Oakboy wrote:I'm no rugby purist. My depth of knowledge of the game is way behind others on this board. However, it seems to me that some find is easy to dismiss Exeter's individuals without fully acknowledging the quality of their units. Thus, Williams and Hepburn are not top-level individually, it would seem, yet they are an integral part of the league's best front row. Only now, is Hill starting to get credit, yet I think he's been part of the league's best second row for several seasons. Exeter's back row lacks a jackler so it must be sub-par?? Maybe, just maybe, Baxter has a point with his set-up? How can Exeter be so lethal within five metres if the three units of forwards are not dominant? Which team or set of units has surpassed them?
The 'unfashionables' persist in the back line. Are Whitten or O'Flaherty in many 'teams of the week'?
I think Exeter are a SH away from being unbeatable. Somebody needs to explain to me how that can be if their players are so far down the pecking order.
I already attempted to do that several posts back ...
To break it down:
Cowan-Dickie - great player, but not better than George
Hepburn/Moon - good players, but not better than Mako, Marler or Genge
Williams - not better than Sinckler and really fluffed his auditions to be his understudy
Hill - 100% deserves to be involved. No argument there.
Ewers - good player, but not as good as a lot of better back row options.
S. Simmonds - great player, but unfortunate to be competing with some exceptional talent
Maunder - can barely nail down a starting spot. No.
J. Simmonds - 100% deserves a shot. Competing with the captain and Ford (often vice captain)
Devoto - probably would be in the squad if he could stay fit for 5mins. Eddie typically picks him when he’s available.
Slade - fixture in the squad. No case to answer.
Nowell - fixture in the squad. No case to answer.
O’Flaherty - a wild card, but not better than May, Watson, Daly, Cokanasiga, Nowell or McConnochie
The Simmonds brothers and Hill can feel hard done by on past selections, but I wouldn’t bet against Hill and Joe getting called up. Sam could be, but I doubt he will be.
That do for you?