Willie or Won't he ?

[backawaygoonahead]

Some gurning about Willie Faloon's performance against Scarlets so what price a backrow of Diack, Henry & Wannenburg next Sunday in MK ?

Willie has been a little less good than usual in a few games recently but never forget that in some of our stumbling bumbling performances he has arrived like the US Cavalry (Little Big Horn excepted) to save the day.

Discuss.

Backaway says: "I'd certainly pick him to start"

[Starsky]

Has nearly looked better as an impact player but our poor performance at the breakdown isn't down to one player. He is perhaps our only genuine 7 but Henry has been in good form of late.

[Rooster]

Difficult one as Willies key style of play is either as a turnover specialist when someone else takes man down or the link man who follows either to protect someone on a break or take the offload and as a bonus he will dive on a loose ball even on the end of someones boot with no thought for where he gets kicked, his weak point is his first up tackles.
Verdict next week though is start him as I think an open style of play is preferable to trying to out muscle Saints

[Digifriendly]

Pratice could have a say. If Willie gives it his all and impresses MCL in traning then he will have a very good chance of starting.

[Pimpmac]

Nope I would put money on it being Pedrie, Robbie and Chris H. He will go for power as he knows English packs are generally big blunt instruments.

[stickinout]

Difficult one this, he has had a dip in form lately. Last night there was one or two situations when he go the ball and looked like a deer caught in headlights. I think for cup matches, form is a big element to be considered. You want a team on the field with one thing in their mind, a win. You don't want players wondering if they're going to perform at an away cup match. I'd probably start with Henry and be ready to put Willie F. on to do his usual groundhog chores if required. If we're being outmuscled (have we been outmuscled apart for Leinster and BO?) then change the plan, make it expansive and get Willie on.

[jackthelad]

Willie has been largely ineffective over te last few games while Henry has been our best back tow player imo. I'd go 6. Wannenberg, 7 Henry 8 Diack. I think Henry is just about as effective on the ground and stronger physically in other facets of play.

[Snipe Watson]

Willie was outstanding off the bench a week ago.

[backawaygoonahead]

OK gents a few more pieces of meat on the bones of why I would go with our Willie.

Yes he missed a few 1st up tackles last night and indeed not for the first time however with the benefit of watching the game again this morning, he did make some importnat retreating tackles plus his quick take & give to D'Arcy was the sort of handling a centre would be proud of and had D'Arcy's pass not asked quite so much of Trimble (just six inches too far ahead of Andy) he would have scored. He links with the backs much much better than any other backrow player we have.

Again we face the big decision of how do you combat an English Premiership team of big bangers in the back row. I am not certain simply trying to match force with force is the answer. Many times a good open-side has made hay against more ponderous big men. In my opinion I feel our best chance against the Saints is to outplay them not out-muscle them - bring on Willie.

After all that I'm not putting money on it either way as to how McGlock will jump.

[lovesthehardground]

I would start next week with the same XV as last night. Only change would be be that Diack must start at 8 and P3 at 6. P3 does not make enough yards off the base of the scrum, we get hit behind the gain line and risk being turned over. He played well at the breakdown last night and tackled fairly well but his breaks are a bit ponderous. He is too upright and this "spin" as he gets tackled merely loses momentum. Diack on the other hand is amore natural 8. He makes ground off the scrum giving the rest of the pack a target to go for.

As regards Faloon - yes I would start with him. Northampton will try and bash us up front, lots of pick and goes, and we will need to slow them down. Tom Wood looked quite good alst week and we need a proper No.7 to compete with him

Need to plug the 10/12 channel as they'll send runners down there all day. Stop Clarke getting over the gain line and it hampers there style. Simply put - we need to front up, not take a backward step, tackle everything that moves and then take every opportunity that comes our way.

[Bring Humph On!!]

Agreed about Diack and P3 but can't make up my mind on Faloon. He was immense coming off the bench against Dragons yet I don't recall the same impact being made by either him starting or anyone coming off the bench last night! I'll give this one a bit more thought or else juat leave it up to McGlocks!!!

[againstthehead]

very hard call to make. I too, am 50-50.

[againstthehead]

very hard call to make. I too, am 50-50.

[Cornerfleg]

I just can't see enough in Robbie to say he's a shoe in ... the guy runs too much side ways and very rarely gets over the gain line taking 3 or 4 men with him. On TV from the match last night they showed 1F head down clattering into 3/4 players and making yards. P3 goes a bit high but usually always makes at least a yard and puts RP on the front foot. Robbie just isn't ...what's the word ... manic enough ... a big lump like that should be a wrecking ball - he's not. When it comes to ground skills Henry is waaaay better.

I'd go Faloon, P3 and Henry.

[Big-al]

Henry
Faloon
P3