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Right, the season is over, so where are the gaps we need to plug?
In the front row, we have pretty a pretty decent starting lineup in Cowen, Whittaker/Charles and Fairbrother. And in Henderson we have a handy back up. But we need a player or two coming on. To be honest, I dont think Longbottem is the player for this (and he is 25 or so anyway). so we need a young up and coming prop. Hooker is covered with both Charles and Whittaker looking good.
In the second row, Sharpe is nearing the end of his career, so one of Wykes and Hocking (preferably Hocking) need to stand up. McCalman is suitable there as an enforcer Bakkies style, but he wont be calling the lineout. So an up and coming genuine lock would be useful (as opposed to a lock / blindside hybrid).
In teh backrow we must be the best endowed club in the S14s. Hodgson, Pocock and Brown are all opensides, but also are excellent as a starting backrow. McCalman, Stanford and Wykes can adequately cover 6/8 should it be needed.
We are set for scrummies. Sheehan had a very good season. Chrisso is gone, but Turner would have displaced him next year. And with Swanepoel we have two emerging scrummies - another strength.
We are in desperate need of an established flyhalf. Hunt may or may not be the long term option, and then there is Kyle Godwin who should be ready for senior games the year after next. And at a pinch, JOC could cover here, but I would prefer him at 12. So we need an established flyhalf to see us through the next 3 years or so. Hill would have been great had he stuck around. And word is Pretorius wants another shot. But I would prefer someone we can rely on making the field a bit more.
In the centres, we have JOC and Inman as the young guns, with Cross still running around as well. Has Tatupu left or is the Otago thing an off season stint? Anyway, we are pretty well set here, especially if Staniforth is nabbed for another year. Plus Cummins can cover at a pinch, and may end up a 13.
In the outside backs, DHP will hopefully start making an impact. And a full year behind Cummins should see him back to where he was last year. Bart is getting on, and so is spanner. Shep is world class if fit, but that is a huge if. And JOC can be used at 15, but in reality he is a 12, so he needs to get to his best position next year. Id like to see another fast young wing, and another genuine fullback picked up.
So there we go, we need:
A young prop for the future
A young genuine lock for teh future
An established flyhalf
A fast young wing for the future
A genuine fullback for the future.
Anyone got any names? Who is in the local comp that could fill these spots?