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I don't really agree with the selection, but how is he a journeyman? He's, what, 24, and has played at one team for his entire career. He's had an equally good season to Schatz - solid but not spectacular - and has Test experience on his side.

I don't think anyone who has spent even the slightest amount of time here in the last couple of weeks would be surprised by that. As for Beale, he didn't play for the Rebels because he wasn't well. Apparently now he is. I don't have any inside information on him, so I'm not going to put on my...

Because he's not actually a great 15. He struggles to get involved. There's a bit of a myth about him being amazing in open space, which isn't quite true. He's almost better in the 'tight-loose' to steal a term from the forwards. He does his best work in broken play, turning tiny gaps into open...

I'm not quite sure that's true. Deans was happy to play Giteau and Barnes at 12 for a long time. We slayed on attack but were equally carved up on defence. Then he freaked out about that in the WC year and started picking McCabe/Fainga'a. That was compounded by injuries last year. Deans...

No. He started for the Force at 12 when he was 17. Then played fullback when he was picked for the Wallabies.

He was 17 and 18 when he last had a shot at 12. He'd be completely fine there now. Anyway, he did exactly what Deans wants from his flyhalf. Played flat, took the ball to the line, played square, didn't shirk the contest and didn't make horrific game-changing mistakes. As long as another...

What I find strange is that Deans did pick White for the June tests last year, at least before he got injured. So something, somewhere down the line, has convinced him that Phipps is better. Phipps had a good game against the English on the EOYT I guess? Really struggling with it, I don't rate...

Wibble. I've defended pretty much every single one of Deans' selections - because there's been an obvious logic behind them. Phipps and McCalman are just weird though.

Well, that's it for Quade. For all the good he did in the second half, he was atrocious in the first. Can't get away with a half of rugby like that against the Lions.

Agree with your entire post, but just on this. All I want to see is: 10. Foley 12. JOC (James O'Connor) Imagine having to deal with that as a defence. No thanks.

No Henderson next year which will immediately improve things. Lahiff is average to good come scrum time oop norf so he should be completely fine down here. Smith is being kept on the bench behind Manu, but he's still a big improvement. The only real questions are at hooker and whether Jones will...

And that is why Beale makes the squad. Him at fullback with Folau and Digby on the wings. How do you stop that? If we can bring the attacking play of 2010 with the defence we showed last year, the Lions are fucked.

If Pyle has another huge game tonight, and the Rebels lineout functions properly, it's going to be hard not to pick him.

I'd love to see Betham taken as a smokey. Probably the closest player we've got to a Rene Ranger. Don't think there's anyone else in Australia who would have scored the try he did yesterday. It won't happen, but it'd be nice to see. BR, there is absolutely no chance Kimlin is going to make...

JOC (James O'Connor) and Beale both can and will slot kicks at the death. I'm not so sure Barnes is needed.

Any word on who they're chasing? I heard whoever doesn't get the Wallabies gig out of Deans and McKenzie was a very good chance.

I reckon the best shot Mogg has of making the squad is his boot. If it's pouring rain, we're going to need someone like him. I don't want to get to Sydney at 1-1 and have to rely on JOC (James O'Connor) and Beale to kick us out of trouble. They're adequate, but neither of them can properly flatten a kick out and...

Nah, it isn't. He doesn't offer anything that we don't get with Situati. I'd take Vuna over Mitchell, because they're equally bad on defence. Not sure why you think English to 12 is a natural move either - he played 13 at Uni didn't he? Would make more sense playing JOC (James O'Connor) there or shifting Inman...

I don't think we'll see much of Vuna next year, or at least I hope we don't. We've got enough attacking depth across the field now that we won't need to rely on him. And I'm sick of seeing defensive liabilities out on the field.

Don't think Mogg did himself any favours in that game against the Tahs. Made a couple of big misses in defence.