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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Pieter Steph du Teague" data-source="post: 887407" data-attributes="member: 72520">I think whether EJ specifically wants a big 8 or not, we need one. In the front row, Vunipola's our only ball carrier and in the second row, although the likes of Itoje, Launch, Lawes etc. can all do a job, they're not at all good international ball carriers - they specialise elsewhere. In the back row too, Robshaw will (unfortunately) remain at 6, probably with Underhill taking residence in the 7 shirt. You're not getting any carrying out of those 2. That means that ball carrying is realistically going to primarily be shared between Mako and No. 8. Mercer just isn't enough of a ball carrier for that responsibility.</blockquote>