Munro Selects Team On Best Fit

Newcastle Herald

Thursday September 18, 2008

James Gardiner RUGBY UNION

IT does not matter which way you look at it, four does not go into three.

Nor does does five for that matter.

The mathematical imbalance is something Merewether coach Tony Munro has dealt with all season. He has five quality back-rowers at his disposal to fill three spots.

Injury to Ben Dubyk five weeks ago reduced the equation to four into three.

Captain Jamie Lind has a mortgage on one place, leaving Ben Finnie, Adam Princehorn and Lachlan Hornsby to battle for the other two.

Last week Finnie and Hornsby got the nod. This week it is Finnie and Princehorn.

"Each weeks we size up the opposition and go with the combination we believe is best suited," Munro said. "Princehorn plays an up-tempo game. He is very athletic and gives us an edge against a mobile pack like University.

"Against a more physical team, Lachlan is more at home. It all depends on the situation."

Dubyk resumed light contact work this week after fracturing his eye socket and cheekbone in a collision with his own teammate in round 20.

In Dubyk's absence, Finnie has stepped up and assumed control of the lineout.

"He has given us some maturity and leadership," Munro said. "How he plays the way he does with the body he has been given amazes me. There is nothing of him but he gets through a power of work.

"He may not be a dynamic ball-runner like Dubyk but his work-rate and ability to win ball at the breakdown more than makes up for it."

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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