Is Sammy injured? He didn't play 4 nations so he should be fresh, but he seems injured or maybe out of form. Maybe he also needed to be dropped.
Lets be honest here guys... as much as we wanted to see changes; we got them...Great.
But we all know this will be for only one week (if that team evn stays close to what Ivan says in the first place). It will be back to last weeks team win or loss on Sunday.
Too many changes could upset the balance of this side IMO.
Just on Locke, I'm guessing he's on the bench to cover in case we need to move Berrigan somewhere - i.e. Inu in to centre, Locke on the wing, Berrigan into hooker (or wherever we need him).
I'm worried about Mannering's position in the team now. Is he a first choice centre or a first choice second rower? It doesn't seem right that a captain can't command his own spot in the side.
Some of these changes are brave..Mateo will either kill it or it will go very wrong.
Too many changes could upset the balance of this side IMO.
The only thing you can do is give it a go...
I guess that's the danger of picking him. Luck & him are too similar to both be certainties in the back row. And, unlike some forwards, Luck has been doing what he does well.
OK, I think the changes are necessary and good. Now what about the lack of structure and attack? Will that just fix itself?
This is a start. Nothing more.
I read somewhere (it may have been on this forum) that Mateo doesn't look like he knows what his role in the team is, and that made sense to me. Hopefully by sending him out in the #6 jersey it'll be crystal clear what he is expected to do and not do.OK, I think the changes are necessary and good. Now what about the lack of structure and attack? Will that just fix itself?
Luck is to one dimensional, sure he makes 50 odd tackles, but watch half of them he is the second man in the other half weak - no game changing tackles.
Now watch him in the next game, The Warriors will get into the attacking 40(hopefully) he'll come in to first reciever and A. try to acted as a playmaker and pass, by doing so he'll tyhrow a hospital or stifle the attacking structure or B. will try to make a hit up, and get sent back having no penetration into the defensive line.
I'm sure he gives 100% but it's not working.
Switch it up - what if we were talking about a player who made heaps of hit-ups and yardage BUT done next to no tackling, and when he tried to it just disrupted the team or was ineffective....Would you have that kind of player in your team?
I read somewhere (it may have been on this forum) that Mateo doesn't look like he knows what his role in the team is, and that made sense to me. Hopefully by sending him out in the #6 jersey it'll be crystal clear what he is expected to do and not do.
I think the biggest "change" will come about IF Ivan has made it clear to everyone what they need to be doing. If Heremaia, Mateo or whoever are thinking "gee I could get pulled after 30 minutes if things don't work" then it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Personally I think we need to stick with them for 80 minutes if possible (remember Manu vs the Eels a few years back??) instead of constantly chopping and changing during the match.