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Slightly off-topic but on the latest Aotearoa Rugby Pod, Bryn Hall talks quite highly of Edmed and makes an interesting comment about what Edmed seems to have had (or not had as the case may be) in terms of on-field communication this year in Super Rugby.

The cliche of 'your best ability is your availability' rings so true for a lot of players. I often wonder what makes some players injury-prone and others seem indestructible.

Why bother coming here when you can just watch youtube clips from any Bledisloe in the last 20 years, the last RWC or the last Argentina game? The funny thing is that I don't think any of the AB fans here have said anything like how superior the ABs are. I'm hoping for a good game. Both teams...

Again....you are in the minority on Healy. He is considered as an important part of those teams that have achieved those titles. Slipper has never been considered on anyone's 'Best Props' list. Healy has because he is considered a better prop. To say that they have had 'identical careers' is...

The extended squad has been cut down after yesterday's trial...

You would be in a small minority that ranks Slipper ahead of Healy. Slipper might be your preference but Healy has had the far better career: Leinster 4× European Rugby Champions Cup: 2009, 2011, 2012 2018 7× United Rugby Championship: 2008, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 1× European...

I don't know. All I'm saying is that Slipper is a snapshot of the struggles in Australian rugby. The fact he has so many caps is a problem. It's not his fault and he has done nothing wrong or bad. It just is what it is right now...

Sure. Nothing I have said goes against any of that. It's not about Slipper the player, it was always about what has been wrong with Australian rugby for the past decade or so...

Brumbies U16s had a trial match vs Tahs yesterday. Tahs ran up a big score. Brumbies U16s team has been selected but I don't think it's been announced yet.

The problem isn't that Slipper has never been an elite prop eg. Top 5 or someone you would think of in a All World XV. It's that he is still considered by some to be in the top 2 the Wallabies can select from. If I was a Wallaby fan, I would have hoped that someone else would have come along by...

When was Slipper ever considered as one of the best Test props in the world?

He was very impressive in the final. I hope he does end up with a Super Rugby contract.

I would laugh and laugh and laugh and then very quickly lock them back in to Super Rugby.... Huge mistake by NZR to cut SA from our competition.

The Warriors have been in the NRL since 1995 and after 30 years, Aotearoa doesn't have the base or the talent for a 2nd club. The NRL might be pushing for it but it will need a lot of propping up. To think they will have enough for 3 teams in 10-15 years shows a lack of any real knowledge of...

That 20% was never good enough to be professional. Simply making players professional to fill a team when they aren't up to that standard doesn't make losing them some kind of disaster. Australia certainly hasn't expanded to greatness since adding that 20%.

You might like to think so but Aotearoa has a pretty good domestic competition that puts us on a different 'trajectory' to Australia. Without the Rebels, hopefully we'll start seeing more competitive Austranlian Super Rugby teams in the next few years.

The ABs have Roigard coming back, Ratima and Hotham. The Wallabies would do better with a Fakatava or Funaki over White...

Meh....White isn't adding much right now - not sure why that would change in a positive direction by next year.

I hate to agree because I have become a fan in recent years but yes... he has struggled to find his pre-injury form :(

Why stick with White though? He isn't young and is unlikely to be anywhere near this squad in 2027 and he isn't a great player. He has been, at best, a solid Test player. The search has to be on to find 3 halfbacks who will be at the 2027 RWC and giving them as much competition - in the team...