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You have missed Sotutu - I'd suggest Sotutu is ahead of Grace - Sotutu is an incumbent and playing well - Grace i'm not sure has done enough to get back in though with playoffs still to come lots can still change with form/injury etc. I would like to see one of Pita Gus or MMT in as another ball...

I agree with you but it doesn't look like changing anytime soon.

That was an intense game. Can see why it was called test match like. Brumbies scramble defence was fantastic. Nic White was everywhere. Tom Hooper looks a good prospect - mobile and big frame. For the Blues Sotutu really stood out I thought - particularly with a lack of bulk at 6 to support...

If Cane can't play due to injury then Papali'i will start at 7. They (Ardie and the ABs) are pretty adamant these days that Ardie is an 8.

Smart move by Big Karl. I don't think he would have cracked the ABs squad this year barring injuries.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2022/05/10/second-nz-side-set-to-shadow-all-blacks-for-foreseeable-future/

Well that was fun. Blues scored some champagne tries even against half-arsed defence. Telea's try and Rieko's 3rd try were top drawer. Rebels need to look at the Tahs turnaround this year to get a blueprint of how to get some starch back next year.

Surprised to see Leali’ifano there after the shot he copped from Ray Nu'u last week. It is frustrating that Visinia has played so little this season after such a strong NPC for Hawke's Bay - however Toala went well at 15 last week I thought.

Very well summarised. Baffles me after 5 or so years in the ABs that McLeod is reappointed as defence coach. in addition to being a selector Schmidt is going to be involved in strategy/tactics etc as well so will be interesting if there's some fresh ideas.

Some believe that he has simply been burnt out by being overplayed by Razor the last few Super seasons. The backup hookers Crusaders haven't had a ton of game time in recent seasons (unless injury enforced) hence why Makalio shifted south to the Highlanders. Combine that with a pretty heavy AB...

I think he's off contract at the end of the year - if he's looking elsewhere (and fair enough) then I don't mind not playing him if it's not necessary. Blues can't keep everyone.

Would like to see Zarn spend some time at 10 if the game allows it. My gut says it won't.

Sounds like Perofeta will start at 10 with Beauden having an AB rest week.* *The AB rest weeks don't make any sense to me as they don't seem to account for players having already missed games.

Vailanu. He's bounced around. Tongan, who got a scholarship to Auckland Grammar, who then went to Rebels U20s/Rising, then Sydney club rugby / MLR now Tahs. Wikpedia also says he was poor on Taree.

I wasn't trying to diminish the Tahs effort - and I agree with the point that it was the Tahs commitment and pressure that made the Crusaders play poorly. The first half was a blowout - it was 17-0 and rightly so - Tahs were accurate and high energy and the Crusaders were passive and paid for...

Presumably with Marvel able to shift the stands in slightly for rectangular sports that the views will be better than they would be at MCG (so far away).

Yeah JK and Wilson are awful it's like when they tried to attribute the Six Nations high quality rugby to kiwi coaches - when the two kiwi coached teams finished 5th and 6th. Justin Marshall on Stan over the weekend had the odd good point but it's clear his knowledge of players and teams...

I look at it from a slightly different view. I think he's going to have more influence that that because if he's not then there's no real point bringing him in. The whole idea of bringing him in is to get a different set of eyes and a different perspective. Because I think we agree Foster...

I think the point is Dan54, frankly the team is in a different spot than it was under Hansen. Given how they went against Boks, Ireland and France last year, plus Super form so far this year - there's a real case to be made that there should be a real cleanout in the ABs and new blood should...

Another one to put his hand up this week was Marino Mikaele-Tu'u - stood up very well to the physical Fijians. Offers more size, power and ball running ability than the likes of Jacobson, Robinson, Grace (lol) etc.