Lee Grant
John Eales (66)
The trouble is that with the injuries these blokes are having, we are not often spoilt for choice. But touch wood - I think our prop stocks are higher now than they have been for some time.
We got away on the Spring Tour without having our best LHP and THP in Super Rugby this year, Robinson and Kepu, in the squad. Argue about the pecking order by all means, but it doesn't matter; the main thing is that two of the best props were out and we did OK. Sure Wales without Adam Jones at THP was not a big ask, but in the past we would have struggled with two of our best out.
One of the big things for me at the end of the year was the late blooming of Ma'afu - which I didn't expect at the beginning of it.
On Alexander - he showed in both games against Wales that he is the ideal bench prop. Scrummaging in the last third of the game is not so demanding and his ball running in that period is more effective than against fresher opponents at the start.
We got away on the Spring Tour without having our best LHP and THP in Super Rugby this year, Robinson and Kepu, in the squad. Argue about the pecking order by all means, but it doesn't matter; the main thing is that two of the best props were out and we did OK. Sure Wales without Adam Jones at THP was not a big ask, but in the past we would have struggled with two of our best out.
One of the big things for me at the end of the year was the late blooming of Ma'afu - which I didn't expect at the beginning of it.
On Alexander - he showed in both games against Wales that he is the ideal bench prop. Scrummaging in the last third of the game is not so demanding and his ball running in that period is more effective than against fresher opponents at the start.