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This right here. Hansen was probably the most inept forwards coach the All Blacks have ever had. It's no wonder the Poms blasted us off the park. Hansen had been found out time and time again for his ineffective strategy and selections in the forwards. So glad to see the back of him, no more...

https://www.rugbypass.com/internationals/teams/new-zealand/players/anton-lienert-brown/

I was going to say surely this is a consequence of Australia's top athletes playing other codes?

We lost the semi-final because of tactically inept Hansen, it had nothing to do with the players, anyone with a brain could see that. Put Scott Robertson (the best breakdown & defense coach in the world) in charge of the All Blacks and see what happens then.

Are you seriously suggesting the standard of defense in Super Rugby AU equaled that of Super Rugby Aotearoa (the toughest rugby competition ever to have spawned in the history of the game). Could it be that the skillset and ability on attack of the NZ sides is just far beyond that of the...

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/300113915/wallabies-confirmed-to-be-based-in-christchurch-ahead-of-bledisloe-i Wallabies to set-up camp in Christchurch. They'll be based at Linwood Rugby Club. Encouraging news because the last time they trained here.. produced valiant...

I think we'll see a gradual increase in performance year by year as the younger players develop.

As someone who watched both, the defensive intensity of the Super Rugby Aotearoa sides was simply on another level.

Agree, can't see it happening to be honest. Your squad is very young, reminds me of how the Wallabies squad started out post-2007 under Deans. Took until 2010 (3 years) for the squad to mature and start fulfilling their potential. I would give Rennie heaps of leeway, I'd expect his work to...

I can't understand why they never scheduled a 5th Bledisloe test. They wanted to get maximum revenue by having two on each side of the Tasman so why stop at 4? They are playing 2 in NZ and 2 in Australia (doubling as RC matches). Imagine if the Wallabies tied the series 2-2? NZ would retain...

Rennie isn't bringing back Skelton is he? Skelton and Arnold locking duo with LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) on the bench would've been incredible.

Where does Lukhan Salakaia-Loto fit in all of this? He's such an impressive physical specimen at 123kg, he's a freak. Despite the criticism of Cheika for selecting him in 2018 he played at 6 in the Perth win last year (in Pococks absence) and looked pretty good I thought. If Samu is deserving...

Rob Valetini and Lachlan Swinton are both excess of 112 kgs - could they be options for Number 8?

I agree with this - Samu played the same role for the Crusaders in their 2017 campaign. He usually came on for Taufua and provided really good impact off the bench. But I think that at 102 kgs he's just too light to start at Number 8.

Having two midgets in Hooper and Pocock at 7 and 8 last year didn't go so well against big packs like England did it? The Wallabies did better in the Perth test when Pocock was injured, because it forced Cheika to select a bigger body at 6.

That's my concern as well. Samu and Hooper are both only 100kgs. Why not start Wright and Wilson.

Here's my Big Powerful Backline for best chance to nab back Bledisloe. Dual play-making roles ensure both Lolesio and O'Conner can operate at first-receiver. Similar to how All Black's backline operates with Mo'unga and Barrett at 10,15. 9. McDermott 10. Noah Lolesio 11. Tom Wright 12. Samu...

Check out this time stamp from this Robbie Deans interview from 2018: "We came 2nd in the world for 3 years, but inevitably.. it wasn't good enough." Sums it up perfectly really. Australian rugby fans have such unreasonably high expectations considering the large majority of their best...

Thank heavens Rennie hasn't put Thorn in charge of the Wallabies line-out!

Cheika did too unfortunately. But if we are going into the specifics of those matches.. You'd have to say there was quite an element of poor fortune involved in those two results. The first loss on the EOYT in 2009 Matt Giteau missed a bloomin' sitter conversion on the stroke of full-time...