Don't get me wrong, I am one of the few in the Washy fan club. If he can get some good training experience at 9 and it proves to kick on Houghton's game better by spelling rather then playing 80mins, then I would be more convinced.

I'd like to see Berrigan play in the centres and Washy off the bench as cover for Houghton. Rovelli off the bench would be better but if he does not come then I would be using Houghton and Berro for a while in this way and see how it develops.

I'd go the other way and start Washy and then bring Houghton on for the last 20 of each half against tiring defences.

I can see the principle behind your thinking on this, but I think there are too many question marks over Washbrook's suitability for the position to start off that way. Houghton is an out-and-out, very good hooker. Washbrook is a loose forward who might do a job there, but is still only really in the frame by default because of our lack of options (I also still have my doubts that his distribution is good enough). Houghton has earnt the starting spot for the foreseeable future IMO.

I think times have changed whereby you earn a starting spot. I believe you earn a spot in the 17 and should then be used as is most beneficial for the team.

For me we get more benefit out of both Manu and Houghton coming off the bench. Agar will start them both though.

On the hooker debate i believe Washy has a better defence that Houghton and will deal better with the opening 20 mins of a game with regards to defensive work needed. I've likened Washy to Cunningham before and could seriously see him starting like Kieron did and then for Houghton to come on and do the Roby. Works in my head anyway!!

I agree to a point. Some players are more suited to coming off the bench against tired players. However, when one player is clearly better than another (as I think is the case here), he should be playing the most minutes possible, and the best way to do that is having them in the starting lineup.



Not sure I think that about Manu any more. He's been excellent over the last 2 seasons whilst starting, and Lauaki is more suited to the bench than him IMO.



Debatable. Washbrook is a bit stronger in the tackle but also gives away significantly more penalties as well. And whilst it's not been ideal to see Houghton playing 80 minutes, I think it has at least proved that he is physically more than capable of playing from the kick-off.

If we had a better option at hooker/centre I'd then be inclined to agree with you, but I'm simply not yet convinced Washbrook will be good enough there to justify it.

I agree, Houghton needs to spend more time on the pitch than Washbrook and he should be the person to start games. He no longer needs to come on to make an impact he has started to have an impact when starting games and has become a major influence in games.

Washy will be an experiment and until we know how he is going to go in that position I would be reluctant to start him. He defends well and his distribution is ook but it's whether or not he has enought pace to get out of dummy half and engage defenders plus does he have the fitness to get to every ptb.

His distribution is questionable IMO. It's a bit laboured and gets a bit temperamental when he tries to speed it up. I worry that this could be more of a problem at hooker, where we'd need him to be quick and accurate consistently.

Couldn't agree more with all of that

Guess it depends what the desired effect is. Do argue from a different angle, do you want your star player to be on the pitch for more minutes or do you want them to be on the pitch for less minutes if it makes them a more effective player? If for example we played Fitz at prop for 50 min instead of 13 for 80 mins and it made him more effective in the 50 mins he was on isnt that better?

Guess thats my arguement with Houghton. I'd sooner see him play 40 mins at 95% than 60 mins at 80%. I'd also want to see him operate when it plays to his strengths and i still firmly believe he needs to come off the bench and take the line on when both the square markers and the defensive line are tiring a little bit.