More on my xenophobic attitude : Sun Apr 12, 2009 2:34 pm  

Bell, if Raguin wasn't injured, would he be in the squad?

[John_D]

: Sun Apr 12, 2009 2:38 pm  

Bell, I think it's fair to say, hasn't really lived up to expectations yet. But it's almost inconceivable to consider leaving him out because we all know what he is capable of.

It'd be an interesting conundrum and perhaps the fact you're asking the question highlights an area of the squad that's quite thin.

: Sun Apr 12, 2009 3:31 pm  

Dunno. We have lots of "versatile" players, most who would like to play backrow. We have a number of options at centre - mogg, bell, raguin and baille. Of these I would expect baille to improve by quite a bit over the next couple of years and am happy with raguin and mogg.
It's worth having cover for Raguin, but is it worth bell's wage?

: Sun Apr 12, 2009 6:40 pm  

Its worth remembering that we all thought Adam Mogg was pants for the first half of 2007 - he did bugger all other than shoot out of the defensive line and miss tackles.

But he eventually got used to the game in SL, so we can only hope that the same happens to Bell.

: Sun Apr 12, 2009 6:58 pm  

True, but is it worth the money investing in a foreigner, when we could be drawing from our academy?

If all players are fully fit, do we sideline a French International in favour of Bell?