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One of the Tahs weaknesses (I don't have time to list them all :() is the scrum, and my watching of this season and last is that the biggest problem there is THP and lock. As everyone says, HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) has it all as a prop except scrummaging, his principal role. To not recruit a stronger player due to...

Success for 2022 probably revolves more around how the side is playing rather than actual win/loss stats, and particularly you would want to see a huge improvement in defence, and just occassionally closing out the close games, all of which we lost on 2021. In straight win/loss, say three wins...

Three players; A tight head prop, a lock and a wing. These must be experienced players, and at the least of Super rugby standard (and I mean genuinely of that standard). The two forwards must be strong at the set piece, the wing can defend and get to the tryline. I don't care if they're foreign...

Yes, the defensive structure was shit, but that doesn't excuse Mark N (Nawaqanitawase). Just watch him closely, he deliberately puts himself out of the way of having to make a tackle, and when he can't avoid it, he moves his body out of the way and uses his arms. Sorry, you're not going to convince me.

Mark N (Nawaqanitawase) isn't just a weak defender, he is a complete non-tackler. As he stands, I don't want him in the squad, let alone run-on. I recognise his other qualities, and would welcome him back if he learns to tackle. We have seen this year how important defence is, and specifically what a liability...

And here's me thinking the whole Quade/Foley thing was behind us :(

TBH, you might have your rose-coloured rear view mirror working. I agree with you re Poidevin, Finnegan was close to the edge (and well past it by todays rules) but Sam Scott-Young was an out and out thug.

Can't see Swinton getting ahead of Valetini for 6, but may find him get a gig in the second French test.

Wonder if Ramm would make a 15? Plenty of pace, massive boot, sound defender, just a question of whether he has the positional nous.

Maddocks at his best is, IMO, the best 15 in Australia. Trouble is he doesn't have the mental toughness to produce that with any regularity, particularly when a couple of things go wrong early.

Bit of the flawed genius about Maddocks, can do some exceptional things, but can drop his head and be really ordinary. One problem I do have with him is defence. He is a strong tacker, but his positioning himself to make a tackle is awful.

Not too concerned a out Abel, with Porecki, Cotton and Horton we’re well covered, but Maddocks is a concern. We’re already very light on for the back three

Comfortable with that UTR except Timani on the bench, would have either Swain or Leota ahead of him. An alternative would be to start with Slipper and Kaitu'u, and have Bell and BPA off the bench.

Have only seen him the last fortnight, yep looks good. With Hooper, Swinton, Harris, Warren-Vosayaco, Tezzano, Gamble, and possibly Sinclair and Hanigan if they don't play lock, the back row is one of the few spots we do have covered for 2022.

Were there any positives? As opposed to some of the 'piss off the lot of them' posters here, and being, I guess, a natural optimist, I think there were. Firstly, I think we have an outstanding group of youngsters, who just need good coaching, guidance on the field and time and can be the...

So, what was primarily wrong with 2021? Firstly, lack of a good head coach to hold things together. Now, I genuinely don't know whether that was Penney or not, never will, but it certainly achieved absolutely nothing sacking him mid-season. Given a full season, we would be in a far better...

Not too stressed with that game, particularly the second half, when we fielded a team that could not even be considered our number two side, including two props who aren't even part of the squad, and our number three 10 on one wing and our number three 9 on the other. As to Swinton, we tend to...

Swinton was actually pretty strong until his last brain fade, certainly the Tahs strongest carrier, however discipline means he shouldn't be anywhere near the Wallabies. Ramm really defended well, he could give lessons to a lot of other players. Mark N (Nawaqanitawase) just dodges about behind other people in...

Mark N (Nawaqanitawase) I believe an get through an entire season without making a tackle!

No idea in defence positioning. Gilmore has to take responsibility