! - Eden

2 -Cockayne

3 -Welham

4 -Gleeson

5 -D Hodgson

6 -Burns

7 -Keating

8 -Poore

9 -J Hodgson

10 -A Walker

11 -Cox

12 -Costigan

13 -Langley



Bench

Weyman

Horne

Larroyer

Carlile



When you look at players not in my 17 the depth of the squad looks much improved.

Most have Carlile on the bench, do we need him on the bench when we have Costigan who could take a 10/15min spell?

This was my thinking.



Costigan could come on and do a 10/15min spell as you say then give Langley a breather at loose-forward when JH comes back on. Then Langley could come on at the back end of the game for Costigan. This way we're getting most "bang for the buck" with our interchanges.



There's also Cox who can start on an edge and come on for the back end of the game in the middle - this is the way he was used last season and he was really effective.



I think it's pretty clear that CS has nailed his colours to the mast with regards to getting a side together who can defend and I don't think he's going to compromise this for one or two players who may offer a tad more in attack because any great defender will soon become poor one if they are having to do loads of scramble defence and repeat sets because of a couple of weak links in the defensive line. Alternatively, perceived poor attacking players will soon be perceived good attacking players if they see enough of the ball in the right areas - something you earn with good defending.



Poor defending will no longer be tolerated by the coaching staff, but the sad thing is, is that it will be tolerated by some fans if it involves crowd favourites, because they'll blame the coach or the new signings instead.

I don't know what CS's thoughts are regarding Costigan but I do not want to see him at hooker, I'dlike hime to play prop and prop only.

Against NZ at Headingley he had a real dig in the front row against pretty unsurmountable odds.



I'd like to see him as a starting prop.



I'd go.

Eden

Hall

Welham

Gleeson

Hodgson

Burns

Keating

Walker

Hodgson

Costigan

Larroyer

Cox

Langley



Poore

Weyman

Green

Carlile

I dont think we have signed Costigan, who is one of our biggest signings, to cover hooker and loose forward off the bench. Id expect him to be starting and i would think CS knows where he will fit into the picture. The fact we have a squad with so many options is reason for optimism rather than perhaps previously its been 'this our best 17' with average to inadequate back up

If our sole intension was to improve defence why didn't we go and get another centre to replace Welham?

Some good options. The larroyer signing I think is very strange. 2nd row isn't a position we are short in I believe. However the number of times I have seen him he looks decent, he was immense in Toulouse for les frogs last season. If Jordan cox plays like he did back end of last season then we have a potentially brilliant player on our hands

Is it just me or are others wondering why Liam Salter is not mentioned? one of our most consistant players last year. He did nothing wrong & improved game on game. In my team he would be in ahead of Gleeson.

Hodgson can practically do a full 80 mins, he would only need cover for a short spell, it makes sense to me. We have enough options in the pack that covering Costigan would not be a problem.

I think you can certainly make a case for him, he looked pretty good defensively I felt, but needs to improve his lines in attack and his service to his winger.



Depending on what goes on in pre season he could and should be putting pressure on both Welham and Salter.

Could,nt agree more. Pretty much go with the general opinion of the teams selected, but in my opinion Liam Salter has better defence than any of the selected first five. Obviously he wont get a go at fullback, and both welham and gleeson are defensively suspect. If his attacking flair can, or has been improved i would have him in front of them both.

1. Eden



2. Cockayne

3. Salter

4. Welham

5. Hodgson



6. Burns

7. Keeting



8. A. Walker

9. Hodgson

10. Poore



11. Cox

12. Costigan

13. Langley



14. Hall

15. Lovegrove

16. Weyman

17. Larroyer