FIOS wrote:
Yes I did actually WATCH the game hence why I was making the observation that Williams is much better in the stand off role than he is at hooker. I am aware that he played both roles last night - when he was playing the stand off role he was 10 x better. His tackling is not good enough to be hooker and his attacking play doesnt suit the positon, but at stand off he absolutely stands out in the very best way - his step is superb and he was a joy to watch.
His tackling isn't good enough? That's one of the strongest parts of his game and an area where he's better than Powell (and Powell's a decent defender too). Williams might not have the aggression of McIlorum (but who does) but defensively he's quite impressive, especially considering his age and the fact that hooker is an unfamiliar position.
As for his attacking play, it's not typically what you'd expect from a hooker but that's only to be expected at this stage. He's more direct than both Powell and McIlorum though and he made a couple of breaks from hooker and got a try from close range from dummy half, which isn't as easy as it looks, McIlorum rarely manages it.
