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Kind of. They are looking for a headline - 'why did you retain Blake Schoup instead of Matt Gibbon on the bench' doesn't really cut it. I dont think we see all the questions that are asked either, only the ones that the MSM want us to see.

I think I have it worked out - Eddie plans to rest as many of the 1st XV starting side in the game against Portugal as possible before the QF, therefore similar to Cheika is initially taking 2 full XVs and 3 subs. Eg: 1sts 1. Bell 2. Porecki 3. Tupou 4. Frost 5. Skelton 6. Holloway 7. M...

Yes, i wasn’t necessarily thinking the strategy would be around front rowers, I was just using that as an example. I mentioned earlier that 5 props were the norm, but I forgot about the squad size increase. All things being equal you would think most would use one of those spots for a front...

You definitely have your core players in the squad, what you don’t want is a player that’s surplus to requirements taking up a spot for the tournament and not playing a minute. Remember in 2015 we had a congested schedule but the middle game was against a minnow so Cheika concocted a strategy...

I think 2 props will go as we only need one on standby (provided Slipper is there to cover both sides). I think Lonergan is expendable too, noting that Donaldson is listed as 'utility', so I reckon he will get a bench role at least against Georgia and Portugal and cover halfback as well as 10/15.

All this 'what if' stuff about Rennie is pure hyperbole. He had no assistant coaches for a start. I agree that Foley would probably be starting this weekend. Tom Hooper would probably be back home cheering on the Bathurst Bulldogs with his family. We really have no idea how those first 3...

Stumbled on an interview with Neil Hatley yesterday where he said there are still around 10 spots for the 33 man RWC squad they are looking to bed down. It's hard to see it being too different to that but they would normally only take 5 props - one of Schoupp and Nonggorr probably won't go...

Yeah, I thought the same thing, its a bit of a stretch to point the finger at big Willy. Our scrum hasn't been terrible, it would help if we could bed down a front row contingent.

Oh OK, that explains that then. For some reason I thought he played in the Aus A game v Tonga, I obviously had the wrong Tom.

Potentially - makes sense.

Same back line and the expected tinkering in the back row. Leaving Slipper at LHP is a sure sign that Tupou will be OK by the RWC. Same locks but different pecking order. Re THP, thinking about it I'm a bit bemused that Tom Roberston wasn't added to the squad instead of Lambert as he can play...

Yes, well that is the alternative, that he just says fuck it I'll stick with that. I don't think it would be an Eddie teamsheet without at least one head scratcher though.

I agree with that approach in principle leading into a world cup, but you are working on the assumption that Eddie thinks he has is selections right. We will have a clearer picture of his thinking soon, he will roll out a team that he thinks is better than last week's, barring the THP issue.

Eddie also said Tom wright could be the best fullback in the world. All I'm saying is don't read too much into what he says, he is good at talking his book. I'm good if Tom stays there, I hope he kills it. But killing it means more than making lots of tackles and missing 15% of them in the...

DMac at 10 is the precise game to have Gleeson or McReight at 7.

I don’t mind a change there either, 6 is a different story, we haven’t found a standout contender, bit like hooker. