, Henry/Reidy, P.Marshall, Olding, Bowe/Gilroy

Pretty decent Ulster 23, and liking the love for Rory Scholes. We'll probably ruin him, but at least he'll play well for the first few games until we've drilled out all of those creative habits.

marty2086 wrote:Very envious seeing Rory Scholes in your 23 RDW

It is certainly promising to see that Ulster fans are sad to see him go - I was fairly underwhelmed at the signing (in my ignorance) so hopefully he can be a top player for Edinburgh.

Saying that, Edinburgh under Solomons has been a bit of a graveyard for wingers!

Us Ulster fans want him returned in one piece in two years time!

Scholes is a real attacking threat, needs a bit of experience like most players just to refine his game in attack and defence but a player with real promise

With the age profile of Bowe and Trimble some of us see him as a potential replacement

The players missing from the 23 include Warwick, Browne, Diack, Wilson, Cave, Ludik, Stockdale and Nelson

For me
Tigers
1) Ayerza, 2) Youngs, 3) Cole
4) Kitchener, 5) Slater
6) Williams, 7) O'Connor, 8) McCaffrey
9) Youngs, 10) Burns
12) Toomua, 13) Manu
11) betham, 14) JPP, 15) Veainu

16) McGuigan, 17) Genge, 18) Mulipola
19) Barrow, 20) Evans/Hamilton
21) Harrison, 22) Williams, 23) Tait

Pretty damn happy with that
Main weakness 8 again, and maybe back 3 cover.

Welly - do you think Evans will get much gametime this season?

propdavid_london wrote:Welly - do you think Evans will get much gametime this season?

Personally yeh i do i expect him to
1) start in the LV cup games
2) Be on the bench fairly regularly.

considering he was on the bench for the AP SF i feel the coaches have enough faith in him now.

marty2086 wrote:Very envious seeing Rory Scholes in your 23 RDW

For Ulster its probably

1. McCall  2.Best  3.Herbst
  4. VdMerwe 5. O'Connor
6.Henderson     7. Henry/Reidy
           8. Coetzee

     9.Pienaar
                10.Jackson
   12. McCloskey 13. L. Marshall

11. Piutau              14. Trimble
                15. Payne

16-23-Black, Herring, Ah You/Lutton, Tuohy/Treadwell, Henry/Reidy, P.Marshall, Olding, Bowe/Gilroy

I really don't understand how Ulster haven't won anything recently. That is a very strong team - particularly the backs.

Welly wrote:

propdavid_london wrote:Welly - do you think Evans will get much gametime this season?

Personally yeh i do i expect him to
1) start in the LV cup games
2) Be on the bench fairly regularly.

considering he was on the bench for the AP SF i feel the coaches have enough faith in him now.

That will be good - looked a real prospect in U20s. Same as Marchant for Quins, although I think Marchant will have limited opportunity outside of LV. Perhaps international windows.

Imagine how we feel!

Theres a mix of bad luck and poor execution, at times we have lost in big games to Leinster and Glasgow sides that were almost fulfilling a destiny and at others just not known how to win and choked almost

marty2086 wrote:Imagine how we feel!

Try being an Edinburgh fan - we don't even get close to winning anything!

We had an amazing Heineken Cup run but some team beat us in the semis - I forget who.....

Yeah we quite enjoyed that day then those bloody Leinster went and spanked us in the final

Very difficult to name the falcons...we have signed a large number of players many of whom are complete risks...ie look very good but never played at this level...so who knows.
So right at the moment before we've seen how any of them go...it must be the following..

1 Lockwood
2 Cooper
3 Welsh
4 Robinson
5 Green / Ormstead
6 Wilson
7 Welch
8 Latu

9 Young
10 Willis / Catterick / Hodgson / Delayney
11 Sinotti / Goneva
12  Socino (Needs a huge season)
13 Harris
14 Watson
15 Hammersley / Connon

Have you signed up a lot of Championship players Geordie?

Edinburgh have had a few of those over the years - they have a great highlights video from Championship level but aren't that great than playing at top level.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

marty2086 wrote:Very envious seeing Rory Scholes in your 23 RDW

For Ulster its probably

1. McCall  2.Best  3.Herbst
  4. VdMerwe 5. O'Connor
6.Henderson     7. Henry/Reidy
           8. Coetzee

     9.Pienaar
                10.Jackson
   12. McCloskey 13. L. Marshall

11. Piutau              14. Trimble
                15. Payne

16-23-Black, Herring, Ah You/Lutton, Tuohy/Treadwell, Henry/Reidy, P.Marshall, Olding, Bowe/Gilroy

I really don't understand how Ulster haven't won anything recently. That is a very strong team - particularly the backs.

