Force makeover has O'Connor at ten

[James]

It is Leonard that scares me. He has ripped the arse out of our team every time he has played - I hope someone has been clearly tasked and equipped to deal with him.

I still think "if only" every time I see him play...

Yeah it would've been great if Mitch had've brought him over.

He's in patchy form though at the moment. Plus Sheehan is a fairly combative halfback and should keep him in check.

[Woody]

Leonard has been a bit crap lately, wasn't in the starting line-up last week and came on on the wing. He fell away in the 2nd half of last season (NPC). Still form is temporary, class hangs round a bit longer.
Strangely, after last week, their 10,12,13 are all good defenders.

[James]

They're a bit weak in their second row. If the game is structured we should beat them in the scrums and line-outs but Latimer, Bourke and Messam will own us if it is loose and unstructured. I'm guessing fatigue will keep them in check a bit. It's the last match of their big road trip and they'll be pretty exhausted after the game against the Lions.

[jazza93]

Praise the coaches for finally getting him into 10.

[mudskipper]

I'd be tempted to take handicap bet on the Force this weekend. They'll be a good chance against the Chiefs 3rd game on the road... If they get a good starting points. But I must come clean before I saw this line up I went and swapped Donald for Gits in my Fantasy team...

[AndyS]

I would have thought Ripia would have been the go this week.

[brokendown gunfighter]

so in what posi is Mr Hill going play when he arrives?

[AndyS]

10, hopefully with JO'C going to 12.

[Woody]

10, hopefully with JO'C going to 12.

Agreed

[jazza93]

when the new guy comes i think JOC will go back to 15.

[Woody]

If everything goes as well as it has the potential to, the 'new guy' (who could be a little sushi upped, and a little rusty) could get splinters

[AndyS]

when the new guy comes i think JOC will go back to 15.

So you'd put Hill at 10, JO'C at 15 and who at 12 - Bart, Harris, Inman or Tatupu? Or would it be Spanner (not a bad idea) with Sare(?) on the wing?

[Rodent]

I think JOC will be back to 15 as thats where he will play Wallabies and I think he will be a lot better 15 than Bart, who doesn't have the pace to set up counters from there.

Be interesting to see if the combinations can gel in time... Great to see Cullet back, he gives an extra attacking option out wide. No need to mention how good it is to have Spanner back. Side looks good on paper, but I think it could be another week (2 as we have the bye) before they work out combinations and gel as a unit.

Hopefully we have caught the Chiefs at a good time, a few injuries and the end of a long road trip. If you saw the last 15 minutes of the game against the Lions you could see they were basically out on their feet... Hopefully that and some hot weather also plays to our advantage!

[Burgs]

Praise the coaches for finally getting him into 10.

Well I guess we will get some answers now rather than hypotheticals hey Jazza
I like it being a combination with Inman and if Hill does indeed push JO'C to #12 (his best pos in opinion) then I think Crossy may well havea fight for the #13 in coming weeks.

[GIGS20]

It is Leonard that scares me. He has ripped the arse out of our team every time he has played - I hope someone has been clearly tasked and equipped to deal with him.

I still think "if only" every time I see him play...

Good point Andy, my only rebuttal is that Brett Sheehan isn't Josh Valentine or Chris O'Young.....Leonard has made a f@cking living out of lax defence around the ruck every time he's played us.....I'd hazard a bet that the first time he tries one of his @rsehole darts from the back of the ruck, Brett tries to separate his ribcage.....I don't think he'll find as much room to play on Saturday!

It'll all be up to how well he copes with this change, really I don't see Leonard as the most adaptable halfback in New Zealand, he's just the one which was best at exploiting a pretty consistent weakness we had!