Right. So from potentially our strongest team due to be named at the start of the week to having 5 first choice players out of the side on the eve of the match.
That’s football. Injuries hit every side. It’s why Webster has a squad mentality and why we operate as a group of 30. Take you back to last year - we lost
Barney for 11 weeks with his neck.
Jazz was gone for most of the season like
Metcalf is and every week we had someone out. I won’t accept excuses - we’ve talked about our depth and now is when we show it. Despite the outs, we have a decent side running out tomorrow. It’s far from decimated.
Laban has to come in now. I suspect the team will change again before kick off - the backline will stay settled and defensively looks solid with
Pompey on the wing instead of Leiatua. Expect
Pompey to play centre with Roger on the wing on defence, especially on kick returns.
I expect
Barnett to go to the bench with
Laban starting alongside
Afoa and
AFB.
Barnett prob needs to play the
Marata role this week and I expect
Ale and
Jazz to get more minutes given the heavy conditions.
I expect
Lussick to go to Cup with
Ali being 18th man.
All in all - whilst a tough assignment, we’ve got enough quality there to win.
Next week a few troops come back - hopefully Walks
DWZ Capes come back. Right now our boys have a job to do.
Two tasks - win by 1 point or more, and no injuries or suspensions.
Let’s go.