I’m really unsure on what the selectors should do with Nick Frost for the English series.
On current form I would absolutely have him in the squad. Even allowing for the fact we haven’t played the Kiwi teams yet he has been in very impressive form.
On the flip side we already have a situation where we are potentially going to parachute in an OS lock. We really need as many local guys in the squad as possible to build the depth in that position.
On balance I think I would include him, along with Rodda, Phillip & Swain. If Arnold is also available it does become an issue because I don’t know that you can include 5 locks in your squad and you definitely want to include Arnold as much as possible if the intent is to take him to the WC. It really is a shame he’s chosen to go OS and maybe that is an indication of where his priorities lie and that in itself might guide the decision.
I would suggest him as a possible option for 6, and he still might be, but with the form of Wilson, Harris, Uru & Valetini, plus Leota & Swinton still to come back into the mix and all of them signed in Australia i again don’t think you can push him in front of those guys.
I also wonder if Samu’s bench spot might come under fire. Yes, he offers a versatility none of those guys do but Hooper is only ever coming off if he’s injured and, if he does, playing with a backrow of any of the combination of those guys above, even if not as well balance, I still think that would be an acceptable worst case given that the scenario most weeks will be it is your 6 or 8 coming off. Not discounting him - I rate Samu - but he wouldn’t be in my top 4 options for 6 or 8 at the moment. How far does versatility take you?
Of course that could all change over the second half of the comp. especially with a young guy like Harris who might have trouble keeping his form.