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Almost like they were playing different roles for their teams. Unfortunately for Hodgson, Hooper has been Australia's best player for the last two years. One slightly off day isn't enough to undo 24 months of work. Hodgson has had five good games in a row, but he was playing so poorly in the...

I'd be pretty wary of Jones at TH lock at Test level, and my love for Jones is almost at Daz-Inman levels. The best quality he can offer at that level is his adaptability. Watch him for the Rebels, he's very good at changing his game based on what's needed from him. His 'natural' game, if he has...

Reid is still very much a work in progress. When he starts sorting out his breakdown accuracy and stops giving away penalties for fun, then he'll start seriously pushing for a regular spot.

Sorry, should have qualified that by talking about his play at 7. I think I'm still a bit thrown by that Force game. He was very good against the Brumbies, especially in the second half. Totally agree about that back 5.

Only just thought of this because I was talking about him over on the Rebels thread, but the Reds look like they could use a guy like Sean McMahon. Not entirely different to Ah-Wong I guess. You boys really just look like you're missing a big outside runner at the moment. Simmons and Horwill are...

If Arthur's mail on Woodward is correct, and the Kiwi teams didn't like the brainfarts he's prone to, I reckon it would be a similar situation with West. There aren't many under-the-pump teams who are willing to just hand over the reigns to a young gunslinger of a flyhalf, and the Blues and...

It's a shocking decision. It was off the ball with clear intent. He picked Stirzaker up by the legs, tipped him past horizontal, then drove down with enough force to fall flat on his face himself. Given we've just seen some poor bastard paralysed from a similar, if arguably lesser, incident I...

Good stuff Arthur. Nice to know the club are seeing things along the same lines as supporters. You know who would have been a shit hot flyhalf with this Rebels team? Ihaia West. Actually so unhappy he decided not to come over.

Because given even half an inch of space, he's carving teams up. I tend to rate attack above defence, which is likely skewing my picks somewhat. I just don't subscribe to the Beale's defence being a massive issue line of thinking. It's adequate, certainly not good or dominant but it's fine. He...

Kingston isn't small. To the eye he looks a very similar size to BOD and Conrad Smith to me. And really, as long as he can get over the advantage line, put his teammates into space, and show he's not a complete liability on defence I don't care how big he is.

I'd be pretty shocked if he did. Just too slow for Test rugby IMO. He's having a good season, and I like what he brings at Soup level, but Tests are a whole other thing. I'd prefer him to someone like Mike Harris, but realistically he's behind To'omua, Beale, Lilo, McCabe and Godwin - probably in...

We've seen English play one game at centre from memory, against the Highlanders last year. And he played to pretty much the same standard as he does on the wing, offered a bit more on attack if anything. Certainly too early to say he's a better winger. Likewise with Kingston, we just don't know...

Wonder how much more of Kurt Baker we'll be seeing this year. Should be gone for the season for this, especially after we've all seen just how horrific the consequences can be be.

Laurie just plain got beaten on that last one. Decent fight on that side of things, I reckon it's being reffed pretty well actually.

Me! I've got a lot of shit wrong, but I was definitely driving the Inman to 12 first. We're going okay so far, despite being 10 down. Jones needs to get more involved. Stirz needs to calm down. Actually everyone just needs to calm down a bit.

He's really not that big. I reckon he'd be 100 max. But yes, the ability of players to put on, and maintain, mass is somewhat staggering.

If we get Lilo he should play flyhalf. He's a much better flyhalf than he is centre, and he's a much better flyhalf than Hegarty. Also Inman has proved a much better 12 than he has 13. It emphasises his strengths and hides his weaknesses.

Yep. Busted thumb.

Male should start. He's a big, physical, presence who made the most of his opportunity. Rokobaro to the bench instead of Roberts.

Tough for the Rebels but can't blame him. I thought he'd done enough last year to get on the EOYT, but it's clearly McKenzie rates at least Horwill, Simmons and Douglas ahead of him - likely Fardy too. With Jones, Skelton and Carter all getting better that's a lot of people to beat if your coach...