West Country Derby - Bath vs. Gloucester - Tuesday 22nd, 5.30

[FKAS]

Why not? it's not like 31 is horrendously past it.
IMO there's a case to be made for a winger in that situation; but not really at hooker.
Now if you (or, more to the point, Eddie) thinks that someone like Barbeary will be ready in time, then that's a different matter; but "28 is too old in the front row" is just silly.
For a front row, 28 is just the start of his physical peak.

Dunn is in great form and 28 is no age for a front row forward. In his current form he's at least the third best option. However, if you look at the bigger picture in three years time after the RWC George will be 32, Dunn will be 31 and LCD 30. It means you are really looking for three new hookers in the next RWC cycle. Succession planning needs to be a bit more organised than that. Certainly for the next 12 months we can utilise those three whilst the next one off the production line steps forward but we've got to be looking for Singleton and other hookers under 25 and starting to get them involved in squads.

I agree. When I first made the case for Dunn as 3rd choice hooker, I thought I was quite clearly talking about now. He is more than good enough to be there until younger options are actually worthy of succeeding him.

The trouble is, the only English hooker under 25 who is regularly starting is Singleton and he isn’t in the kind of form to be selected (and TBH hasn’t been in about a year).

As I posted before, I think Langdon may be making a case to leapfrog Akker, but Capon and Cutting are third choices for their clubs (don’t forget Moulds is injured ATM) and won’t be viable options for a while. Barbeary looks like a different case. As soon as his set piece game is up to speed, I think he’ll be fighting for a first team place at Wasps.

Harry Thacker is only 26 so is a little younger but isn't an Eddie style hooker. He likes his hookers on the prop size of things as opposed to the additional backrow style of hooker ala Thacker.

[Scrumhead]

Thacker is a unique case IMO. I doubt it’s his style that puts Eddie off. It’s purely because he’s small for a pro rugby player not just small for a hooker. If he were even a bit bigger, I think he’d be in with a shout.

Cowan-Dickie may have started out as a prop, but with the exception of the ‘pick and go’ aspect, I’d say his style of play is closer to an ‘additional back row’ than a prop.

My overall point is that following ‘a succession plan’ is not the same thing as capping players who are not up to it purely because they are younger than the players they’re competing with. It would be hugely unfair to pick Singleton ahead of Dunn (a far better player) purely because he’s younger. As fivepointer said a number of posts back, Singleton quite possibly won’t ever be good enough.

I’d rather Dunn keeps the seat warm until Barbeary is ready.

[jimKRFC]

but Capon and Cutting are third choices for their clubs (don’t forget Moulds is injured ATM) and won’t be viable options for a while.

Capon is probably second choice now, on the bench for the last ECC games and Pat has been putting out the strongest side available. Thacker will take some shifting though - the scrum isn't weak with him in, his line out is good and his loose play is great.

[Scrumhead]

I’m not sure whether it’s rotation or injuries, but the side named for the Bordeaux game is missing Attwood and Piutau too so I wouldn’t necessarily use it as an indication of who is first choice etc.

Byrne usually seems to be ahead of Capon. Not that I’d have it that way around if I were picking the team.

Anyway - regardless of whether he’s second or third choice I don’t think either qualifies him to be ahead of Tom Dunn right now.

[FKAS]

Thacker is a unique case IMO. I doubt it’s his style that puts Eddie off. It’s purely because he’s small for a pro rugby player not just small for a hooker. If he were even a bit bigger, I think he’d be in with a shout.

Cowan-Dickie may have started out as a prop, but with the exception of the ‘pick and go’ aspect, I’d say his style of play is closer to an ‘additional back row’ than a prop.

That's my point though. The rest of your game isn't looked at it of you haven't got the size on your side to begin with. I mean Thacker is probably only in contention for the third spot in the squad but he offers something completely different to the other contenders. Thacker may be small but his scrum technique is such that he isn't a liability though he obviously isn't going to help the scrum push people around. Lineout is actually really good.

The tour next summer might be interesting, both LCD and George could go with the Lions. Who gets a go as a result of that is currently open though Dunn starting would probably be a good foundation who comes off the bench should be more open but could just be Singleton.