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Wright was solid last week but if that performance guarantees his place in the 15 out of position then his bar is way too low. Given the crisis of availability it is reasonable to expect selections that don't necessarily reflect the previous week's performances.

Makes no sense to carry Jock on the bench. He's a true one position player as opposed to Wright and Petaia who can more easily ape as a fullback if absolutely needed.

But he came on with almost 20 minutes to go and was also a prodigious talent.

The context of these discussions though was triggered by players debuting when a test match was in the balance. Totally see the logic in a different scenario when a game is already all but decided.

Yes the honourable loses are a lot less comforting when we also regularly lose dishonourably. Would be different if we won the games we are supposed to/are already 99% of the way there.

I think it comes down more to how we are playing in contrast to our results. Obviously there would be a correlation. Up until a week ago I was.still much higher on Rennie then I was on Cheika and Dean's with better results based on what I was seeing as seemingly more coherent and strategic play.

And why would he learn to be more in control when his coach picks him every chance and downplays the severity of his actions in the press when he could instead dead bat the question or even better just state his actions weren't acceptable. His natural ability is very, very good and his ceiling...

Call it what you like but if he keeps playing solid games he shouldn't be losing his spot to Banks or any of the wingers in the squad. What I found so impressive was that he was bankable in defence, notwithstanding our disagreement, but also provided spark in attack. That's becoming rarer for...

Thought Campbell had a blinder and hardly put a foot wrong. The missed tackle to let in the try was a very difficult one. He has to trust his winger in that scenario but the way in which Wright missed his attempt gave Jock almost no chance to put his body in the right position as he was...

Against NZ in Australia?

I mean in the time since the last world cup (2020-21) we won some close games seemingly from nowhere and now we are losing them. Clutching defeat from the jaws of victory.

We are a team that has gone from winning close games since the last world cup to losing them. No ability to close out games.

3 Campbell 2 Holloway 1 Hooper

So much good work undone in the last 15 minutes of the game. So many opportunities to close out the game missed.

Henry is a big lad. If he can string a season or two together he will not be able to help but get some exposure to higher honours. Would love to see some consecutive structured plays out the backs in the second half.

Only to say that 4 players out of 23 even at our worst in the last 20 years is hyperbole.

And now we get to the interesting part - selections. Even though we haven't improved our record against them if it was picked today I actually think we'd be looking Slippe4 at Tupou, Hooper, Valetini, Kerevi, Koroibete starting and then I reckon you could argue Skelton to start also. Plus then...

I take this comment in jest and I would actually support a combined team over Lions but there is really only the most tenuous of links to the ANZACs. Still, would definitely watch and buy a ticket if it happened in Brisbane.

I reckon Italy will be preparing for that game like mad hoping for an upset as they did against South Africa in 2016. I would still pencil that game in for Skelton though just to see what he can do. Very much not in favour of parachuting in players for the first time in a year against the...

Slipper Hooper Ikitau