SpaceMonkey said:
kiwi_man said:
8.I.Paleasena
9.N.Fien
10.S.Price(c)
11.R.Wiki
12.A.Guttenbeil
13.M.Betham
15.R.Villisanti
16.S.Fauimuina
17.M.Betham
Fein won't play in the forwards, we need him at 5/8. We've got Betham, Latu and Anderson as hookers anyway, whereas our 5/8 options are all crap (with the possible exception of Ropati but I'd rather see him at centre)
I'd go for:
8: Paleaesina
9: L. Anderson (depends if Latu is fully fit)
10: Price
11: Wiki
12: V. Anderson (he's NOT a centre!)
13: Faumuina
14: Betham
15: Lauaki
16: Villisanti
17: Latu
Space, I like that team. I'd probably in hindsight run with Louis Anderson as starting hooker, and promote Latu from the bench after 20 minutes to break it up. And I'd probably start Monty Betham over Sione Faumuina just to keep it nice and tight early on, Sione was at his best in 2003 coming from the bench and making an impact I thought.
Anywho, this would be mine
8 Iafeta Paleaaesina
9 Louis Anderson
10 Steven Price (c)
11 Ruben Wiki
12 Vince Anderson
13 Monty Betham
Bench
Sione Faumuina - he's got to return to some form, I doubt Kevin Campion
Tevita Latu
Richard Villasanti
Awen Guttenbeil
After that, in terms of forwards you'd have Wairangi Koopu, Evarn Tuimavave, Karl Te Mata, Shannon Stowers, Kane Ferris, Herewini Rangi (I don't believe the France stories to have any truth to them) and then we'd start to look at the outstanding juniors such as Simon Mannering, Iu Sua, Frank-Paul Nauusuala etc. The best thing about having Ruben and Steve in the pack is there A: can't be any complacency and B: Just how much youngsters like Shannon Stowers, and Evarn Tuimavave can learn.
