@airlie_bird wrote:
Because he's the best 13 in the squad after sick note. We were sucked into a forward battle (which is what Samoa told us they would do) and we fell for it. It then required us to have in effect 3 possibly 5 props on the field. Not Westy's style (as proven under Gentle) and he was therefore in effective in the end.
We need to learn to dictate play not the opposition. Keep discipline and learn to hold the ball. Oh and while we are at it get a full back who can catch the ball.
But if his intentions are to play a huge pack then going with Westerman to start at 13 is ridiculous, like you point out, it's not his game. I'm a fan of Westerman, think he is a good player but he has to play as a ball handling LF to be effective.
As for the Aussies, one thing you can pretty much be certain on, they won't play that badly again next week.