That's why. The lack of a good pack.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

marty2086 wrote:Very envious seeing Rory Scholes in your 23 RDW

For Ulster its probably

1. McCall  2.Best  3.Herbst
  4. VdMerwe 5. O'Connor
6.Henderson     7. Henry/Reidy
           8. Coetzee

     9.Pienaar
                10.Jackson
   12. McCloskey 13. L. Marshall

11. Piutau              14. Trimble
                15. Payne

16-23-Black, Herring, Ah You/Lutton, Tuohy/Treadwell, Henry/Reidy, P.Marshall, Olding, Bowe/Gilroy

I really don't understand how Ulster haven't won anything recently. That is a very strong team - particularly the backs.

That's why. The pack.

But it's not like you've got a bad pack - certainly not best in the league but would at least be in the top 6!

I would say the back row is certainly hovering around the bottom of the table for most of the season. When everyone is fit and not on international duty it looks much better, of course. Even when all are fit, however, they do not work as a unit and are often bested.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Have you signed up a lot of Championship players Geordie?

Edinburgh have had a few of those over the years - they have a great highlights video from Championship level but aren't that great than playing at top level.

A couple yes mate...but we've also signed a few Americans, a Canadian (who looks good a big lump of a lock) , a SA hooker who looks like he has a real short temper, etc etc.

So we'll see how it goes.

GeordieFalcon wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Have you signed up a lot of Championship players Geordie?

Edinburgh have had a few of those over the years - they have a great highlights video from Championship level but aren't that great than playing at top level.

A couple yes mate...but we've also signed a few Americans, a Canadian (who looks good a big lump of a lock) , a SA hooker who looks like he has a real short temper, etc etc.

So we'll see how it goes.  

Don't they all.....

You need more Scots. Newcastle always thrives with a healthy dose of Scottish internationals, it's where R Gray, Barclay, Denton, Laidlaw, Scott and Maitland ought to have gone. There's a tradition that demands to be respected!

propdavid_london wrote:

Welly wrote:

propdavid_london wrote:Welly - do you think Evans will get much gametime this season?

Personally yeh i do i expect him to
1) start in the LV cup games
2) Be on the bench fairly regularly.

considering he was on the bench for the AP SF i feel the coaches have enough faith in him now.

That will be good - looked a real prospect in U20s. Same as Marchant for Quins, although I think Marchant will have limited opportunity outside of LV.  Perhaps international windows.

With them both in the EPS I guess they'll be demanding first team rugby to some degree. I'd expect Evans to see plenty of game time as understudy to O'Connor, rotation and LV games as well sub appearances Shildon see him comfortably pass double figure appearances this season.

The only potential spanner in the works is Thacker, he's a special player and of McGuigan starts well then they may utilise Thacker at seven as well and share game time between the two. Then again McGuigan will have to improve his lineout work a lot for that to happen.

Welly, I think the lack of another back three signing indicates that we're backing Worth to do a job.

marty2086 wrote:Very envious seeing Rory Scholes in your 23 RDW

For Ulster its probably

1. McCall  2.Best  3.Herbst
  4. VdMerwe 5. O'Connor
6.Henderson     7. Henry/Reidy
           8. Coetzee

     9.Pienaar
                10.Jackson
   12. McCloskey 13. L. Marshall

11. Piutau              14. Trimble
                15. Payne

16-23-Black, Herring, Ah You/Lutton, Tuohy/Treadwell, Henry/Reidy, P.Marshall, Olding, Bowe/Gilroy

It saddens me that Ulster have brought in two of the best Southern Hemisphere players available and both will end up having to play out of position.

London Irish:

1. Tom Smallbone
2. David Paice
3. Ben Franks
4. Sebastian De Chaves
5. George Robson
6. Mike Coman
7. Blair Cowan
8. Ofisa Treviranus

9. Scott Steele
10. James Marshall
11. Alesi Tikoirotuma
12. Johnny Williams
13. Ciaran Hearn
14. Ben Ransom
15. Tommy Bell

Bench: David Porecki, Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, Richie Palframan, Jerry Sexton, Joe Trayfoot, Brendan McKibbin, Greig Tonks, Tom Fowlie

Strengths:

The pack, particularly at set-piece, looks pretty formidable for a Championship level side. Marshall and Williams in the backs should be a cut above most other players in the division and should cause some havoc.

