Big question is whether Max is ready. I'd give him all the way up to squad submission and make a call then. We want him firing for Cas - if that means resting him or giving him a chance to get back up to speed, I don't know. 

If he's fully fit, I'd go: Rourke, Johnstone, Pratt, Scott, Walmsley, Jowitt, Lino, McMeeken, Hood, Uele, Vagana, Croft, Pitts; Smith, Atoni, Rodwell, Nikotemo.


If he's not, I'd go: Rourke, Johnstone, Pratt, Scott, Walmsley, Lino, Pitts, Rodwell, Hood, Uele, Vagana, Croft, McMeeken; Smith, Atoni, Faatili, Nikotemo.


Either way I'd start Croft and bring Nikotemo on at half time if fit.


But looking at those two teams, it makes a huge difference if Max is back. He's a quality 6 - can organise, kick, play off the cuff, and played plenty there.

When we get a half back back and Jowitt ,would like to see Rourke given a run in the and put Scott on the bench . 

Do not think our poor first half was down to the forwards ,more down to mistakes and giving penalties away resulting in very little ball in first half .Thought our Forwards got on top in the second half 

Let’s call it like it is. 

There were two players mainly responsible for the errors and issues in our first half. 


Vagana and Lino. Vagana dropped 3/4 balls cold and Lino dropped one, ripped ball on 4th tackle for a 6 again and gave away a penalty or 
2. 


They tidied up that second half but all those instances above led to us conceding field position and points. 

I hardly think you can say he dropped them cold. Vagana dropped 2 balls he received as he hit the line. 
We adjusted how he got the ball but it was too late by then.

Yes he had a stinker of a first half with and without the ball but they weren't easy unforced errors. 

There was one that went between his legs too I think with nobody close after we had spread the ball. He should have taken them all and usually he does but the facts are that the mistakes from him and Lino lead to points and put us on the back foot on numerous ocassions. 

Luckily they were sorted but we can’t be repeating  those kind of mistakes again especially against Cas. 


We move on and I’m confident they will put it right. 


I can take losing to Saints away and it being relatively close in the end but I won’t see it as acceptable to lose vs Cas at home if we are truly building to be a top 6 team. 


The ruck was diabolical though. I can see why Powell keeps raising it after games. 


Players must be annoyed fighting to get up to play the ball quickly with players straddling round them and wrestling while the refs shouting get up and play the ball. What’s our players supposed to do? Phase through defenders on top of them.