Scrum half surprises

By Jason Harris
August 5 2002

With Kyran Bracken being the only fit no9 that will take the field at Coventry, just who will be backing him up? Youngster Michael Aspinall is out injured and new recruit Morgan Williams has not yet joined the sqaud. So Buck Shelford is putting in a radical plan of attack.

There is no doubt that Bracken will not relish 100 minutes of non-stop rugby so there will come a time on Tuesday evening that a non-specialist scrum half will be put into emergency service.

Morgan Williams will not be there as he is on his way back to Canada for some rest before joining his new team mates on the second leg of the Japanese tour later this month. Michael Aspinall, as reported earlier, is out with a shoulder injury. So who could Coach Shelford press into emergency service?

In a surprise move, Shelford hinted that French virtuoso Thomas Castaignede could step into the breach along with utility man Brett Sparg. It will be interesting to see how these two will get on if called up to do battle with the Coventry no9.

The Saracens chief has made it clear that players are going to learn thoroughly not only their own playing positions, but others as well and it looks like Sparg and Castaignede are going to be thrown in at the deep end should Bracken not last the distance.