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They are still distinct organisations in many ways. If it was just Raiwalui/McKellar (or previously Coleman) saying no then I doubt that would be phrased as RA knocking it on the head. The wording implies it's come from Horne (or his department). Again though, this is all very much speculation...

Biggest thing would probably be making sure the Drua plays Moana that weekend so there's not a full strength side vs a depleted one, but I get the impression they're moving that way anyway. Could even look at booking a Fiji v Samoa/Tonga test in too, though that may draw too many players out...

There's a decent group of Reds players over there enjoying a bit of time away, I know guys like Campbell are big into recovery and training processes so it's not too surprising they'd look into something like that. That said, I have also heard that Petaia has received interest from that...

That part we don't really know, and from Christy's (admittedly throw away) line it was RA who "knocked it on the head", not the tahs saying no.

It's particularly dire when a guy like Ikitau who has played it for the Brumbies and Rennie's wallabies is making these mistakes. Defence absolutely takes time to bed down and get right, but for quite a few of these guys this should be the most familiar part of the whole wallabies setup.

Trades/transfers in contract have happened before - Quade to the Rebels, Hunt swapped for Hegarty between the Reds and tahs, etc. There's a lot of information we don't have here (really just a throw line from Christy at this point), but it's not wild to suggest that it would be worth RA...

Hoiles really nailed it with these lines: We should also be picking Pocock, who's clearly still a capable representative at the highest level. I haven't seen him put a foot wrong on the rugby field in years.

Yeah, as mentioned there's O'Connor, Daugunu is back offering centre/wing cover alongside Flook and Ryan, Taj Annan has experience across the backline, Jock and Kalani have been building out utility and there's a solid chance Cartwright comes in for that too. I have a sneaking suspicion they...

The Reds did state that they wanted to keep him, but Creighton felt he'd get more game time elsewhere which is fair enough. It definitely means there is more room for Gordon to come in, but I also don't know that we desperately need more than 3 flyhalves on the books, so it might depend on how...

I know it says earlier this year, that's part of what's so ridiculous about it. Gamble's resigning was announced May this year and he wasn't in better form than McReight or Wright and you'd have a hard time arguing he was in better form than Wilkin, Tizzano, Reimer or Scott. Certainly he wasn't...

Parts of it I understand and sympathize with, particularly picking up the pieces of last year and still needing to get the new contracting model in place (which has been a shit show in and of itself), but Charlie Gamble getting a top up? Why on earth would we spend money on a guy who has never...

It's a bit of both though, the tahs being in a position to replace more than a 3rd of their squad (and a bunch of starters in that) speaks to how poorly the list planning had been going. As strong a squad as this looks it's almost starting from scratch next year, only a short few years after...

Hell of a lot of gamesmanship from Auckland there. I agree with most of your post around the refs time management and awareness but I do take issue with what Auckland did, I think they took the interference with the ball too far. Getting a bit of moisture on it from the jerseys/sweat is one...

That's a very narrow definition that doesn't really fit with how people use it - World Class isn't the best player in the position in the world, it's competing at the highest level for that position. Selecting a world 23 is a useful starting point, but the line for World Class is in...

3 Bell 2 Wilson 1 Tupou

Slipper needs a break but I'm not sure Kailea is quite ready at scrum time either, so probably bring in one of Hodgman or Robertson to see how they go. Schoupp if fit could also be an option, he was very strong in the scrum this year. Whoever we go with at loosehead I might also look at...

He really wasn't up to it today (or this season really). I can believe he still has something to offer in gold, but probably only with a proper off season to recover. He probably shouldn't feature again this year. That said, as good a prospect as Kailea looks, I'm not quite sure he's ready for...

Too easy for Tate, good eyes up play between him and Wilson there.

Phenomenal tackle, but I like our option from the scrum there, looked slick.

Slipper is maybe having the worst game of his career, 139 tests in.