However the discussion of the thread had moved on to who we would pick, not what Brown may pick.



I put Laffranchi in at 2nd row, but I doubt Brown will be looking to do that.

Id have Laffranchi at Loose Forward.

Agree we you makinson been poor and was poor last season Apart from a few drives in the corner I can't remember him ever going full length of the field to score

I can't remember either winger doing that! In fact, I can't remember when a winger at Saints went the full length of the field to score!



If you ever watch Phil the Pie and his stats you will see quite clearly that we play most of our rugby to the left of the pitch, regardless of who is our right winger. Had Makinson got more ball during his time in the team then maybe he would have scored a length of the field try! (Although to do that you have to have halfbacks and a fullback who can create opportunities and a pack that works its socks off to create space, stuff like that).



Makinson scored a length of the field try against Salford in our opening match of the season at Langtree Park if memory serves.

Meli goes full length a few times in a season Gardner I can't remember because he always gets injured like I never seen makinson go full that I can remember

Full length = ?

His defence was not poor, was it, really?



His defence, along with the rest of the team, was superb. I don't know how you can comment on that facet of the game really.







Not really, I have highlighted a time when he has not been 'sure' under the high ball. How is that 'pathetic reasoning'? Is it just because it goes against what you think?

The problem with Makinson is that everytime he looks as though he has got some space to run he always find some way to run into a cul de sac. In contrast Gardener and Meli always look dangerous to the opposition and provide momentum on the next play.

Makinson doesn,t seem to have enough strength and agression and always gets mauled in the tackle ending up with a very slow play the ball.

Maybe Brown has seen this state of play hence Gardener and Meli being first choice, for the short term anyway.

I prefer Tommy to Ade.

Ade's return is better and his work rate is excellent.

Tommy is a better defender and can finish (like Ade) but he is a really good goal kicker which we badly need in tight games.

So on balance is TM time for me.

That just aint true. Ade has got to be the slowest winger in the league. His willingness to run the ball back at full pelt is admirable,although he got smashed more often than not on Friday.

But he just isnt a threat with ball in hand from more than ten yards out.

Apparently he missed three out of four tackles. He can't defend a bomb much less catch one. He was running backwards for the try scored through Hohaia. He jumped out of the line twice and smashed his man, although only once convincingly, and that was about it for defence from Gardner. How do you think Riley got so close to the line? That was Gardner's wing. Had it not been for a superb tackle from Lomax, Wire would have scored on that one. Gardner was nowhere.



Gardner's kick returns are great although less effective on Friday night than they have been in the past. But that really is all the bloke has going for him. I for one want to see more from a winger than that.





No. It is because the only example you can bring up is when he was shoved into the fullback position, so having to change his whole game around on the turn of a coin. Not easy for any player but the guy is still relatively new at this level and has had less game time at fullback in the first team than Lomax has had. You can't provide an example when, as a winger, he has fluffed a bomb. He is incredibly brave with the bombs, like Lomax is. He is also very good at getting them.

While I can appreciate the argument of Meli-v-Makinson in the finishing department, Makinson is streets ahead of Gardner in finishing tries. The tries Makinson has scored during his time on the wing Gardner could never have scored. He just doesn't have that agility or fleetness of foot. Can you imagine Gardner (or Meli for that matter) scoring that try in the GF? The one that turned the game in our favour? Or the tries he has scored with one hand and the rest of his body hanging over the touchline? Never in a gazillion years could Gardner have come close to scoring any of those.