It's a tricky one as you don't want to be relying on the youngsters too much, but at the same time you don't want to have the squad so full of seasoned pros that they don't get a look-in. Personally, I still think we're at least two experienced players short of giving the youngsters the best environment to develop in.

You ease them in, not depend on them

Could Pearce be our new Luauki? Only better hopefully.

Just out of interest, how would you ease them in? Play them over an experienced forward every once in a while? Try out one of them each week?

By easing them in one or two at a time for a week here and there with plenty of "protection" from established players.



As it stands, even an average amount of injuries to our pack could see us relying on too many of them for a substantial part of the season.

Play them when you get the inevitable injuries. As it is now, a couple of forwards out and we'll have 3 inexperienced forwards in the 17.

I don't disagree, as I said I think we do need another experienced forward in the pack, but I think this will be their perfect chance to break into the first team squad and finally get their chance. We must take at least some risk, otherwise they will never make it and will be another 'could have been'.

So you would play them over Manu, Tickle, Westerman or Whiting, just to try them out? Or would it be because of injury?

I'm very very happy to see the back of Radford, Dowes, Lauaki and Washbrook but as ordinary as they all were, we can't just replace them in our squad with untried academy players.



5 forwards out and only two in, should surely mean that we plan to have another two forwards coming in to address the balance?

I would guess that there will be at least one more forward, not sure about a second.

When the inevitable injuries occur of course.



We only have three established back rowers at the club. At least one of those three could be missing every week on average. Not to mention the probability of Tickle having to cover our very-light-on-numbers front row when injuries hit there as well.

I can see everyone point regards short of experienced players.



So should we have kept Dowes and Washbrook then?