H/pool win.
Ahhh that makes more sense, you quoted the wrong post. It threw me.
I imagine a combination of reasons but it's obviously just educated guesswork.
New to the English game.
I believe hadn't played for a considerable period of time when he signed so that's not going to help fitness levels at all and explains the early season fitness levels. Wrong to compare the first 3 months of the season with the last 3 as a result
As why he wasn't selected for that middle period was I guess due to the manager not fully trusting him, over reliance on the old guard, not being able to identify his best position in the system he was adopting. Clearly he didn't get the best out of RR and as a result he put in quite a few ineffective and poor performances so was dropped. Subsequent games shows that was primarily NAs fault .
IB came in and either RR was unfit , or had a poor attitude in training or a bit of both and was one of one's singled out and made public. That tactic which got a little criticism at the time has clearly worked a treat. IB saw the ability, and unlike NA and Leigh Curtis knew where to play him , where his best position was.
Well that's my story and I'm sticking to it