- Sun Jan 19, 2020 6:45 pm
#8434
So, given that Sarries can't win anything apart from the Prem Cup and Europe, I expect they might go all out on this (or they could go all youth, and exclusively focus on Europe?) Regardless, I think it will be an all-or-nothing situation: their strongest 23 or the academy.
This is a real chance for us to win some silverware, and although it's a bit of a mickey mouse comp, a trophy is a trophy and it would give us some tangible success if we won it this year. I would therefore suggest we put out our strongest team, with maybe a little rotation on the bench, so here's what I'd go for:
1. Harrison
2. AVDM
3. JCW
4. Postlethwaite
5. JLDP
6. Ross
7. T. Curry
8. DDP
9. Cliff (Faf if ready)
10. RDP
11. Yarde
12. Williams
13. S. James
14. Roebuck
15. Ashton
16. Langdon
17. Oosthuizen
18. WGJ
19. LDJ (if ready, otherwise Evans starts and Poss on the bench)
20. Wilson (if ready, otherwise B. Curry on the bench)
21. Warr
22. L. James
23. Solomona
This gives young players: Poss, Williams, Roebuck, Langdon, Warr and L. James game time, would allow us to introduce LDJ and Wilson, but ensures the rest of the squad is strong enough to not put to much pressure on them. Those young players are the ones who have taken their chances and look ready for high level rugby, those left out are still too young/not big enough. Williams and Poss in particular look really good, think we've got something quite special there.
AJ being out is maybe a bigger deal that people are thinking, means we can't really put a proper 10 in the 22. shirt, and puts a lot of pressure on Rob. I really don't want to have to go back to the days of Sam James playing 10. He's a phenomenal player, but he is a 13.
This is a real chance for us to win some silverware, and although it's a bit of a mickey mouse comp, a trophy is a trophy and it would give us some tangible success if we won it this year. I would therefore suggest we put out our strongest team, with maybe a little rotation on the bench, so here's what I'd go for:
1. Harrison
2. AVDM
3. JCW
4. Postlethwaite
5. JLDP
6. Ross
7. T. Curry
8. DDP
9. Cliff (Faf if ready)
10. RDP
11. Yarde
12. Williams
13. S. James
14. Roebuck
15. Ashton
16. Langdon
17. Oosthuizen
18. WGJ
19. LDJ (if ready, otherwise Evans starts and Poss on the bench)
20. Wilson (if ready, otherwise B. Curry on the bench)
21. Warr
22. L. James
23. Solomona
This gives young players: Poss, Williams, Roebuck, Langdon, Warr and L. James game time, would allow us to introduce LDJ and Wilson, but ensures the rest of the squad is strong enough to not put to much pressure on them. Those young players are the ones who have taken their chances and look ready for high level rugby, those left out are still too young/not big enough. Williams and Poss in particular look really good, think we've got something quite special there.
AJ being out is maybe a bigger deal that people are thinking, means we can't really put a proper 10 in the 22. shirt, and puts a lot of pressure on Rob. I really don't want to have to go back to the days of Sam James playing 10. He's a phenomenal player, but he is a 13.