the stand off/ second row/ combos would have more time, be under less pressure and hopefully make more mistakes if we shipped the ball quicker



We ship the ball quicker it opens up more options for a scrum half with a turn of pace to exploit and also for the dummy half



A couple of seasons ago I suggested Robinson, I don't think he would have broke the bank either



I know some don't like Deacs being picked on but he's the main weak link. Langley needs to continue with more of the same on Sunday before his recent performances are forgiven

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That's a step in the right direction. Can't help thinking that dropping him would give him more of a kick up the ar$e than a cup of tea and a chat.

problem is he wont drop the captain. Can't help thinking we'd look better with sykes/jeffries combo. with morro back menzies could move to which would have other benefit of eliminating defensive weakness we have down sykes/sheriffes side of the pitch. apart from first five minutes deacs was poor on sunday and majority of the goals sykes would have got so its hard to justify keeping selecting him.

It certainly had the desired effect on Steve himself during his playing days.

tbh Deacon has been coasting on his reputation for a long time now. a lot has been made of his 8 goals on Sunday, but Sykes would have made at least 6 of those. take the captancy off him and drop him to the reserves. we've got morrison back next week so let him captain the side for the rest of the year. we might improve with someone on the field who can actually lead

Personally I don't think Deacon is coasting on his reputation at all. If anything I think he's giving 100%. It's just that injuries and age are catching up with him.

Well which ever way you want to look at it he's not deserving, what seems to be, the guaranteed starting spot he seems to have.



I really think it'd shake the team up if mcnamara took away the captaincy from deacon and dropped him down to the reserves. a "if i can do it to him, I can do it to any of you" sort of statement.



it'd be a ballsy move and it might pay off big time. won't happen as ballsy moves are not mcnamara's strong point

I'd go along with that, and just add I think Deacs got the captaincy thru' sheer longevity of service rather than his leadership qualities.

Oh without a doubt on that point

Hmmm. Can we really presume what Deacs leadership qualities are like from the terraces? Obviously we can only speculate given that we're not on the field or close to the players.



I'd say his poorer performances are down to him carrying injuries, getting slower and playing with teammates of lesser ability than in previous years.



I can't fault his commitment. Recently he's taken a lot of very heavy knocks recently yet soldiered on. I do wonder if he's quick enough now and whether he can take that punishment for much longer safely.



At the moment our halfbacks aren't the threat we need to be serious contenders. Jeffries can be great but is too inconsistent. Deacon is looking like a player with his best days behind him. I hope we'd strengthen in this area in the close season.

I'd agree with pretty much all that. Especially the last paragraph.



Id also suggest a small point - that the regular heavy hits have led to him occationaly focusing too much on any potential impending collision rather than focusing on what he's going to do next with ball in hand, thats just an assumption mind, I could be very wrong - but I'd swear I've seen this hesitation a fair few times this season just before he gets clattered and it alters his timing just enough to be a problem IMO. Its a perfectly natural reaction to the punishment he's recieved over the years and recently, but it doesn't help his game.