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I think the complaints about the referee are less about bias or favouritism and more about the impact that the referee had on the spectacle through being overly pedantic. For customers who have paid good money to be entertained, I think they have that right to be critical.

The coaches need to tell Wright that he must kick the ball as opposed to running it from counter the next couple of instances - that dummy kick and go is getting fairly predictable..

The game was essentially over as soon as Paisami went off the field, although probably before that. With the composition of the 6:2 bench, it was (unusually) the one position we couldn’t adequately cover for.

It hurts me to say but Hodge was pretty good last night (at fullback). If he can remain consistent under the highball and largely error-free, there’s a chance he secures the 15 spot up to WC despite his limitations.

I think the game showed how important emotion can be in rugby union- they clearly wanted the game more then us and we wanted it more than them the week earlier. What was also apparent is how little cohesion and guile we have in attack without Quade Cooper. Sure we can play somewhat direct with...

None of the outside backs deserve to be dropped and I don't think South Africa is the right team for Campbell to debt against. He seems like more of a 'debut against Tier 2' kinda guy.

That's the great thing about the building some competition and depth in the outside backs - things aren't that clear cut Wright was good on the weekend- I don't think he deserves to be dropped.

It raises some interesting points - if I was ruthless or commercially- savvy Rugby Australia administrator I'd do my best to get a player like Hodge off the books (to the extent possible) and get some Japanese club to pay the majority of his wage. He's not great at Super Rugby, so it's hardly a...

Surplus kit is pretty standard in professional sporting environments.

It’s official because the bloke is wearing a polo top? C’mon cyclo I thought you were one of the better ones.

I‘d say it’s 99% likely that he’s there by invitation to gain coaching experience, and not in any official capacity. They will probably have Darren Coleman around the squad next week. Calm the fuck down.

How well has this comment aged Phil? Reckon there might have been a little method behind such madness.

Strange that the TMO and referee thought there was sufficient action with the arm. To be fair, a northern hemisphere officiating crew could have gone the other way.

He does put it on a bit but I’d be careful with that comment.

In response to a few of the poster’s here; if Hodge really was the second-coming of Stirling Mortlock or Matt Burke, wouldn’t he have actually showed it by now? Wouldn‘t he, umm, actually be good at a Super Rugby level?

He always has, but despite this, we've always wanted more.

Not completely true - there have been plenty of custodians at the back who managed to cover up for speed deficiencies by having a great understanding of the game - look at Rob Kearney or Leigh Halfpenny recently.

Look I don't want to become like some of the other posters on this forum and get known for flogging a dead horse, but this statement is just plain incorrect. Reece Hodge in 2016 might have been considered a pretty safe and consistent player but you obviously haven't been following his career...

Don’t put too much weight on Shute Shield wambs- there have been countless players who have absolutely starred at Shute level and been very average in Super Rugby. Mark will get a look in as soon as he’s shown some consistent form in Super Rugby- one off games against the Force don’t count.

I think there’s a general reticence about Campbell’s athleticism and robustness for international football. Obviously there have been smaller players who have played internationally at fullback but Campbell has not stood out to the same extent at lower levels - he’s never consistently impressed...