Recent content by Hogan

To be fair, all our 10’s get singled out if they have a below par performance. It’s such a crucial position, they are always in the spotlight and the team’s performance more often than not usually hinges on how the main playmaker performs.

Concerning times for young Lynagh with the news of another failed HIA. Just as concerning that he came off with tight hamstrings. That’s been an ongoing issue for him unfortunately. His long term health is his main priority. These continued head knocks highlight the reasons why coaches tend to...

Yes agree Wilson. Donaldson would be ahead of Edmed in the pecking order. Once Donaldson returns from injury I think I read somewhere that O’Connor will then head to Leicester to fulfill his contract obligations. Donaldson and Lynagh will then battle it out through to the WC with Lolesio to...

Spot on BR. You want a 10 who can put doubt in the defenders minds and create space and attacking opportunities for his outside backs. JOC (James O'Connor), Edmed and Donaldson do that best.

Why would JOC (James O'Connor) be on the bench? Both he and Edmed deserve to be retained for the first Argies Test. Lynagh will need to earn his stripes at training. His form was patchy during the Lions series and O’Connor has proved the benefit of experience in the playmaking role.

Missed conversions and penalties have cost us a Lions series and a clean sweep in South Africa. And O’Connor’s line kicking was average to say the least. Very little distance which limited our lineout maul. I think Kellaway will fill the 15 role now that Wright is injured. Mac Grealy might be...

It’s a very good point you make. Very hard to build combinations and cohesion in a squad with so many changes. It does seem that the Tahs are always looking for that shiny new thing who is going to make a difference.

I was referring to Donaldson (before he was injured) and Edmed. Both will be in the mix for the WC in ‘27 together with Lynagh and possibly Lolesio. JOC (James O'Connor) won’t be around thus my comment re his selection.

It will end in tears. Playing at altitude, JOC (James O'Connor) will be lucky to see out the first half. His original selection is a mystery to me (prior to Donaldson getting injured). Surely now is the time to be giving our young playmakers as much time as possible in the driver’s seat in preparation for the...

In the earlier trial against Fiji and the 1st Test against the Lions, Donaldson made an immediate impact on the team’s attack when he came on. He sparked the attack…getting the ball to width and space on the edges which Lynagh struggled to do against the Lions. Lynagh simply caught the ball...

If Meredith can perform next year like he did in season 2025, he’ll start every game. He offers much more in attack than Edmed who is a bit of a shoveller like Lolesio.

I agree TT. I predict Meredith to start over Edmed next year. He is a terrific player with a great skill set and definitely offers more in attack than Edmed. Would be great for his development if they took on this year’s Spring Tour.

He didn’t have to play the house down. He simply had to execute the game plan which I thought he and Tom Wright did superbly in trying conditions constantly pinning the Lions down in their own half. Considering Donaldson hadn’t played for two weeks and came on at a crucial time in the game, I...

A fair point re combinations as successful teams have great combinations and years and years of playing time together. I simply chose a backline with a view to all out attack. Lynagh will only get better with time but I read somewhere that he only ran for 4 metres in 80 mins last weekend. Imo...

My backline for Game 3. Let’s go all out attack which worked very effectively in the 1st half last Saturday but unfortunately the team put the cue in the rack in the 2nd half and only scored 3 points. Way too conservative for mine. Keep doing what was working so well. We have troubled the Lions...