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Were I faced with a rampaging Fijian openside, I'd simply knock him back with a low, driving tackle, before finding my feet and jackalling the ball - either winning a turnover or forcing a penalty. It's a real blight on Cheika's coaching that Hodge did not know to do that in the situation he...

Really? Both are world class players, and I reckon the Welsh would much rather face LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) than Pocock.

I suppose there are two main decisions that have been made, and I see the logic behind both. Once you determine Beale can't catch a high ball (and there is enough evidence to suggest that this is the case), then benching him against Wales is a prudent strategy. So DHP comes in, and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) is...

Both Samoans have been cited.

I thought the second was far worse than the first one. I'd give a yellow for the first and a red for the second.

I really like that.

One thing I noticed from rewatching the first half: I really like the little touches James O'Connor has at 13. Specifically, he is really good at straightening our backline attack, fixing defenders and putting his outside men in space. It's not highlights package stuff (often it's just a case...

Why do you set yourself up for disappointment like that? Setting a goal that is 95% unlikely to happen. This is supposed to be fun, right? It's like being a Greens supporter and expecting them to form Government on election day. Never mind. It's a match thread and I suppose it's getting...

Of course. That's fine. Not really sure of your point - that there's an alternate way to look at this? Sure. I'd be frustrated if I was Fijian too, it's never good to see a player go off like that. .

I'd suggest the big difference between the two incidents is that Barrett actually cocked his arm and carried out a textbook shoulder charge, whereas Hodge to me is trying to make a legal tackle, but in his clumsy attempt his shoulder made contact with Yato's head. Now that may warrant a...

Maybe so, but he's played two games since the Perth test. One against the ABs at Eden Park, the other against a fired-up Fiji where we made a heap of errors (of which only one or two were his fault). I agree he hasn't been great, but I'm not ready to drop him yet. And we've tried To'omua at 10...

Good win. We knew Fiji would come out firing, and we knew if we hung tough we'd come away in the last 20-30. Our tactics in the first 25 minutes were bizarre, but I'll put that down to early tournament nerves and over-enthusiasm. Once they settled down it was really one-way traffic. I'd...

Fainga'a is a solid player, who had a good Super season. He's had plenty of chances to cement his place in the Wallaby team, but has struggled to impose himself on international rugby. Maybe he's slightly too small, maybe he's just young, maybe it's a confidence thing, I don't know. He hasn't...

And it doesn't stop at rugby, either. Justin Langer is right off BR too, as evidenced by his continual selection of Matthew Wade. .

The squad is fine enough. Jones and Banks are unlucky, and Dempsey and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) are a bit fortunate. But in reality we're debating the 30th and 31st man here. Fine if you want to spin your wheels about it I suppose. They won't be the difference between winning and losing. .

Idiots? Here? Sorry mate, I think you're a bit confused. Unless you are suggesting our rigorous IQ-based application system has malfunctioned in some way........

Save it for the match thread eastman. 3. White 2. Kerevi 1. Arnold

A few thoughts, trying not to repeat the previous ten pages: - One of the amazing things about that game was our error count. We made virtually no silly mistakes. No soft knock-ons, no stupid penalties, no mindless chip kicks (well, maybe one actually thanks Taniela), no lineout catastrophes...

LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto)'s vote in the John Eales medal last year spoke volumes - it's clear he is held in very high regard by the playing group.

Let's keep discussion to the match thread.