Buck, for the most part, not much disagreement regarding you overview of our current propping status.BuckRogers wrote: Of our young home grown guys there is a lot of the unknown about them. McCall, CIMAN, is not a TH as you state. He is a good LH with a lot of potential but struggles at TH...if you don't believe me I suggest you ask him or anyone that has two eyes in their head when they have watched his performance's at LH versus his performances as a TH. He's till only 21/22 and is not a big player which may count against him. Taylor, like McCall, is still very young though he had a mightily impressive JWC absolutely splitting a much larger Junior Black pack. Kane is even younger still and needs plenty of game time with the Bin-men before any judgement can be fairly made. Macklin is still injured? His and Paddy Mac's injuries couldn't really have come at a worse time in terms of their development into scrummaging props. Both were getting decent exposure only to be cut down cruelly injury. I'd be more worried about Macklin's ability to make it back than Paddy's though as Paddy had a better experience base to start with.
What little I've ehard of Taylor is encouraging, ditto Kane, who I've seen and thought highly of, albeit at a much lower level. Both are very young however, and a few years off even Rabo I'd say.
Macklin returned on Saturday past, and by some accounts had a decent run out. I have hopes for him still if he stays injury free. At this age (and PMac's) often surviving and holding the scrum steady is progress enough, unit they open up at 26-27.
Only one I would challenge you on is McCall. Seen him scrummage in anger at least twice now for the "Ones", and most crucially in the Rorke's drift defence against Ladyboi's at RDS last year, against the probable Lions first choice Loose head in a meaningful match. He was fine. His body shape and size gave Healey all sorts of problems. He's not dissimilar to DF in that regard, and none of doubt DF's ability to prop at the highest level when fit- not sure his size will be an issue, even if only at Rabo level, whihc is the minimum these guys should be aspiring to.
Seen him this year as well at both Tight and Loose (I think! ) and again didn't perceive any issues at tight at this level, albeit friendly. He's also decent around the park. Colleagues I know that have watched him in AIL have also been impressed. As he's a mere 21, he has plenty of time, and I stand by my assertion that he is better suited to tight than loose, but I'm sure we'll not fall out over it.