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We used Ben McCalman a fair amount at number 8 in that RWC. You'd pick Valetini there in a heartbeat over him.

Wildly different players. Yeah, Fardy at 6 as a good lineout option with a high workrate and Valetini at 8 as the main ball runner from the backrow would seem a very complementary skillset to pair together. Essentially why we played Pocock and Hooper together was we didn't have anyone like...

I'm more like 80%. I'll be surprised if he isn't capped on the EOYT.

That's why I said 1-1 vs Argentina.

How many times have we played Argentina this year?

2-0 vs Wales, 1-1 vs Argentina.

Because I'm not sure he'll still be here in year 6. I wouldn't say I'm lowering my expectations. I just don't think our playing group is potentially the best in the world and just needs the right coach.

Who says anyone is doing that? The view of fans also has zero impact on the actual result. If I get up at 3am on a Sunday morning expecting to watch us lose to England my pessimism doesn't increase our chances of losing. Looking at the games we are realistically going to start as underdogs in...

My other thought was it could be some Dismal Pillock performance art. Essentially something polar opposite to his last performance art concept on this forum (Shiggins).

I think it is more a case of the Top 14 being so rich and powerful that the FFR is largely beholden to them.

It's not but I think until those touring sides aren't competitive it's hard to place too much blame on the FFR. The top 14 final is scheduled for the last weekend of June and then the first test is two weekends later on the other side of the world. From a player welfare perspective I think it...

Pictured: barbarian

Has it? Until France gets belted in one of these series it's hard to argue that they're sending out teams that aren't competitive. Also, which New Zealand fans are only buying tickets on the basis of star players in the opposition? Seems like a stretch to suggest that the French stars are...

This bit is just flat-out wrong. Invariably the ATO is the largest unrelated creditor in most insolvencies because they do allow businesses to continue trading without seeking the appointment of an administrator and then wind up action for a long time. Likewise, the reason why the ATO ends up...

Their statement is (like most of the others against the trial) all over the place. So they haven't got enough red card data to make an informed decision from the trials that have happened so far? That's why you now have a larger trial! The fact that the trials so far haven't provided any...

Sure, but as a secondary skillset you are going to need to be so much better at it than the player who is better at the core skills of the position for it to win you selection. I don't think Stewart is close to being that good as a pilferer.

One of the reasons why Kerevi was so good in that 2021 season is that his passing and kicking game were also working well. He was a lot more than just a crash ball 12.

First Joseph Sua'ali'i sightings. Apparently Dave Porecki is back training as well.

Sure, but 10 is a pretty different position to wing and Sexton's game has never revolved around his athleticism. As I said, I'm not ready to discard either Koroibete or Kerevi but their age definitely forms part of the consideration. At some point it won't just be a temporary form slump and...