Koupafarkingwhatshisname is doing my head in

[Hawkeye]

I think Kouparitzis is our Daniel Wagon.
He's a Smithy favourite type a player, and like him or not you'll find him there every week (injury permitting)

[Guest]

the team balance is off with Koups in the team we already have Carney, Pearce and Anasta as the ball players we are in desperate need of some more muscle up front and hard working back rowers.

Hard working backrowers??? They are working their asses off covering for our lousy starting props, Myles, Maubs, Guerra and Conn are fine.

[Guest]

I think once he moulds into the team more, we will see the handy player. At the moment he is playing as a hooker, half and backrower.

He can put on a bellringer of a tackle. He can offload. Handy footwork. Can handle the workload.

I think we will see some good things from this bloke.

I thought he did OK

[Guest]

I thought he did OK

I thought so too.

I just thought he was hesitant at times picking his decisions. That will come with developing combinations.

[Guest]

Geez, I think it's tough to bag him. I reckon he's a better ball player than Anasta.

What's wrong with having a ball playing forward? Haven't had one that can set up tries since Fletcher.

i agree there...

[Roosterfarian]

What's this place coming to...people comparing Kouparitis with Fletcher..my lord mun.

Vas I like your work but here we'll have to agree to disagree..

[Guest]

What's this place coming to...people comparing Kouparitis with Fletcher..my lord mun.

Vas I like your work but here we'll have to agree to disagree..

the point is that they are both genuine ball playing 2nd rowers...a dying art.

[Funky Chicken]

Koops is going pretty well, and I think will continue under Smiths coaching. I agree with many though, Koops is a ball playing second rower, not a hooker.

Conn is the one that surprised me, I was so against him coming here as I really didn't rate him but in the first 4 rounds he has really put in and done some great things.

[Guest]

he's improved every week so far

[Guest]

When JWH comes back, he would have probably replaced Conn anyway - same role, tough hard running backrow/prop substitute off the bench.

But when Symonds comes back, who will he replace?

Will it be Kouparitsas, who put in his best performance of the season IMO playing as a skillful backrower?

Or will it be Guerra, who essentially plays the same role as Symonds, as a hole-hitting linebreaker?

11. Guerra/Symonds
12. Morbs
13. Myles

14. Jones
15. Kouparitsas/Symonds
16. JWH

[TheLoneRooster]

Glad I'm not Brian Smith with those questions you posed Mack.
Symonds for Koups in my opinion.

[Guest]

Conn cannot go anywhere.

Our best prop and he gets dropped ?

No need for Jones on the bench. Koups stays there for his versatility.

[Vasco]

When JWH comes back, he would have probably replaced Conn anyway - same role, tough hard running backrow/prop substitute off the bench.

But when Symonds comes back, who will he replace?

Will it be Kouparitsas, who put in his best performance of the season IMO playing as a skillful backrower?

Or will it be Guerra, who essentially plays the same role as Symonds, as a hole-hitting linebreaker?

11. Guerra/Symonds
12. Morbs
13. Myles

14. Jones
15. Kouparitsas/Symonds
16. JWH

Why would you have JWH on the bench? He is a major off season buy and is one of our strike forwards.

When fit I'd start with him and Ryles in the front row. Have FPN and Paea coming off the bench as they are impact players, not starters. Myles, Maubs and Symonds can make up the backrow.

Bench would be: FPN, Paea and Conn/Guerra/Kouparitsas/Jones

[novice chook]

Symonds, when fit, MUST be in the 17 over Kouparitsis. He is a class above in terms of talent and offers the team much, much more.

NC

[Guest]

8. Paea
9. JAubs
10. Ryles
11. Guerra
12. MAubs
13. Myles

14. JWH
15. Symonds
16. FPN
17. Conn

I don't think we need Kouparitsis or Ben Jones, tbh. We have ourselves easily covered in the halves, as if one of Anasta or Pearce gets injured, Carney can step up, with Mini or Perret to fullback, and MAubs out to centre, and the same applies if Carney gets injured. If JAubs has to go off, Pearce or Carney can easily play dummy half in attack.

There is some serious size and impact on that bench, and I think we lose something throwing Kouparitsis and/or Jones in there.