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Look Christy seems pretty confident and while I get that he's not everyone's favourite journalist I really doubt he's making things up: How accurate or truthful his source was might be a different story, but he does seem to get plenty of quality leaked to him.

Yeah, while Sua'ali'i may eventually end up in the centres he really doesn't have any experience there to see him slot straight in. I'd be very surprised if Schmidt tries to rush him in there next year, particularly given we've got the lions first up. Much more likely the aim is to use him in...

The rumour that RA was blocking the deal may have more creedence now that it has happened. At very least shows there was something in the works. It going public may have been the pressure needed, maybe the tahs re-signing Reilly was the enough to get it moving, or maybe the decision was made...

Yeah that timeline definitely fits, while they had O'Connor and Creighton there really wasn't any room for him. Certainly more now, though they probably still want a bit more experience in and around the backs. Doesn't necessarily need to be a 10 though.

I have seen anything reported one way or the other on Gordon yet, but he seems very much in the frame based on the Wales/Tonga games. Have you heard they're not interested?

Ireland plus extras basically. That final EOYT test against them is going to be massive in terms of a understanding where we're at and what we'll be facing, particularly with Farrell coaching the lions next year. Doesn't hurt that it's the home nation Joe has the most familiarity with, both...

Yeah 100%, I thought Mick Heenan was really dicked around when he was bought into the Reds and dropped a year later, but it's really clear we need to be better and more proactive about bridging that gap between club and super for coaches.

Worth noting the rumour around the knights signing someone from rugby (probably Annan) was that they expected an answer this week. From this point the longer we go without hearing confirmation the less likely it becomes, particularly with O'Connor now confirmed gone.

I'm guessing the option for next year was minimal change while we're within the existing broadcast agreement and there's a Lions schedule already set in stone. Hopefully they'll explore full home and away or more interesting options going forward.

Sure, but the point was I didn't he think he showed anything in that time (in opposition to the claim that he was pretty good that week).

You've missed Feliuai to the Brumbies

Canham is not my first choice of those options but it does allow us to spell both locks where we look more in need of it (and are generally less settled). I do give a debutant arriving into that shitshow a bit of leeway, but I do also think he offers more than Gleeson though, who has looked...

Paisami is being given every chance to be fit for the first test, but is apparently more likely for Wellington. I'd also have Salakaia-Loto coming straight into the 23 too, probably starting ahead of Frost at this stage. Drop Gleeson out either to keep Tizzano, keep Canham (with Frost starting...

Squad announced: https://www.rugby.com.au/news/wallabies-squad-announcement-bledisloe-cup-series-fraser-mcreight-2024912

The word was no one was interested at his current contract price, at least once salary cap/squad limits came into it. I think this is probably a the best outcome overall as he should be the starter at Moana getting good game time. Hard to see him too keen to sign with an Australian side in the...

Pone Fa’amausili has signed with Moana: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/rugby-union/former-melbourne-rebels-and-wallabies-frontrower-pone-faamausili-signs-with-moana-pasifika/news-story/22af5287640909e3ebedea8d1099d694?amp

It'll be interesting to see how the extra rivalry games shake out, I imagine all the Australian teams will play each other twice, but the 4th side won't just be the Drua for all of them, with the Drua's most important rivalry game being Moana. If I was picking based on the recent seasons it'd...

O'Connor has also been exploring coaching a fair bit recently, MLR is exactly the sort of comp where he could sign on somewhere as a player coach and get his first step into pro coaching. Not sure if that sidesteps the salary cap in some way, but it is at least extra opportunity.

Premiership exploring a full merger with the URC, a British and Irish league, and an Anglo-Welsh league: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2024/09/12/premiership-considering-proposal-anglo-welsh-league/ The full merger feels like a non-starter (very 18-team super rugby) and the article...

Wouldn't be surprised to see the Reds have a chat to him with O'Connor now gone and Parata's Queensland ties, though they'll probably go with Mason Gordon first.