Weaknesses:

We still lack another ball-carrier in the pack to support Treviranus, who is such a key player for us. Sexton and Trayfoot are both good in this department so may well play more often than last season. The backs have some star players but it is difficult to see exactly who will line up where and what the best combinations will be. Losing Alex Lewington for most of the season is a real blow.

Is Franks really playing in the championship??

Ospreys
15 Dan Evans
14 Jeff Hassler
13 Owen Watkin/ Ashley Beck
12 Kieron Fonotia/ Josh Matavesi
11 Hanno Dirksen/ Ben John
10 Dan Biggar
 9 Rhys Webb
 8 Tyler Ardron
 7 Justin Tipuric
 6 Olly Cracknell
 5 AWJ
 4 BBBD
 3 Dmitri Arhip
 2 Scott Baldwin
 1 Paul James
16 Scott Otten
17 Nicky Smith
18 Man Fia
19 Rory Thornton
20 Dan Lydiate/ Sam Underhill
21 Tom Habberfield
22 Sam Davies
23 Ben John/ Josh Matavesi

The confusion over the 11/12/13 positions is that would be my first choice, but Watkin is out for a considerable period because of a serious knee injury, Fonotia doesn't arrive until after the ITM cup is over, and possibly Dirksen is out for a considerable period as well.
I wouldn't mind betting Tandy would pick Eli Walker over Dirksen and John, and Lydiate over Cracknell, yet on season ending form I wouldn't.
Strengths
As long as there are no early injury crisis we have more strength in depth around TW commitments,
Weaknesses
Very little cover in the 10 and 15 position around TW times, if Dan Evans gets injured around that time, where does Sam Davies play and who covers the other position, there has been talk on our board we did try to get somebody, even though the player wanted to come, contracts dictated otherwise, possibly Dafydd Howells the former Wales U20 full back, who we class as a winger might have to fill in.

Depends if Brown etc find form


15- Brown
14- Visser
13- Lowe
12- Roberts
11- Yarde
10- Evans
9- Care
8- Clifford
7- Wallace
6- Robshaw
5- Horwill
4- Twomey
3- Jones
2- Ward/Buchanan
1- Marler

Lambert, Buchanan/Ward, Sinckler/Collier, Luamanu, Talei, Dickson, Jackson, Chisholm/Marchant 

Is good if they fire but not a solid as some

RDW_Scotland wrote:Is Franks really playing in the championship??

It seems so. I presume he's got his wages maintained and so is looking forward to a season of pushing around journeymen props.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Have you signed up a lot of Championship players Geordie?

Edinburgh have had a few of those over the years - they have a great highlights video from Championship level but aren't that great than playing at top level.

A couple yes mate...but we've also signed a few Americans, a Canadian (who looks good a big lump of a lock) , a SA hooker who looks like he has a real short temper, etc etc.

So we'll see how it goes.  

Don't they all.....

You need more Scots. Newcastle always thrives with a healthy dose of Scottish internationals, it's where R Gray, Barclay, Denton, Laidlaw, Scott and Maitland ought to have gone. There's a tradition that demands to be respected!

Very true mate. Welsh is a beast at tight head. We have another young lock a former Scotland U20 player called Glen Young who was with Doncaster in the championship last season when they made the great run in the championship. A lineout operator. We have high hopes for him  We have also signed the Scotland U20 lock / 6 Andrew Davidson. And he looks a right prospect....and one Dean seems to have serious interest in. He looks lean and athletic...yet seems to be very strong. I think he'll get some games this season even though hes only 19.

But yes we need a few more. A couple of your centres would be perfect.

The never-ending frustration and joy of being a Glasgow supporter with Gregor Townsend at the helm is that, in all honesty, we have no idea what our best 23 actually is. There is method and a pattern to the rotation policy, with most players apparently seeing themselves as part of the central squad, but it does mean that players tend not to have a long run of matches.

With that in mind, there are sure to be good players that I've left out.
1. Gordon Reid
2. Fraser Brown
3. Sila Puafisi
4. Jonny Gray (c)
5. Tim Swinson
6. Rob Harley
7. Simone Favaro
8. Josh Strauss

9. Henry Pyrgos
10. Finn Russell
11. Leonardo Sarto
12. Alex Dunbar
13. Mark Bennett
14. Tommy Seymour
15. Stuart Hogg

16. Ryan Grant
17. Corey Flynn
18. Zander Fagerson
19. Greg Peterson
20. Ryan Wilson
21. Nemia Kenatale
22. Peter Horne
23. Sean Lamont

GeordieFalcon wrote:We have also signed the Scotland U20 lock / 6 Andrew Davidson. And he looks a right prospect....and one Dean seems to have serious interest in. He looks lean and athletic...yet seems to be very strong. I think he'll get some games this season even though hes only 19.

