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Ah, right. I get really jealous when I think about Melbourne's stadium set-up. I flew over for the Boxing Day test last year, and the MCG absolutely blew my mind. Phenomenal stadium, right in the heart of the city - what I'd give for that.

Is it that doubtful? One in Sydney, one in Brisbane, and one in either Melbourne or Perth (or maybe two in Sydney). I would have thought Melbourne might have been the front-runner for that.

Ed Stubbs out, Damon Anderson in. Straight swap of Cranbrook boys - it's not often you see that.

Yeah, but I think it's fair to say they've regressed slightly since 2007. Which does not suggest that the coach responsible is capable of completely overhauling the culture and fortunes of English rugby. They'd be better off trying to get someone like Wayne Smith, if they want a foreigner...

John Kirwan - really? I like the guy, and think he's a good coach, but surely he's a bit of a lightweight for this position (so far).

That might play out differently now though - these Reds are a different proposition to the Reds of 1995-2009. It's a bit of a unique opportunity to take a really good, accessible version of the game to those places.

That is fucking awesome. Imagine that in a storm. Cipriani steps Carter, burns the cover, streaks towards the corner before getting swept overboard by a wave and eaten by sharks. I've seen the future, and it's bright.

Turner over AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)?

Word is (from my uncle Kev, who was just talking out of his arse) that Foster's not a head coach. He might do fine in an assistant role. I agree, however, that this is a slightly worrying coaching combo. I can't really remember back 8 years to what I felt like before Henry and co came in, but...

How about... Alcock? Has somebody already mentioned him? If you want 'hard bastard meat and potatoes' then surely he's your guy. I'm not sure who had the time or inclination to make a highlights video of him, but this pretty much sums it up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAfkZMVB3kQ

Really didn't expect to see Rothfuss get mentioned on here. I wonder how he'd write it.. "The first silence was the lack of an academy announcement; the second silence was the emptiness of the fields in the off-season; and the third silence, greatest of all, was the management-speak."

Jeeebus. All the sides actually look like they could field decent backlines, injuries permitting. The stand-out for my money is still the Crusaders, both in terms of 1st-choice and back-up (with Tom Taylor etc. on the bench) though I'm probably biased, and the weakest is maybe the Hurricanes...

Tah-man's great. I thought he was a bit lame, but then he took the piss out of whichever pop singer was on during the half-time entertainment at the Tahs-Reds this year. I wanted his buddy to be Wara-Car though.

Yeah, it's been pretty devastating. Having said that, they'll probably manage to be in the reckoning for the finals like they always are. Who's going to play front row for the Canes? Ben May, Dan Coles + 1?

Workmanlike, but not bad when you think about it - Afeaki, Elliot, Taumololo, Waldrom, Sam Cane, Messam, Latimer.. The issue is really just the second row.

Shame nobody picked up Dominic Bird on a full-time contract; I imagine he's still in the wider Crusaders squad. 20 years old, 112kg, 206cm - got to be worth a look right. And Tim Bateman to the Hurricanes. I rate him pretty highly.

Seen the rugbyheaven headline for this? Shit I hate sub-editors sometimes. " 'Had enough': Henry quits as All Blacks coach "

Randomly off-topic: who do you think you guys have lined up to replace him?

How about Ben Mowen? When he plays to his weight he's a monster.

I think he improved a lot after the 07 world cup. Him and Hansen were surly and inaccessible, and I think the entire team was smug (particularly, McAlister's "we have all the best players in the world" comment was pretty unimpressive). But I think the greatest testament to the guy is that he...