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Force should sign Hardwick if they're allowed to

Wilson is a workhorse who runs good lines and tackles everything but he suffers from the issue of (at Test level) being decent at a few things but not a standout at any particular area relevant to his position (in 2023, he's still young and could develop any or all of these in the future). -...

BPA - yes please HH - I'd love it but seems unlikely unless there is a management change (if Heeno became coach and cordingley moved on the odds of this would shorten significantly). Cal Mac - If he's playing well for Suntory then sure have a look, LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) - Same as for HH (is more likely to take...

Ardie Savea is the best 6/8 in NZ by an absolute country mile and he's more of a 6'2 104kg type than a 6'4 115kg type. His speed, power and intensity/insanity of play is the key to his game. McMahon was a bit same. Gleeson could be similar. You don't NEED to be a massive lump to play 6/8...

I'm told that the broader company can use the operating loss of running their professional teams to offset corporate tax on their company wide profits as part of a concessional tax arrangement based in Japan's culture of citizens and companies having an obligation to do "social and collective...

Flook was outstanding. Lynagh played well. Assured kicking game and didn't overplay, but looked confident and well rounded I thought

Uru fits into the mould of a utility back 5 forward who can put a bit of pace on the game when he comes off the bench in Test matches. To be a chance of a squad spot he'd have to show that he could add more value doing that than Pete Samu (who in last few years has done that decently well for...

Kalani Thomas is playing pretty well. He's busy without being as frantic as he was last season, passing pretty accurately and underplaying his hand with few darts.

Yeah the Mad Dog has always had that amazing engine regardless of what fuel he's been putting into it.

Pincus is a qualified lawyer, he was working as one prior to his first professional rugby contract. Might be going back to it.

If you subscribe to the Darwin theory of rugby (which I do), then the benefit of the NPC for the NZ Super Rugby sides has a little bit to do with individual player development but alot more to do with the cohesion that comes from time spent playing together (e.g the Tasman backline of last few years and...

ASY (Angus Scott-Young) is the guy with a spot in medicine (which he hasn't yet taken up I'm pretty sure, doing some science related Master's degree first). Wright isn't a medical student as far as I know.

Unfortunate, the Reds persisted with him for 2 years when he really had to work on some of his fundamentals to go with his flair, and now he's starting to look like a more rounded player. I would have thought he'd be one to keep. Clearly there is big wraps on thomas but to me still looks like...

The thing that will make the biggest difference is our players from this year who aren't going to be with the Wallabies (e.g Nonggorr, Feao, Asiata, Hoopert, Nasser, Uru, Blyth, Smith, ASY (Angus Scott-Young), Sorovi and Thomas, Hegarty, Stewart, Henry, Grealy, Campbell etc). all need to keep playing for the rest...

Don't disagree with your central thesis, it would be great to have some more experienced players remain in Australia for longer (or to have more of their career left when they return from overseas). That said, your example is a dud. Genia's knee (the one he injured years ago taking a...

Wait who coached the forwards last year?

It's a classic Australian rugby problem, that a player's stock seems to rise when they aren't playing and competing with the Kiwis every week. Rodda is a great player, who showed plenty during his last season in Super Rugby and in the 18/19 international seasons but they were a long time ago now. Does...

The Mcreight and Uru thing is probably more rotation than being dropped. Wallis is an animal, had 3 or 4 outstanding seasons for Uni so is may be getting selected as a reward for his relentless toil. Apparently has a reputation for bringing big physicality from team bin juice at Reds training.

I was unimpressed by the circumstances of the departure of all the boys who left the Reds at the start of COVID. It was a bad look, but as time's gone on and I've heard whispers of what additional factors may have played a role for each (other than money and having an arrogant grub for a...

A squad speculation (beefed up in numbers due to the compressed schedule, mostly on form and partly on credit in the bank, profile of player and squad mix); LH - Slipper, Sio, Bell, Robertson TH- Tupou, AAAA, Pone Hooker - BPA, Kaitu'u, Fainga'a 2nd row - LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto), Neville, Phillip, Hosea, Timani...