We need to seriously overhaul the squad at the end of this year. Senior is 35, Peacock will be 34, Leulaui is 33, Buderus is 33, Lauitiiti will be 32, and Cross 33. Too many players have been allowed to stay on while getting past their best, and retarding the development of younger talent. See Gibson, Fox, Broughton, Tansey and Scruton.

There are good, young, british players available but we don't seem to have any interest in signing them. Pryce & Clubb at Harlequins, for example. The pack is being carried by Bailey, with Burgess a decent defensive prop who offers little yardage, and JJB having reverted to his 150% effort, 50% product routine.

If we're to get better we need serious changes. We have tremendous talent in the backs: Jones-Bishop, Smith, Watkins & Hall are going to be the future of our outside division, while Hardaker & Kettlewell could be replacements for McGuire & Burrow. Up front Ambler has been impressive, as has Pitts (when he's had game time), while Ablett & Clarkson are already first teamers, and McShane has outshone Buderus.

If we drop the deadwood, move Delaney into the pack (where he's Bigger & faster than JJB), start Bailey & McShane with Ambler & Burgess benching, we have a team looking something like:

Webb
Jones-Bishop
Smith
Watkins
Hall
McGuire
Burrow
Bailey
McShane
?
Delaney
Ablett
Sinfield

Ambler
Burgess
Kirke
Pitts

If we can find a new starting attacking prop, and a replacement for Webb from next year so BJB can slot in at fullback, i think we'll be fine.

When I got to here, I just thought WTF. You don't watch really do you?

How on earth are we expected to take this seriously when you've suggested both "dropping the deadwood" and "renewing Kirke's contract" in the same post?!

And signing Karl Pryce...

You forgot about Kyle Amor too - can't be worse than Cross??

Geez ... What's this guy on. ? Burgess a good " defensive " prop ? He will be going to Oz anyway. Sign Pryce, retain Kirke... Webb to continue holding back Smith, BJB AND Hardaker.

Fair enough.



But in that case, wtf would we sign Pryce???? and Clubb?

And JJB must've slept with his Mrs or something if we're in a world where he's the "deadwood" and Messrs Kirke & Burgess are our first choice 17.

Goodbye, be seeing you, see you later, cheerio, farewell, so long, adios, ciao, adieu, au revoir, arrivederci, sayonara, auf weidersein, shalom, bon voyage, das vidanya .... etc

If we're talking a complete overhaul, I'd like to see us line up like this;

1. BJB
2. Hardaker
3. Smith (Unless we'd like to sign a proper Centre, which I'd be fine with btw!)
4. Watkins
5. Hall

6. McGuire
7. McShane

8. Bailey
9. Buderus
10. Peacock
11. Ablett
12. Delaney
13. Sinfield

14. Burrow
15. JJB
16. Clarkson
17. Pitts

That would involve dropping ; Leuluai, Lauitiiti, Burgess, Kirke, Senior, Webb & Cross.

Edit - I agree with the OP on one point; I would like to see us get a decent, proper, attacking, "future JP", new prop.

Why Pitts instead of Ambler ? Singleton ? Clarkson is not a bench forward... McShane good as a stop-gap scrum half only but admittedly better than Burrow at the moment.... Still think Hall or BJB would make a better right centre than Smith (FB for me). What about Wilson ?

How out-muscled would that pack be?