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One thing I have noticed is that when a player literally publicly expresses that they want out then very rarely will the outcome be that they stay.

Yeah but over there, is "home" just him and his wife? No extended family support network? Is there health issues in the extended family he wants to be in Aus to lend support for? All those things may or may not be true. Be careful of assuming anything, we can/should only take what Kane seems...

Sure for the NRC BC - Pickle, Tuttle/Smith?, McIntyre and Greene QC (Quade Cooper) - Gale, ?, Duncan and Brandon?

Yeah but if that's been in the works it makes sense why The older journeymen (McDuling, Kotze, Murday) haven't been/weren't spoked too

If that means he takes an extra 2-3 weeks to give him to best shot at being in top form come RWC I'm all for it

He's got a small issue with his shoulder (long standing as I understand it) that will need an operation at some point (booked in post RWC). To Maximise the chance of him playing his most powerful, most confident footy he needs enough time to get as strong as he possibly can

For the Bokke I'd go 1.Sio 2. Moore 3. Kepu 4. Skelton 5. Simmo 6. Fardy 7. Pocock 8. Higgers 9. Phipps 10. Cooper 11. Tomane 12. To'omua 13. TK 14. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) 15. Folau 16. Chibba 17. Robinson 18. Holmes 19. Jones 20. Palu 21. Genia 22. Giteau 23. Horne Reasoning Slipper needs time off. He's not...

Matt Lucas is off to Zebre I think

I'd be stoked on that squad for the RC, subjectively looks like one of the stronger ones we have put out in the last few years. The injury Gods have been relatively kind to us (especially considering some of the players getting crocked over the ditch)

Relax, just because the Tahs line out sucked doesn't mean the Wallabies will. Far from it.

Excellent point, you're exactly right. I think it is close to given that most of our RWC games will be tight therefore mostly I would have Pocock starting. I think it's a necessity to have both in the 23 however and I do think that playing a 6-2 bench is the big games is something we will...

If he makes a fist if it then good luck

Well you kind of explained it yourself in paragraph 2.... I agree with you on all of your points. The Brumbies did get torn apart and wallabies do need penetration. I just am not sure how your (quite salient) point is relevant to my thoughts on a paradigm for solving selection problems

In fact if you read the first post the first name aside from the two mentioned was Skelton's for his exceptional ball running ability. I'm not sure if he's what I'd call consistently world class but he's not far off and more time and coaching should get him there. I should clarify, I don't...

No no, I think Izzy is just an example of a player who's preternatural skill in the air (at least in 2013) solved the issue of opposition having an easy time getting into the Wallabies half by putting up midfield bombs. So he and Pocock are the only two examples of players who possess a skill...

For the record I would currently have the strongest 23 as 1. Slipper 2. Moore 3. Kepu 4. Skelton 5. Simmons 6. Fardy 7. Pocock 8. Higginbotham 9. Phipps 10. Cooper 11. Tomane 12. To'omua 13. TK 14. Speight 15. Folau 16. TPN 17. Sio 18. Holmes 19. Horwill 20. Hooper 21. Genia 22. Foley 23. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) or...

Therein lies the key, I refer again to an earlier (50+ pages ago) point I made about selecting players who (through the consistent application of a select world class skill(s)) change the way the opposition must play against you. Hooper may have a broader range of useful skills but in none of...

Te Puni to replace Carmichael!

But the resolution in a timely fashion, and reduction in recurrence of a specific injury (or injuries) in a specific player is more a physio role than an S & C once. Playing at less than 100% is a barrier to top performance no doubt. We saw that in a few players this year. JOC (James O'Connor) is an example who...

I have heard the same. Good bloke, good businessman (I think he started a company that sells rehab equipment) and good rugby knowledge but average clinician. The Reds needed a serious expert, preferably someone with a Sports Masters or PhD/research interests and RECENT experience in high...