Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed May 17, 2023 10:07 am  

jonh wrote:

It’s early days but I personally do not see the point of having Field and French in the team if Field is at 1 and French on the wing.

French is wasted on the wing, he doesn’t suit our style of play as a winger and he is a better 1 than Field.

Field needs to be our 6 moving forward in my opinion certainly short term to see how it fully develops.

Cust isn’t up to the job in my opinion, it’s not that he is bad but he’s not overly good either.

Some of our best attacking play in recent memory for me was last season when French was on the wing linking with Field, I am happy to see how Field goes at 6 but I feel Field at 1 and French on the wing is still a good option.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed May 17, 2023 10:20 am  

After the Wire game I wouldn’t have had an issue with saying French stays at full back going forward but I think one or two cracks have appeared since. That’s not to say I’d move him but he’s got things to work on, with the main one being his fitness. He’s looked spent at times this past few weeks and clearly is no match for Jai Field in that regard. I’ve not really seen it commented on but I thought the chase back on the first Newman try last week was extremely poor if I’m being honest. It felt like he pretty much left it to Smithies and almost gave up, which I think was again down to fitness.

I also have a worry with the pair of them to throw a killer pass in the opposition twenty. It all feels a bit ‘throw it and hope for the best’ at times. I’d go through 2023 and in to 2024 with French and Field at 1 and 6 but I wouldn’t rule out a signing or Hampshire applying pressure tbh. It’s a dirty subject at times but I wouldn’t rule out French and Field switching at 1 and 6 either. In certain areas of the field I think that could be useful.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed May 17, 2023 10:56 am  

jonh wrote:

It’s early days but I personally do not see the point of having Field and French in the team if Field is at 1 and French on the wing.

French is wasted on the wing, he doesn’t suit our style of play as a winger and he is a better 1 than Field.

Field needs to be our 6 moving forward in my opinion certainly short term to see how it fully develops.

Cust isn’t up to the job in my opinion, it’s not that he is bad but he’s not overly good either.

Croft is better than any half that we have. Field may improve as an half but essentially he is pretty inexperienced playing as a half in first team rugby.
Personally I’d have Field over French as a FB all day long. He’s faster, fitter and defensively more secure.

Obviously it’s all about opinions. In a capped sport we cannot have the best player in the competition in all positions but if one becomes available I’d like to think that as a club we are at least monitoring the situation and if the guy is a fit then make a move for him.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed May 17, 2023 11:26 am  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

Croft is better than any half that we have. Field may improve as an half but essentially he is pretty inexperienced playing as a half in first team rugby.
Personally I’d have Field over French as a FB all day long. He’s faster, fitter and defensively more secure.

Obviously it’s all about opinions. In a capped sport we cannot have the best player in the competition in all positions but if one becomes available I’d like to think that as a club we are at least monitoring the situation and if the guy is a fit then make a move for him.

That can't be right! Didn't you know he's a defensive liability according to certain Saints fans?*

*Yes, that does mean you Saddened...

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed May 17, 2023 11:32 am  

Our best attacking performance this year was when we had French at 1 and Field at 6 for 65 minutes at Leigh. Not sure French at 1 without Field should be compared to Field at 1 with French (although I do agree with NK's point about French's fitness - he looked exhausted at times against Leeds).

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed May 17, 2023 12:09 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

After the Wire game I wouldn’t have had an issue with saying French stays at full back going forward but I think one or two cracks have appeared since. That’s not to say I’d move him but he’s got things to work on, with the main one being his fitness. He’s looked spent at times this past few weeks and clearly is no match for Jai Field in that regard. I’ve not really seen it commented on but I thought the chase back on the first Newman try last week was extremely poor if I’m being honest. It felt like he pretty much left it to Smithies and almost gave up, which I think was again down to fitness.

I also have a worry with the pair of them to throw a killer pass in the opposition twenty. It all feels a bit ‘throw it and hope for the best’ at times. I’d go through 2023 and in to 2024 with French and Field at 1 and 6 but I wouldn’t rule out a signing or Hampshire applying pressure tbh. It’s a dirty subject at times but I wouldn’t rule out French and Field switching at 1 and 6 either. In certain areas of the field I think that could be useful.

On friday I was annoyed with the poor passes from Smith that led to interceptions but if someone had asked me to put money on who would give interceptions it would be French then Field. We have got away with some shocking attempts at cut out passes before the Leeds game. Its something that needs attention from the coaching teams

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed May 17, 2023 12:23 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

After the Wire game I wouldn’t have had an issue with saying French stays at full back going forward but I think one or two cracks have appeared since. That’s not to say I’d move him but he’s got things to work on, with the main one being his fitness. He’s looked spent at times this past few weeks and clearly is no match for Jai Field in that regard. I’ve not really seen it commented on but I thought the chase back on the first Newman try last week was extremely poor if I’m being honest. It felt like he pretty much left it to Smithies and almost gave up, which I think was again down to fitness.

I also have a worry with the pair of them to throw a killer pass in the opposition twenty. It all feels a bit ‘throw it and hope for the best’ at times. I’d go through 2023 and in to 2024 with French and Field at 1 and 6 but I wouldn’t rule out a signing or Hampshire applying pressure tbh. It’s a dirty subject at times but I wouldn’t rule out French and Field switching at 1 and 6 either. In certain areas of the field I think that could be useful.

Agree on all this. Field and French are electric ball runners but don’t have the elite passing game of Sam Tomkins.

Frenchs fitness is a worry, can he just play 6 and let Field play 1. More running at 1 and field is super fit.

Guess it just depends can French defend in the line.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed May 17, 2023 12:52 pm  

NSW wrote:

Agree on all this. Field and French are electric ball runners but don’t have the elite passing game of Sam Tomkins.

Frenchs fitness is a worry, can he just play 6 and let Field play 1. More running at 1 and field is super fit.

Guess it just depends can French defend in the line.

You tread with caution daring to suggest French at 6 (or playing anybody out of what is deemed their position) but then that was the same when Field was at 1 and anybody mentioned moving him to 6. I’m open at the minute tbh. Once Field is back I’d slot him in at 6 and keep French at 1 but there are areas of the field and times in games, I’d rather have Field at fullback. If you’re going to have Smith as you’re out and out organiser at 7, is there a system where you could be fluid and French and Field switch positions during games? Maybe it’s madcap but the game moves on. Much like in football at the minute, where the top managers are coming up with formations and in game switches you’d have laughed out of town only a few years back.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed May 17, 2023 12:57 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

Our best attacking performance this year was when we had French at 1 and Field at 6 for 65 minutes at Leigh. Not sure French at 1 without Field should be compared to Field at 1 with French (although I do agree with NK's point about French's fitness - he looked exhausted at times against Leeds).

It will be a totally different proposition when Field is back, I 100% agree with that. A lack of intensity has also played a part since Wire and that’s understandable. Those 2 will feed off each other at 1 and 6 and teams won’t know which one to try and close off. There is a massive target on French at the minute and that will be much harder to do for the opposition when French is back. They play at 1 and 6 for me without doubt but I’m still curious as to which way round would be better.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Wed May 17, 2023 1:05 pm  

On that Newman try, my feeling at the time was that French would have hauled him in, if Smithies hadn't slightly got in his way.