Travelling Wilbury wrote:
All the best Craig and thanks for your efforts with us.
Personally, I thought overall you went well for us.
Maybe age is catching up, and we've been talking on here about possible incoming forwards, surely if its caught up on him, we should be looking at younger props than some of the names being brandished about
That’s how I see it.
Being a prop like all positions has changed a lot in the past 20 years. It’s all bout speed and impact and as an add on if possible an off loading game.
On top of this modern training methods mean players are physically stronger sooner. As they are generally full time from about 18 they also learn sooner. They are also smaller or at least more compact, by smaller I mean in height, which to me though still useful is not as important as it once was. You can be shorter than a winger now and be a great prop.
Add all this together and the peak age of a prop probably drops as low a 26. When I started watching it was nearer 30. In terms of a playing career that’s a long time.
Koppy was a really strong mobile player in his day but it’s no quite there now imho.
Fifita on the other hand may gat away with it. Best will in the world fitness was never big Daves calling card. He is oddly quite fit but that’s more luck than judgement. He can play how he wants due to an incredible self belief and a formidable skill set. Age won’t retire his sort they retire themselves but they are a rare breed.
CK has made the right move as has the club. Gave us two good years one in incredibly difficult circumstances.