RugbyRebels

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Wed Nov 12, 2025 10:02 pm Maybe it’s just the nature of arguing on the internet but the Arundell at fullback thing seems a strange thing to be bothered by at this point.

Yes he is very fast, yes he is a good broken field runner (not that I think we’ve really seen this in… years?) but the other arguments for him only go as far as he might be okay at catching a high ball or tackling or kicking.

It doesn’t feel much different to suggesting we put IFW there to me. Even Roebuck at fullback seems a huge amount more logical to me. It certainly feels like it’s currently much easier to make use of his talents out on the wing than anywhere else.

He’s got plenty of time and will probably get some chances there at some point (assuming it’s even his favoured position) for Bath or in a lesser game for England.

TheDasher wrote: ↑Thu Nov 13, 2025 11:51 am Marcus at 9 would have the acceleration to be a real running threat... He's also more tenacious by character and would be a real nuisance. Ford could just be Wigglesworth 2.0, no bad thing but not as exciting.

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Nov 13, 2025 9:47 am

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Thu Nov 13, 2025 9:30 am

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Nov 13, 2025 7:54 am Ford has apparently been training at 9 a little bit so Marcus might be as well. Would open potential 7:1 bench splits in future.

Welcome to... what? 2018?
It just means that they can step in when the SH is at the bottom of a ruck, receiving treatment, or has been shown a yellow card. SH is probably the most instinctive position on the pitch, and needs to be grooved with lots of game time there.

Ford and MSmith would both have made excellent France-style SHs (as I've said for years - see also Ryan Lamb, Kyle Eastmond and a few others) - had they been tried there at U16 level.
The SH/FH combos are essentially all SHs who learned FH play play, or have been playing both from a very young age. I can't think of a single FH who then learnt SH play to the standard of starting a PRC match there during an injury crisis.

I always tended to look down on the idea of Ford playing 9 over the last decade or so when it's been brought up but the only time I've seen him do it (during a Wigglesworth sin bin period Vs Saints at the Gardens) he was phenomenal. Couple of on the money box kicks and then a drop goal from a goal line drop out.

With it being used in the context of a 7:1 bench you are probably only ever looking at it being used in the case of an injury or if the 9 is completely gassed so for the final 10 mins.

TheDasher wrote: ↑Thu Nov 13, 2025 11:51 am Marcus at 9 would have the acceleration to be a real running threat... He's also more tenacious by character and would be a real nuisance. Ford could just be Wigglesworth 2.0, no bad thing but not as exciting.

Lizard wrote: ↑Thu Nov 13, 2025 8:48 pm
Playing 9 and 10 used to be more common. In the ‘90s, Jon Preston played 10 tests for the All Blacks. He played 10 four times (2 starts, 2 bench) and 9 five times (4 starts, 1 bench), and he once was force to replace Jeff Wilson on the wing.

Mr Mwenda wrote: ↑Fri Nov 14, 2025 11:19 am

Lizard wrote: ↑Thu Nov 13, 2025 8:48 pm
Playing 9 and 10 used to be more common. In the ‘90s, Jon Preston played 10 tests for the All Blacks. He played 10 four times (2 starts, 2 bench) and 9 five times (4 starts, 1 bench), and he once was force to replace Jeff Wilson on the wing.

I always somehow associate it as a French thing. Didn't Michalek and possibly also Parra and Yachvilli do this for France sometimes. I have a feeling that Dupont moves to ten sometimes as well but maybe that was Toulouse and a one off.

Stom wrote: ↑Fri Nov 14, 2025 12:03 pm

Mr Mwenda wrote: ↑Fri Nov 14, 2025 11:19 am

Lizard wrote: ↑Thu Nov 13, 2025 8:48 pm
Playing 9 and 10 used to be more common. In the ‘90s, Jon Preston played 10 tests for the All Blacks. He played 10 four times (2 starts, 2 bench) and 9 five times (4 starts, 1 bench), and he once was force to replace Jeff Wilson on the wing.

