I disagree. Our problem at the moment isnt our attack or defense up the middle where he plays - its out wide where our centers and wingers are standing around looking at each other....
And Friend isnt a razzle dazzle type of hooker - He's more Mr Reliable than Mr Dynamic.
My point wasn't an attack on Friend - I think he's a great buy and a great hooker. I just think that the opposition have realised that if they stiffle our potential attack from dummy half and reduce us to short, telegraphed drives by flatfooted props then everything else falls apart.
The ptb is the launchpad for the forwards which in turn becomes the catapult for the attacks out wide - if we're only making less than 20m in the first three tackles than the centres/wings are on a hiding to nothing (whoever they are).
I'm sure having two players capable of sharing the dummy half duties will instill trepidation in any opposition defense and will see all our attacking players on the front foot. (and I mean players with proper dummy half skills - not just stepping in to dish out a few simple passes).
I feel Locke taking the decisions for tackles 1 & 2 (and possibly even tackle 3) would give Friend greater effectiveness in the latter tackles (giving Locke the time/space to take a support runner position for later in the set). Locke has the ball skills, vision and footspeed to attack from the ptb and get players moving forward. Also, as many sets will have begun from a kick return he's highly likely to be positionally in place to take on the role.