Biyi Alo

[wasps]

The last 2 games are quite a small sample size, but I've been impressed with Alo's scrummaging.
He also appears to want to be a wrecking ball of a carrier too.

If he can improve his match fitness, and stay fit, he may be a ready made replacement for Brookes.




With regards to whether your best scrummager should start or be on the bench, I've been wondering if there's any stats regarding whether there's more scrums in the first or 2nd half of a game.
If the 2nd half has the most scrums due to players tiring or forcing passes a bit more and any disjointedness that comes from bringing the replacements on, then it can make a lot of sense to have the better scrummager on the bench at the start of the game

[Shugs]

Alo continues to improve. We'll probably have Scholtz incoming as well who can definitely scrummage. Millar-Mills is there as well. On balance none of them are probably on a par with Brookes at scrum time but they'll not have to do too much to trump him in terms of availability.

[Vespula Vulgaris]

I'd always start the best scrummager regardless of numbers. Get it set in the ref's mind that we have the dominance and then later hopefully the 50/50 calls will go out way.*





*yeah right

[Shugs]

Agreed. JTA is far more effective later in the game. I see us starting with Scholtz. Also, worth mentioning that on the LH I think West is developing into one of the best in the league. He's definitely first choice now and looking like the real deal.

[andermt]

Agreed. JTA is far more effective later in the game. I see us starting with Scholtz. Also, worth mentioning that on the LH I think West is developing into one of the best in the league. He's definitely first choice now and looking like the real deal.

Eddie will probably say that is down to him having him in the England camp.

[mike909]

Agreed. JTA is far more effective later in the game. I see us starting with Scholtz. Also, worth mentioning that on the LH I think West is developing into one of the best in the league. He's definitely first choice now and looking like the real deal.

I'd play JTA later - he had a difficult one yesterday - but has looked increasingly effective at TH in recent games. Sometimes in the front row - you just have one of those games. Particular player opposite, issue with the hooker or whatever. I was surprised yesterday. But as an old prop - I probably ought not to have been! Sometimes - you just don't "fit"

[Steve from Cov]

Biyi Alo is a formidable unit but hasn’t yet shown the engine that would make him first choice. But he’s a very capable second choice THP.

[Rossm]

Agreed. JTA is far more effective later in the game. I see us starting with Scholtz. Also, worth mentioning that on the LH I think West is developing into one of the best in the league. He's definitely first choice now and looking like the real deal.

I'd play JTA later - he had a difficult one yesterday - but has looked increasingly effective at TH in recent games. Sometimes in the front row - you just have one of those games. Particular player opposite, issue with the hooker or whatever. I was surprised yesterday. But as an old prop - I probably ought not to have been! Sometimes - you just don't "fit"

Or a particular ref who thinks he knows a lot more about front row play than he actually does

[mike909]

Agreed. JTA is far more effective later in the game. I see us starting with Scholtz. Also, worth mentioning that on the LH I think West is developing into one of the best in the league. He's definitely first choice now and looking like the real deal.

I'd play JTA later - he had a difficult one yesterday - but has looked increasingly effective at TH in recent games. Sometimes in the front row - you just have one of those games. Particular player opposite, issue with the hooker or whatever. I was surprised yesterday. But as an old prop - I probably ought not to have been! Sometimes - you just don't "fit"

Or a particular ref who thinks he knows a lot more about front row play than he actually does

Certainly its a mystery to many.......even when I used to play - you just tried to sort it out yourselves. But I felt the ref yesterday was confused.....

[Rossm]

Agreed. JTA is far more effective later in the game. I see us starting with Scholtz. Also, worth mentioning that on the LH I think West is developing into one of the best in the league. He's definitely first choice now and looking like the real deal.

I'd play JTA later - he had a difficult one yesterday - but has looked increasingly effective at TH in recent games. Sometimes in the front row - you just have one of those games. Particular player opposite, issue with the hooker or whatever. I was surprised yesterday. But as an old prop - I probably ought not to have been! Sometimes - you just don't "fit"

Or a particular ref who thinks he knows a lot more about front row play than he actually does

Certainly its a mystery to many.......even when I used to play - you just tried to sort it out yourselves. But I felt the ref yesterday was confused.....

I don't know when you used to play, mike but when I played front row (hooker and TH), you used to just get on with it, because you could do just about anything you wanted 

[Heathen]

I don't know when you used to play, mike but when I played front row (hooker and TH), you used to just get on with it, because you could do just about anything you wanted 

Ross - agreed. I played both TH and LH and had the occasional game at hooker.

LH - lift the oppo TH so that your hokker had a clear viw of the put in.

TH - get the LH eating dirt.

[Rossm]

I don't know when you used to play, mike but when I played front row (hooker and TH), you used to just get on with it, because you could do just about anything you wanted 

Ross - agreed. I played both TH and LH and had the occasional game at hooker.

LH - lift the oppo TH so that your hokker had a clear viw of the put in.

TH - get the LH eating dirt.

 I wasn't tall enough to manage LH successfully but TH..............loved it. Push/pull the LH down and bore right in on the hooker. Make his ribs creak Oh happy days.

[mike909]

I don't know when you used to play, mike but when I played front row (hooker and TH), you used to just get on with it, because you could do just about anything you wanted 

I was a taller LH - university and the like early to late 80's and then local clubs

I knew how to apply my skills (cheat) in any number of ways...... :-)........