I totally agree re Genia. If he can be in the 22, he should be starting. If he is not 100%, I don't want him coming on for 20 minutes only to end up injured again and out for weeks longer. I honestly cannot separate Burgess and Valentine - they both have their faults. Burgess is prone to meerkat-type behaviour instead of delivering the ball, and his passing is liable to be hurried (not fast, but ill-thought out) and inaccurate, but he defends well, and occasionally snipes well. Valentine is a cock, has apparently copied the Meerkat routine, is liable to give away stupid penalties, and is a cock. Neither box-kick well. Really a case of Hobson's choice.
But that is all academic - I doubt our 9 will win or lose the Test, our 1-5 will be the area of concern, and where England will attempt to hammer us if they are half-smart. If the forwards somehow get 40% decent ball, the backs should account for England's backs.
But that is all academic - I doubt our 9 will win or lose the Test, our 1-5 will be the area of concern, and where England will attempt to hammer us if they are half-smart. If the forwards somehow get 40% decent ball, the backs should account for England's backs.