I always somehow associate it as a French thing. Didn't Michalek and possibly also Parra and Yachvilli do this for France sometimes. I have a feeling that Dupont moves to ten sometimes as well but maybe that was Toulouse and a one off.

Yes on all. Except that Dupont could play anywhere, he's such a freak of nature!

TheDasher wrote: ↑Fri Nov 14, 2025 12:42 pm Imagine how high Antonio and crew could throw him in the lineout...

Lizard wrote: ↑Fri Nov 14, 2025 5:01 am I’ll be interested to see what you lot think of Roigard and Ratima.

I’m not convinced by Roigard, but that might be because he’s trying to fill the shoes of Nug. Ratima is usually good off the bench.

Puja wrote: ↑Fri Nov 14, 2025 2:06 pm

Lizard wrote: ↑Fri Nov 14, 2025 5:01 am I’ll be interested to see what you lot think of Roigard and Ratima.

I’m not convinced by Roigard, but that might be because he’s trying to fill the shoes of Nug. Ratima is usually good off the bench.

I've been under the impression that they're both very decent and nippy 9s, of the kind that we'd kill for as a backup to Mitchell. What's wrong with them?

Puja

Lizard wrote: ↑Fri Nov 14, 2025 6:22 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Fri Nov 14, 2025 2:06 pm

Lizard wrote: ↑Fri Nov 14, 2025 5:01 am I’ll be interested to see what you lot think of Roigard and Ratima.

I’m not convinced by Roigard, but that might be because he’s trying to fill the shoes of Nug. Ratima is usually good off the bench.

I've been under the impression that they're both very decent and nippy 9s, of the kind that we'd kill for as a backup to Mitchell. What's wrong with them?

Puja

They’ve both got a serious problem of not being Aaron Smith

Roigard, in the modern way, takes far too long with his kicks. And even then they are often inaccurate.

Ratima I’m ok with, as an impact 9. He can make shit happen. He doesn’t yet have much presence on the field but that’s an experience and confidence thing.

Lizard wrote: ↑Fri Nov 14, 2025 6:22 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Fri Nov 14, 2025 2:06 pm

Lizard wrote: ↑Fri Nov 14, 2025 5:01 am I’ll be interested to see what you lot think of Roigard and Ratima.

I’m not convinced by Roigard, but that might be because he’s trying to fill the shoes of Nug. Ratima is usually good off the bench.

I've been under the impression that they're both very decent and nippy 9s, of the kind that we'd kill for as a backup to Mitchell. What's wrong with them?

Puja

They’ve both got a serious problem of not being Aaron Smith

Puja wrote: ↑Fri Nov 14, 2025 6:39 pm

Lizard wrote: ↑Fri Nov 14, 2025 6:22 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Fri Nov 14, 2025 2:06 pm

I've been under the impression that they're both very decent and nippy 9s, of the kind that we'd kill for as a backup to Mitchell. What's wrong with them?

Puja

They’ve both got a serious problem of not being Aaron Smith

Roigard, in the modern way, takes far too long with his kicks. And even then they are often inaccurate.

Ratima I’m ok with, as an impact 9. He can make shit happen. He doesn’t yet have much presence on the field but that’s an experience and confidence thing.

Yeah, we've had that problem with our scrum-halves for years!

Puja

Mr Mwenda wrote: ↑Fri Nov 14, 2025 11:19 am

Lizard wrote: ↑Thu Nov 13, 2025 8:48 pm
Playing 9 and 10 used to be more common. In the ‘90s, Jon Preston played 10 tests for the All Blacks. He played 10 four times (2 starts, 2 bench) and 9 five times (4 starts, 1 bench), and he once was force to replace Jeff Wilson on the wing.

I always somehow associate it as a French thing. Didn't Michalek and possibly also Parra and Yachvilli do this for France sometimes. I have a feeling that Dupont moves to ten sometimes as well but maybe that was Toulouse and a one off.