Very true about Davidson - the guy's really athletic, with a good bit of 'the dog' about him. He had a fantastic U20 World Championship, and he was brilliant against England in the U20 Six Nations. Can't wait to see him at KP - a player Glasgow really should have signed.

IanBru wrote:The never-ending frustration and joy of being a Glasgow supporter with Gregor Townsend at the helm is that, in all honesty, we have no idea what our best 23 actually is. There is method and a pattern to the rotation policy, with most players apparently seeing themselves as part of the central squad, but it does mean that players tend not to have a long run of matches.

With that in mind, there are sure to be good players that I've left out.
1. Gordon Reid
2. Fraser Brown
3. Sila Puafisi
4. Jonny Gray (c)
5. Tim Swinson
6. Rob Harley
7. Simone Favaro
8. Josh Strauss

9. Henry Pyrgos
10. Finn Russell
11. Leonardo Sarto
12. Alex Dunbar
13. Mark Bennett
14. Tommy Seymour
15. Stuart Hogg

16. Ryan Grant
17. Corey Flynn
18. Zander Fagerson
19. Greg Peterson
20. Ryan Wilson
21. Nemia Kenatale
22. Peter Horne
23. Sean Lamont

I really like the look of the Namibian lock you have signed. I imagine he will be in your 23 somewhere. He looked good at the World Cup.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

propdavid_london wrote:

Welly wrote:

propdavid_london wrote:Welly - do you think Evans will get much gametime this season?

Personally yeh i do i expect him to
1) start in the LV cup games
2) Be on the bench fairly regularly.

considering he was on the bench for the AP SF i feel the coaches have enough faith in him now.

That will be good - looked a real prospect in U20s. Same as Marchant for Quins, although I think Marchant will have limited opportunity outside of LV.  Perhaps international windows.

With them both in the EPS I guess they'll be demanding first team rugby to some degree. I'd expect Evans to see plenty of game time as understudy to O'Connor, rotation and LV games as well sub appearances Shildon see him comfortably pass double figure appearances this season.

The only potential spanner in the works is Thacker, he's a special player and of McGuigan starts well then they may utilise Thacker at seven as well and share game time between the two. Then again McGuigan will have to improve his lineout work a lot for that to happen.

Welly, I think the lack of another back three signing indicates that we're backing Worth to do a job.

McGuigan's darts are no worse than Youngs and probably an improvement at the back end of last season. It may take him a little time to settle but his set piece work will be step up on Youngs imo.

I don't wanna

RDW_Scotland wrote:Is Franks really playing in the championship??

I expected Dragons to sign him up - an opportunity missed. 

Dragons have a few unproven academy boys so I believe their best 23 may look something like the following: 

15 Meyer
14 Hewitt
13 Morgan
12 Dixon
11 Amos
10 McLeod (experience, meh)
9 Pretorious

8 Jackson
7 Cudd
6 Crosswell
5 Landman (c)
4 Screech
3 Harris
2 Dee 
1 Hobbs

16 Thomas, 17 Price, 18 Mitchell, 19 Hill, 20 Evans, 21 Davies, 22 O'Brien, 23 Howard/Beard/Warren/Hughes


I'd say the backline has good potential.

mikey_dragon wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Is Franks really playing in the championship??

I expected Dragons to sign him up - an opportunity missed. 

Dragons have a few unproven academy boys so I believe their best 23 may look something like the following: 

15 Meyer
14 Hewitt
13 Morgan
12 Dixon
11 Amos
10 McLeod (experience, meh)
9 Pretorious

8 Jackson
7 Cudd
6 Crosswell
5 Landman (c)
4 Screech
3 Harris
2 Dee 
1 Hobbs

16 Thomas, 17 Price, 18 Mitchell, 19 Hill, 20 Evans, 21 Davies, 22 O'Brien, 23 Howard/Beard/Warren/Hughes


I'd say the backline has good potential.

How do you think the Dragons will do this season? Is Faletau a huge loss?

RDW_Scotland wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Is Franks really playing in the championship??

I expected Dragons to sign him up - an opportunity missed. 

