DaveO wrote:I don't think Noble can be bagged for selecting him today. In a nutshell Mathers was given the benefit of the doubt last season as he returned from injury so it was odds on he'd get the no. 1 slot today.
It is what Noble does now with the full back slot that counts.
Unlike you I am at the opposite end of the Noble appreciation society but he has to find out if Mathers is good enough.
We shout loud enough when Noble is seemingly too quick to drop players for the flimsiest of excuses such as Goulding so I suppose sticking loyally to Mathers just compounds our frustration when other more talented players only have to sneeze out of place to get dropped but I still think Noble was bound to play Mathers today.
Dave
This is a good point. I wouldn't have played him today, personally. But Noble could argue he was giving him the benefit of the doubt. The upside is there's no possible way he can select him next week. Surely?
With the best will in the world, Mathers has had his chance for the time being. Now he should be given his chance to play in the reserves and see if he can get the basics right.
Even those who feel sorry for him - and I'm one - must admit that yesterday will have done him no good whatsoever. Further humiliations of that sort will finish his career early.
