[quote author=Kiwi Eagle]
In terms of back replacements, it makes absolutely no difference. Ballin is a forward that can only play hooker, was no cover at all for any back dramas. If i read it right Watmough was going to be our centre cover in an weather Ballin is there or not.
If a back goes down, we can move Ballin into hooker to free up Monaghan into the halves and burns into one of the other positions.
He doesn't need to be a direct cover for an injury. Having the ability to free up an extra position I would have thought would be important considering beaver is already in center. Right now, nobody off the bench can slot into a back line.
Watmough could move back but I would rather see him in the second row considering his current for. That would be like removing our major strike weapon this weekend.
[/quote]
With Ballin on the bench the same scenario occurs of no-one being able to slot into the backline, it was exactly the same as most weeks this year when we have had a hooker on the bench.
Using the scenario above where you fitted Ballin into the side, Monaghan to 6, and Burns to plug the hole, we were then looking at Burns in the centres or something. I would rather see Watmough in the centres and Afamasaga in the 2nd row.
The only area i think we lose leaving Ballin off the bench is if 1 of Monaghan or Burns goes down. My guess would be that Williamson would be Des' stopgap for 6 and 13 in that scenario, which isnt ideal
