I don't really like the golden point but with Brough playing I'm more confident that we will win those games now.
The subs change I like. Its designed to make gaps so we see more rugby. You can't just have an American football style monster interchange now.
And although we have a big pack, there is only PP I see as suffering fitness unless he loses his required pounds.
At the moment props play 2 x 20 minute stints each as standard. That takes 6 interchanges of the total 10. Hooker usually change once sometimes twice. 2 max gives us 8. Leaving 2 for back row. Chester likes to swap 13 so that leaves one.
If you change that to spell props after 20 mind and 60 mins, the middle prop getting a break at half time... Meaning you create 2 extra interchanges.
So start with England and PP for 20 mins.
Put Dave and Kopczek on at 20 min mark.
Leave them on till 60 mins then bring England and PP back on. 4 subs used.
If you change 9 once it gives us 4 subs spare for injuries and adhoc changes during the game.
The biggest problem for me is momentum in the game and concentration of the players.
The reason coaches like the 2 20 minutes stints of the props is that it is a double impact at 20 minutes. You have 2 fresh players rather than one at a time. If you stagger the interchange to have an overall less usage, you don't get the big impact but you do get a steadier team.
If you increase the time on the field like I showed above, you get more of say Fifita in one stint which is good, but it means the first man on, would be sat down for possibly 50 minutes with 20 either side of half time and the extra 10 minutes. Staying focused will be hard for those players.
The only must have for me is that we play 2 9s and 4 props. Wood on the bench gives us a big boost when he comes on but also gives us cover at half and it's shown every time someone tries to go with 3 props that it creates a hole in the team.
Kirmond playing may make a difference to interchange. At his best he is a great boost but he needs more rest than he used to so it's a consideration.
Same with King and Arona at 13. I like both. With more interchanges you can play both. We might have to choose in the new era.
