Aaron Hinkley

If you read Aaron Hinkley’s “bio” on the club’s website it talks about him leaving Glaws because of a lack of game time. Apart from a short period on the pitch against Munster we have yet to see him in action. Chiefs’ website gives him two appearances which surprises me as, following his rave reviews at Glaws.

As far as I can remember from his Glaws days he is what I would term a typical No 7. Jackalling, turnovers and tackles are what we can expect to see from him. His physical dimensions are those of a No 7, not enough height to make him a line-out jumper nor enough weight for heavyweight ball carrying. But do we play that sort of game? Not since Salvi and Kvesic have we had that sort of player and in any case Kev latterly was not played in that role, but rather as a bridge between Thomas Waldrom and Sam Simmonds as a No 8. Rus Tuima, playing at No8 this and last weekend is more like the Billy Vunipola or Ben Morgan No 8 that would allow the lighter Hinkley to be accommodated in the back row but how much playing time will Rus get when Simmo is available? Would it be feasible to change between the quicker, lighter No 8 with the heavy flankers to the heavier No 8 with lighter flankers when Simmo is away?

I love the “snout over the ball” type of player but we don’t seem to have any in the usual matchday 23. Do we ignore the breakdown and let the Curry boys, Quins’ Will Evans et al have their way? Have the new laws made the breakdown less contestable where everyone does a Sarries with fifteen players on their feet spread across the pitch? Our back row for the last two games has consisted of a very young, inexperienced No8, a good No 6 and a good but aging No 7. None of these are the breakdown contesting kind of player.

As usual there are more questions than answers. Who’d be a Premiership DoR!