: Fri May 15, 2009 10:25 am  

I may be crazy, but I do not think Eastmond is a 7, for me he is more a 6. IMHO our best bet for a Scrum Half from the academy went on loan. Matty Smith for me had what every great scrum half needs, not pace off the pitch but a great rugby brain and the ability to control the flow of play, with a great kicking game. At such a young age to have this I think he could become a real quality half back. Lets hope we do not do what Wigan did to Long, cause IMHO it would be a big mistake.

: Fri May 15, 2009 10:44 am  

smileysaint wrote:

I may be crazy, but I do not think Eastmond is a 7, for me he is more a 6. IMHO our best bet for a Scrum Half from the academy went on loan. Matty Smith for me had what every great scrum half needs, not pace off the pitch but a great rugby brain and the ability to control the flow of play, with a great kicking game. At such a young age to have this I think he could become a real quality half back. Lets hope we do not do what Wigan did to Long, cause IMHO it would be a big mistake.

My view entirely.

Smith is the better 7 NOW and the better option to take over in the future. Eastmond, for me, cannot control a game and is too similar to Pryce in style of play.

I'd love to see both succed, but i don't think Eastmond will be the great success people make him out to be.

: Fri May 15, 2009 10:49 am  

smileysaint wrote:

I may be crazy, but I do not think Eastmond is a 7, for me he is more a 6.

Why?

: Fri May 15, 2009 11:06 am  

I've seen nothing to indicate that Eastmond can't control a game. Nor do I see any great similarity between his game and Pryce's, other than that they can both run fast.

To me he looks a more natural 7 than Smith, who doesn't take the line on anywhere near enough, and whose last tackle options in the opposition half are generally poor.

: Fri May 15, 2009 11:19 am  

From an outsiders point of view i don't see how Eastmond could prove to anybody that he's a 7,6 or a fullback or whatever. The lads hardly had any chances this year apart from little bursts in some games and thats no way for him to prove his worth in any position.

Give him a run of games in a position and then people can make thier judgements on him.

I don't know who you've got next week but Catalans this week and Gateshead in the cup in a couple of weeks would seem a good opportunity to give him a crack at 7.

: Fri May 15, 2009 11:21 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

From an outsiders point of view i don't see how Eastmond could prove to anybody that he's a 7,6 or a fullback or whatever. The lads hardly had any chances this year apart from little bursts in some games and thats no way for him to prove his worth in any position.

Give him a run of games in a position and then people can make thier judgements on him.

I don't know who you've got next week but Catalans this week and Gateshead in the cup in a couple of weeks would seem a good opportunity to give him a crack at 7.

He has had a string of injuries this season unfortunately which makes it hard for that to happen.

: Fri May 15, 2009 11:30 am  

gateaux wrote:

He has had a string of injuries this season unfortunately which makes it hard for that to happen.

Fair enough. I thought he was getting over the injury problems this year but just wasn't getting picked on a regular basis by Potter.

Injuries or not until he's gets over them and gets a regular run in the side it's tough to judge him.

I'm sure with a run he'd become a very good player. Thats seems to happen with the majority of Saints youngsters however limited their skills may seem(i don't mean that in a bad way).

: Fri May 15, 2009 11:39 am  

Dux wrote:

I've seen nothing to indicate that Eastmond can't control a game.

I've seen nothing to suggest he can.

Dux wrote:

Nor do I see any great similarity between his game and Pryce's, other than that they can both run fast.

They both need a good pack to play. If Eastmond is behind a beaten pack he can't use his skills, likewise with Pryce. Also i think in really bad weather Eastmond could easily be nulified.

Dux wrote:

To me he looks a more natural 7 than Smith, who doesn't take the line on anywhere near enough,

I disagree. He may not be the fastest but he does take on the line.

Dux wrote:

and whose last tackle options in the opposition half are generally poor.

His last tackle options are far better than Eastmond. He has more attaking kicks, more runs from dummy half and more meters.

: Fri May 15, 2009 12:05 pm  

ST_CONROY wrote:

I've seen nothing to suggest he can.

They both need a good pack to play. If Eastmond is behind a beaten pack he can't use his skills, likewise with Pryce. Also i think in really bad weather Eastmond could easily be nulified.

I disagree. He may not be the fastest but he does take on the line.

His last tackle options are far better than Eastmond. He has more attaking kicks, more runs from dummy half and more meters.

Can I ask how many times we've seen Eastmond actually play scrum half? There was the game at the JJB this year, in which he was very assured, and I think one game last year. The rest of the time we've seen him, Longy's always been on the pitch and he's been filling in elsewhere.

: Fri May 15, 2009 12:06 pm  

ST_CONROY wrote:

My view entirely.

Smith is the better 7 NOW and the better option to take over in the future. Eastmond, for me, cannot control a game and is too similar to Pryce in style of play.

Whilst Smith's distance kicking is as good as anyone's, his short kicking game is atrocious. You cannot brush such a weakness under the carpet and carry on. It's an integral part of the game.