Given that Stevenson is probably part of our best back three (leaving, I assume, which is why he is unsighted), I'd say our best back three should be (11) ENS, (14) Lowe, (15) Stevenson.
However, McMillan will have to select his BOP baby, so the best we can hope for is ENS, Lowe, and Trask.
@Machpants thanks for explaining a bit more than "he's not a normal 1st 5"
that makes sense, my feeling was he was running a lot but trying to feed and distribute, not just going to ground like a crash ball, so to a dumb front rower it just looks like another form of play making, just the opposite end of the scale to a first 5 whole kicks everything away
@African-Monkey He's only 20 so far from the finished article.
According to his stats a centimetre shorter than Read, which looks about right.
He doesn't look fast enough to be a 7 to me, so pack a bit of weight on him and play him as a 6/8.
I think he'll end up an Ethan Blackadder/Luke Jacobson type loosie ie, can cover all 3 backrow positions. Agree with you even at 108KG he doesn't seem quick enough to be a 7. Also looks like he'll put on 5KG without sacrificing mobility.
@crucial it was a very odd one, it didnt look like he was trying to do anything, almost like he froze with indecision about what he was going to do at all, in the end he simply stood in the way and 2 heads clashed.
I have no doubt it was simply a complete mis-read of the situation, zero intent for anything at all, but 2 heads clashed, hard. So red card was always the answer, but this is where the 20-min red works.
Yeah, how good was O'Connor! Impressive performance.
O'Connor and Paisami were impressive. I was surprised how well Paisami stepped into first receiver. He has always been able to distribute but organising off 2nd/3rd phase ball was impressive. The shot he put on Mataele outside of the legality was Sam Tuitupou like.
And To'omua isn't a 10. Kills whatever attacking opportunity is left after Powell fucks around at the base
I not convinced Toomua is all that good at 10 either NTA, I really like him, (probably because I knew him as young player at my club) but have always thought he was better at 12.
