Hill gamble backfires, but it's not all Joey’s fault (From Worcester News)

Hill gamble backfires, but it's not all Joey’s fault

6:52pm Sunday 11th September 2011 in Match Reports By Tom Guest, @tomguestWN #WENsport

HOW do you solve a problem like Joe Carlisle?

If he’d had any, Richard Hill would probably have been tearing his hair out as he watched his gamble to drop Andy Goode in favour of talented understudy Carlisle for the derby day trip to Kingsholm back-fire spectacularly.

When the team to face Gloucester was announced, the one name that leapt off the page was Carlisle at number 10.

Admittedly, Goode had not had his best night against Sale on the opening day and Carlisle is undeniably a gifted play-maker, but it was still a huge call to throw in the youngster from the start in front of the bear-pit that is The Shed.

Despite this, the more I thought about it, the more I came to agree with Hill’s way of thinking. Carlisle has the ability to unlock even the tightest of defences and can certainly be a top-drawer goal-kicker.

His high-profile and often costly errors in the early days of his career, I told myself and others who questioned his selection, were in the past and he has matured as a player. Maybe it was a good call to start him after all, I convinced myself.

Two exquisite touch-finders early in the game would have settled any pre-match nerves Carlisle may have had, but it all imploded in all-too-familiar circumstances with just eight minutes on the clock when he gifted the hosts the opening score.

With Warriors in possession around half-way and no noticable gap in the Gloucester defensive line, Carlisle, looked to force a pass in an optmistic bid to create something out of nothing — a trait to his game that has often been his downfall.

The ball went to ground and was gleefully gathered by home outside-centre Jonny May, who galloped in for the opening seven-pointer — a body-blow from which, Worcester would never recover.

After the match, Hill was quick to point out just how talented Carlisle is, but was stating the obvious when he admitted his fly-half didn’t have the best of games.

It is a tough one for Hill, though, as many Warriors past and present who have played and trained alongside Carlisle — most notably Australian legend Chris Latham — eulogise about his ability.

Although there will be the usual wailing and gnashing of teeth that even the slightest Carlisle error provokes among Worcester supporters, it is paramount Warriors persevere with their gifted fly-half.

Working alongside Goode — albeit preferably in a replacement capacity — will continue to aid the youngster’s game management and, for me, there is no doubt Carlisle will go on to be a top-drawer Aviva Premiership performer.

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