I mentioned previously this would happen. The Test squad will pit themselves against the best of the rest. A few positions in the starting line up are up for grabs here. This game will happen at the next available opportunity AFTER the Gamblors have signed their 15th player. Here's how they line up: Test Match Team: First Half 1. Dave Eggman 2. Tom Delonge 3. David Dafter 4. Heath Davis 5. Jason Denton 6. Callum Laing 7. Michael Chung 8. Brett Gemmell 9. Robert Cribb 10. Ed Ames 11. Lucas Schaw 12. Gareth Weaver 13. Andrew James (swap with Schaw @ 20 minutes) 14. Regan Hutchinson 15. Jordan Logan Test Match Team: 2nd Half 1. Benny Read 2. Eddie Morris 3. Shane Masters 4. James McDougal 5. Sam Verigotta 6. Simon Laing 7. [20 minutes Chung, 20 Minutes Callum Laing] 8. Marcuss Deane 9. Luke Pilgrim 10. Jake Luffman 11. Al Farnsworth 12. Paddy Orr 13. Steve Cambridge 14. Al Son 15. Bobby Blunder Best of the Rest 1. Wes Welker 2. Alan Izett 3. Joshua Ritchie 4. James Torres 5. John McGrath 6. Simon Humble 7. Ben Manera 8. Theo Miokovic 9. Aaron Hunt 10. Matthew Scoble 11. Damien Taylor 12. Sam Graham 13. Chris Golding 14. Ben Herd (in the Test squad, but playing for this team) 15. Ben Jacobs 16. Sam Bakkum 17. Siege Morgan 18. John Heads 19. Kelvin Fung 20. Dion Alessi 21. Morgan Burridge 22. Ben Storer
Gun!! Have been waiting for this tbh. Didn't want to ask about it, in fear of it being delayed because of my asking pleased to get at least half a game for the squad!
Hooo. Fair point. I've got you at #5 and Doog at #4 in my spreadsheet, so must have bollocksed it up when typing it in. Consider it fixed.
Nah - there's definitely a split between the 1st and 2nd half line ups. Blunder, Marcuss, Benny, yourself/Paddy, Pilgrim/Luffers, Verigoat & Farny would all be on my pre-Trial 1st XV.
I just looked and felt that apart from Marcuss I think a lot of the positional battles that you mention there are quite close. I wouldn't have said those places were a lot better, whereas the front three in the first squad is much better, as are the flankers, and you.
Both centres, Blunder, Farny, Luffers and Veri at the very least tbph. So gagf. Forgot about Gazza, so would say Paddy. So including myself that's 6 positions where I rate the 2nd half team higher and that's off the top of my head without having looked back at the sides. Just seen Heef's above post and would add Benny in. So that's 7.
I'd say Verigoat was better than me in S3, tbh. Or at least as good as. The front rowers; yes, the 1st half line up has players that should be superior to those in the 2nd half. However, I'm more interested in the tight battles. I'd say I've got the front row combination pretty much pencilled in already.