Dragons have a few unproven academy boys so I believe their best 23 may look something like the following: 

15 Meyer
14 Hewitt
13 Morgan
12 Dixon
11 Amos
10 McLeod (experience, meh)
9 Pretorious

8 Jackson
7 Cudd
6 Crosswell
5 Landman (c)
4 Screech
3 Harris
2 Dee 
1 Hobbs

16 Thomas, 17 Price, 18 Mitchell, 19 Hill, 20 Evans, 21 Davies, 22 O'Brien, 23 Howard/Beard/Warren/Hughes


I'd say the backline has good potential.

How do you think the Dragons will do this season? Is Faletau a huge loss?

Hes a huge loss for any team, especially us with our usual retreating scrum.

What's the anticipated pecking order amongst the Welsh regions/clubs/provinces/franchises (whatever they are) this season?

1.Vunipola
2.George
3.Du Plessis
4.Itoje
5.Kruis
6.Burger
7.Fraser
8.Vunipola

9.Wigglesworth
10.Farrell
11.Rawaca
12.Barritt
13.Taylor
14.Ashton
15.Goode

16.Barrington
17.Brits
18.Koch
19.Hamilton
20.Brown
21.Spencer
22.Lozowski
23.Wyles



Strengths

Very strong pack.

Excellent goal kicker

Very experienced


Weakness

In terms of the 15 there's not really a proper weakness bar perhaps no top class 9.

It's the depth, losing key players could hurt the team. New figures like Burger,Koch,Maitland,Rawaca and Lozoskwi could make all the difference.

Lozoskwi in particular has big shoes to fill.

The back up to the likes of the Vunipola bros,Farrell,Kruis,Itoje just are not the same level.

Bit worrying from a Scotland PoV to not see Maitland in your squad Beshocked - do you think he might struggle for gametime?

Who is this Rawaca bloke?

Rawaca is a Fiji 7s winger, will have to keep an eye on him in the Olympics as I hadn't realised Sarries had signed another winger

I'd have thought Maitland got the first shot though

funnyExiledScot wrote:What's the anticipated pecking order amongst the Welsh regions/clubs/provinces/franchises (whatever they are) this season?

Blues/Ospreys/Turks > Dragons

In all seriousness I expect Kerdiff to kick on this season, Turks made some good signings, Ospreys SHOULD do well but rarely seem to these days.

Dragons made some reasonable clun level signings but we'll be lucky to tread water again this season and finish with anyone but the Italian shambles below us.

RDW Scotland Maitland could break in but I think he's got a lot of competition, Maitland's stock currently is low.

Plus other Scots like Brown and Hamilton have fallen down the pecking order.

The players likely to be ahead.

Goode
Wyles
Ashton

These 3 clearly have credit in the bank

Maitland will be competing with Rawaca initially.

Rawaca is one Fiji's 7's stars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UNW-BHrF6c


He's a big guy at 6,2 and 16 and half stone.

Now of course transitioning from 7s to 15s might not work but with pace and power he could be an asset, especially if Sarries use the likes of Vunipola bros and Itoje as ball carriers then pass to this guy.

Could be another success like Goneva was for Leicester for example, except he's bigger and younger.

Rawaca could be a nice contrast to Ashton. Guile and good support lines on one wing, power and physicality on the other.

Waller (A)
Hartley
Hill/Brookes
Day
Lawes
Wood
Harrison
Picamoles

Dickson
Myler

North
Mallinder
Burrell
Pisi (K)
Foden

Waller (E)
Haywood
Brookes/Hill
Craig
Gibson
Groome
Elliot
Wilson

Massive strength in depth in the Saints front row
Class locks that are also mobile and exceptional lineout operators
Backrow, well perm 3 from 6 class players, leaving the likes of Clark, Dickinson and Bennett off the bench is a luxury few sides could afford and that does not include Nutley.

Half backs are a tried and tested combo that performs well and suits Saints style with Groome to add, as a Saffer he should slot into the style quite well

Burrell has performed all his best rugby for England at 13 and did well there last years for Saints, with Prince Harry inside him sides will not know what is coming at them. The option of a second receiver will also break things up and take the pressure off Myler.

North is North as needs no explanation, the thought of him joining into the backline with HRH and Burrell is mouth-watering; 3, 17.5 st backs that can all pass, and shift.

Foden, one of the best 15s around on his day

Had trouble with 14, Pisi or Elliot. Went for Pisi because of his physicality.

Bench full of experience and ability, proven performers in the AP (except Groome)

I thought Burger retired??

Well Past It.

Whats your view on Clarks hopes this season. Will he be injury free? He had such potential...