Dont think passing two or three metres from the play the ball is a problem and he would not be tackling one to one as there are normally two or three tackling down the middle.
Well suited to the new modern nine role.You cant cant call it hooker now as it s not relevant

That's what I mean, instead of him pushing up looking for offloads or using his pace cutting back against a sliding defence he is getting a play ready on the flanks where we try to get him into a 3 on 2 situation.

we dont produce many walk ins for our wings.
Any average wing with an overlap will score a try and dont forget we use our wings and centres to bring the ball out of defence something a small guy like Shaul would not be good at.

We created far more scoring opportunities for our wingers since Connor went to fullback.

Shaul is really good at knowing when to 'scoot' when our wingers have got a quick PTB clearing our line and getting at a unorganised defence something which he would get it he was following our forwards up the middle in particular Sao.

Coote and French are polar opposites when it comes to skillset both brilliant fullbacks but their teams play to their strengths something which we fail to do when it comes to Shaul at fullback.

Rumours of a British full back signed

Watch the game back again Dave.

Naulago Kelly Shaul gone next season

We would have the slowest back line in SL
Combine that with Connor at full back ,
defensively we would get exposed by most teams

I've watched it, and cant pick an occasion where they took advantage of Connor having no pace

I agree with your second paragraph that why i have always said he should now be playing at nine

Shaul could play wing for me.

Good under the high ball, can scoot and bring play out from our own half, got pace.

Worth a try and it will inject some pace out wide