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Both Tom English and Sione Tuipulotu are defensive improvements. I would even prefer to see Koroibete at 13 and Hodge on the wing than the reverse. I'm not denying his ability to tackle (and, if he couldn't, that would hurt you no matter where you played him), but the defensive positioning...

Robbie Abel is gone. Already playing for Auckland, and was reported as gone back in July. Every once in a while you see the Wiki page updated to show this, but they seem to keep reverting it...

I'd like to continue stressing that Reece Hodge should not be considered as your 13. Better teams continue to try and fail to play a non-13 at 13 to "fit in the talent". It doesn't work. Pick a proper 13.

Much as I'd appreciate facing a weaker Rebels side next year :P You can't use Hodge as your 13. It makes good use of him offensively, and lord knows he runs good lines, but he's not up to it on the defensive side of the game. The Crusaders killed the Hurricanes for doing a similar thing with...

Source: https://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/super-rugby/prop-michael-Ala'alatoa-resigns-with-crusaders-until-2020-ending-hopes-of-an-australian-return/news-story/b0d652a65bc562ec76b281382a34ad0e I know Super Rugby contracts aren't worth the paper they're written on, but still unlikely.

I have faith that Uelese can come back. His physical skills were definitely a part of his rise to Wallaby gold, but his technical skill and the mental side of his game are what really got him there. Watching him play at test level, you rarely saw him miss a tackle, throw incorrectly, hit a...

It’s finals footy, anything can happen, and we know this team is good enough. Beat Fiji in Fiji and I’ll call us favourites.

Had been hearing that he was heading to the UK, but then these murmurs started and he's clearly sticking around!

I always love this game (and how wrong we all generally are), and we might actually be seeing the World Cup squad forming on the EOYT. Prop: Sio, JP, Kepu, Ala'alatoa, Tupou Hooker: TPN, Uelese, Fainga'a Lock: Coleman, Arnold, Philip, Rodda Backrow: Dempsey, Samu, Hooper, Pocock, Naisarani...

Oh, of course, I'd prefer Cooper, To'omua, or Lealiifano, if for no other reason than they're a comparable talent with over five seasons of experience as a first-choice 10, not being shuffled to fullback or as wing cover from the bench or what-not. But you can only bring 23 players to the game...

I've got a ton of problems with the history of Cheika's selections, but Beale at 10 isn't one of them, nor is it confined to him: - John Connolly explained that he didn't bring Beale to the 2007 World Cup because he had enough depth at 10. - Robbie Deans started Beale at 10 in seven test...

Source: http://www.rugby.com.au/news/2018/10/09/wallabies-robertson-injury If only we could pick a reserve for either side! If only there were two props on the bench! Crazy talk, I know.

Peter Ryan is a good coach of individuals when it comes to defence; he can get any man to tackle and also understands positioning really well. His defensive systems have been a bit weird for the past few years, with a lot of the success at the Brumbies coming from high-quality cover-defendign...

Sorry buddy, we steal your young talent, not the other way round.

More high quality recruitment from the Brumbies: https://www.brumbies.com.au/2018/10/chris-tindall-appointed-brumbies-gm-professional-rugby-pathways/

I'm happy for the turnaround and want to see us win, but we can't let this comeback cover up the farce that our team has become. This third quarter isn't some impressive masterclass in attacking rugby, this is the level the Wallabies should be at for the entire game against the Pumas. We need to...

To'omua isn't perfect, but he can catch, pass, run, kick, tackle, offload, kick goals, and even has a decent lineout throw. Put him at 10. How many people in Australia cry that we don't have a 10 like Mo'unga or Sopoaga, well we do, we just have to bloody pick him.

I hope Tuipulotu is showing some signs for the Rising, because lord knows you need a 13 who can tackle if English is off.

If Hodge is fewer than 10 of those missed tackles, I'll be amazed. Get Petaia in the squad already, we need a 13 who can put his man on the ground.

Honestly, when his playing days are done and if he wants to come back to Canberra, I'd be offering Ben Mowen a talent identification/squad development role. Players as cerebral as Mowen shouldn't be lost to the game, and there aren't enough coaching gigs to offer every ex player.