I think that's more so on tommy lee's failure to be dynamic out of dummy half, but he does provide some direction from scrum half and done ok so can't knock him for that. However, as sheens alludes to today when lunt is back atkin will move back to scrum half to work with mcguire.
O'brien is a bang average scrum half, but a much better fullback. He would not get in my team above our half backs and he wouldn't get in at fullback over quinlan who has been excellent.
Russell - rocks and diamonds that kid. Does something excellent then something down right schoolboy. I probably would have him over shaw though such is shaws defensive liabilities.
Simms - 5 years a go maybe. if you replaced him for scurton you probably would not get any better, but probably not any worse. They are equal at best. If Scruton can pick up his form from last year when he monstered leighs big pack twice in two games, I'd pick him.