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Rugby Union
Premiership Rugby / Premiership Cup
Premiership Rugby 19/20 - the Semi Finals!
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<blockquote data-quote="Pieter Steph du Teague" data-source="post: 1004637" data-attributes="member: 72520"><p>Don't think Earl's anywhere near as strong as Faletau was and definitely nowhere near as large. Earl's only listed as 102kg. That seems a touch small to me but I can't see him being over 105. You'll struggle to find an 8 who's thrived at international level in the modern era who's been under 110. Don't get me wrong, size and strength isn't everything but at No. 8 it definitely counts for a fair bit. I wouldn't hate to see him at 8 but I think we'd run into the exact same problems that NZ had playing Savea at 8 on the weekend (for reference he's 103kg).</p><p></p><p>I actually think that having a small, fast 8 can work at international level but you need a pair of flankers who can <em>really</em> pick up the slack when it comes to carrying in the tight. I know that Willis and Curry aren't slouches with ball in hand and Underhill's improved his ball carrying but they still wouldn't meet the grade. You'd need a Dombrandt/Ewers type at 6, but Ewers isn't in contention and if you're going to start Dombrandt then you may as well just put him at 8. Any other combo with Earl at 8 just looks massively underpowered IMO.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Pieter Steph du Teague, post: 1004637, member: 72520"] Don't think Earl's anywhere near as strong as Faletau was and definitely nowhere near as large. Earl's only listed as 102kg. That seems a touch small to me but I can't see him being over 105. You'll struggle to find an 8 who's thrived at international level in the modern era who's been under 110. Don't get me wrong, size and strength isn't everything but at No. 8 it definitely counts for a fair bit. I wouldn't hate to see him at 8 but I think we'd run into the exact same problems that NZ had playing Savea at 8 on the weekend (for reference he's 103kg). I actually think that having a small, fast 8 can work at international level but you need a pair of flankers who can [I]really[/I] pick up the slack when it comes to carrying in the tight. I know that Willis and Curry aren't slouches with ball in hand and Underhill's improved his ball carrying but they still wouldn't meet the grade. You'd need a Dombrandt/Ewers type at 6, but Ewers isn't in contention and if you're going to start Dombrandt then you may as well just put him at 8. Any other combo with Earl at 8 just looks massively underpowered IMO. [/QUOTE]
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Premiership Rugby / Premiership Cup
Premiership Rugby 19/20 - the Semi Finals!
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