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Interesting that Ben Kimber of the Rugby Ruckus (ex journo) has been hired by Stan as a consultant to help them get ready for the rugby. He's a genuine rugby brain so it's a good early sign IMO.

On rewatching the game, it's clear to me that our kicking played an enormous role in our victory. It was a textbook 'how to beat the All Blacks' game. Kicks were either contestable, or deep and into touch. I didn't keep a count but we were almost perfect in this regard. It's genuinely the best...

That Halloran article boggles the mind. The notion that by not re-signing with Fox we missed our opportunity to 'reset' is a brain-twisting logical leap. I know she has to sing from the company hymn sheet but man that's just so out of touch with where the rugby public are right now. This forum...

I'd be interested to know how much the changes have to do with form, and how much they have to do with trying a number of options as a part of a four year plan. We've seen Samu, Hanigan, L.Wright and Swinton now tried in the back row. We've seen Simone, Paisami, Lolesio, McDermott, Gordon and...

This is one of the worst on-paper Wallaby XVs I've ever seen. Injuries are obviously a factor, but man it does not inspire confidence.

Ah, so we're judging Steve Tandy on his 2020 Scotland performance, rather than his 2019 Waratahs performance? I seem to recall we weren't a defensive juggernaut on our way to a 12th place finish. In reality judging specialist coaches from afar is a mug's game. Sure you can make some wider...

Oh no, I'm with you on DHP. He was a pretty sizeable cog. How many high balls did he spill? At least three. And when he did have the opportunity to run it back, he was cumbersome. I'll give him the run and back him to improve, but he needs to show up on Saturday to keep his spot.

Do we, though? My impression of the game on Saturday was that our issue wasn't physicality at all. When the play slowed down we put on plenty of hits, and our forward ball-running was solid enough. Our issues in defence came when play broke down, so instead of physicality I'd be looking at...

Trevor Hosea was the guy who really caught my eye in the trial game. He is a genuine long term prospect. Looks to have the mobility and lineout ability of a Simmons with the ball-running skills of a LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto).

No, your healthier bank account means you don't have to sell TV rights to the highest bidder and can take on an FTA deal with less cash but more long-term upside.

It's all a grand balancing act, and I expect RA are busy doing their sums. Given the current climate, there would be a huge temptation to take the bigger cash packet and stick with Fox. A difference of $5m a year may not seem like much but it can mean the difference between, say, paying our...

FTA isn't the silver bullet to fix all our problems, with the A-League as something of a cautionary tale. And small differences to $$ mean a lot at this point in time, given how broke we are. However, the best argument for 9/Stan is 'it's time'. The partnership with Fox is ready to end, as has...

Again we're getting virtually no ads on Fox as it stands, so it can't get any worse.

Ended up being a 2-on-2 with Hooper, he was never going to gas/step them so I think he took the right option. Staying in position for the cleanout was the real smart play. We executed on that try so well, from Hanigan's initial break everyone did their jobs perfectly.

Yeah it comes from a place of wanting to see the Boks on our shores again! Be great to have the World Cup Champs involved. Even if it's a bit later, and a Barbarians team play the Argies for the first week. That might be a good outcome for almost everyone, given the Argies will be undercooked...

I understand the caution, and as you say RA would be the same. But at the end of the day as a fan I'd want them to try and push through and make it work, even with a scrappy squad of debutants. Who cares if you lose every game? The expectation will be so low that any remotely competitive...

I noticed a few borderline tackles on Mo'unga, I don't mind it at all. I'd classify it as 'playing on the edge' rather than 'dirty'. If you get the timing right then you can smash the 10 and plant a seed of doubt in his head everytime he has the ball. If you get it wrong you concede the penalty...

The ABs of the McCaw and Read eras would have won that game, I have no doubt. This AB team is not the same as those teams. It's an obvious statement in some respects, but it is worth noting I think.

Naisirani being left out of the 40-odd man squad is hands down the most baffling selection decision from a Wallaby coach I've ever seen. Am sure it's been discussed 10 pages ago, but I still can't get over it. There's been plenty of head-scratching selections over the last 20 years, but to...

I have no idea where Tolu Latu is or if he's been playing at all, but he was outstanding for us in the World Cup and would be in my top three to return for the RC. Folau Fainga'a is a good young player, but him running out against the ABs doesn't fill me with confidence. I'd be throwing Latu...