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Originally posted by The Mack
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I definitely agree.
Myles is needed FAR more at prop, than backrow.
IMO our backrow should be:
11. Anasta
12. Aubusson
13. Nuuausala
15. Conn
The way we should work it is:
- Anasta plays 80 minutes in both attack and defense on the left side of the field
- Aubusson plays 80 minutes in attack on the right side and defending in the centre of the field
- Nuuausala/Conn play 40 minutes each, attacking in the centre and defending on the right side of the field
So in attack:
Anasta <---> Nuuausala/Conn <---> Aubusson
...and in defense:
Anasta <---> Aubusson <---> Nuuausala/Conn
This way, we utilize Aubusson and Anasta for their fringe attack ability and ball skills out wide linking our halves to the centres, while Nuuausala (and Conn when he comes on to replace him) attack straight up the guts, hitting lines at angles and looking for offloads for Minichiello.
In defense, we need Aubusson in the centre as a roaming cover-defender, making use of his mobility and outstanding workrate, while Anasta and Nuuausala/Conn can protect the centres in defense like they have done quite well for most of this season.
Smith names the right team usually, but I do not agree with Nuuausala at prop and Myles at lock. Myles is too sluggish and immobile for the backrow, even with his weight loss, and his lack of ball skills is an issue. At prop, he can just bash, barge and tackle like he does best. Nuuausala, on the other hand, struggled when shifted back to prop with the purpose of metres, but when he was hitting holes and running lines as a lock-forward, seeking out offloads, he was outstanding. Conn does a less flashy but still very good job.
Anasta - 80 minutes
Aubusson - 80 minutes
Nuuausala - first 20 minutes, last 20 minutes
Conn - middle 40 minutes
Friend - first 30 minutes, last 20 minutes
Watts - middle 30 minutes
That is 4 interchanges down (getting Nuuausala off the field and back on, getting Friend off the field and back on). That means we will have 6 remaining interchanges specifically for Ryles, Myles, Hargreaves and Kennedy. That is the advantage of a fit and mobile second row.
If we are in a situation where their defense is shot, we can leave both Conn and Nuuausala off the field, and have Friend at lock and Watts at hooker, run the bigger packs ragged if needed.
8. Ryles
9. Friend
10. Myles
11. Anasta
12. Aubusson
13. Nuuausala/Conn
14. Watts
15. Conn/Nuuausala
16. Hargreaves
17. Kennedy
reserve props: Lama Tasi, Tinirau Arona, Mose Masoe
reserve backrowers: Anthony Cherrington, Tom Symonds, Aiden Guerra
reserve utilities: Ben Jones (fullback/centre/half/hooker), Jerome Leolahi (centre/hooker/backrow)
Leolahi offers a lot more than Kouparitsas, actually has surprisingly decent ball skills, and can do the exact same job but better if Watts doesn't work out.
The forward pack looks great. It is the backline that needs to click.
Myles is needed FAR more at prop, than backrow.
IMO our backrow should be:
11. Anasta
12. Aubusson
13. Nuuausala
15. Conn
The way we should work it is:
- Anasta plays 80 minutes in both attack and defense on the left side of the field
- Aubusson plays 80 minutes in attack on the right side and defending in the centre of the field
- Nuuausala/Conn play 40 minutes each, attacking in the centre and defending on the right side of the field
So in attack:
Anasta <---> Nuuausala/Conn <---> Aubusson
...and in defense:
Anasta <---> Aubusson <---> Nuuausala/Conn
This way, we utilize Aubusson and Anasta for their fringe attack ability and ball skills out wide linking our halves to the centres, while Nuuausala (and Conn when he comes on to replace him) attack straight up the guts, hitting lines at angles and looking for offloads for Minichiello.
In defense, we need Aubusson in the centre as a roaming cover-defender, making use of his mobility and outstanding workrate, while Anasta and Nuuausala/Conn can protect the centres in defense like they have done quite well for most of this season.
Smith names the right team usually, but I do not agree with Nuuausala at prop and Myles at lock. Myles is too sluggish and immobile for the backrow, even with his weight loss, and his lack of ball skills is an issue. At prop, he can just bash, barge and tackle like he does best. Nuuausala, on the other hand, struggled when shifted back to prop with the purpose of metres, but when he was hitting holes and running lines as a lock-forward, seeking out offloads, he was outstanding. Conn does a less flashy but still very good job.
Anasta - 80 minutes
Aubusson - 80 minutes
Nuuausala - first 20 minutes, last 20 minutes
Conn - middle 40 minutes
Friend - first 30 minutes, last 20 minutes
Watts - middle 30 minutes
That is 4 interchanges down (getting Nuuausala off the field and back on, getting Friend off the field and back on). That means we will have 6 remaining interchanges specifically for Ryles, Myles, Hargreaves and Kennedy. That is the advantage of a fit and mobile second row.
If we are in a situation where their defense is shot, we can leave both Conn and Nuuausala off the field, and have Friend at lock and Watts at hooker, run the bigger packs ragged if needed.
8. Ryles
9. Friend
10. Myles
11. Anasta
12. Aubusson
13. Nuuausala/Conn
14. Watts
15. Conn/Nuuausala
16. Hargreaves
17. Kennedy
reserve props: Lama Tasi, Tinirau Arona, Mose Masoe
reserve backrowers: Anthony Cherrington, Tom Symonds, Aiden Guerra
reserve utilities: Ben Jones (fullback/centre/half/hooker), Jerome Leolahi (centre/hooker/backrow)
Leolahi offers a lot more than Kouparitsas, actually has surprisingly decent ball skills, and can do the exact same job but better if Watts doesn't work out.
The forward pack looks great. It is the backline that needs to click.
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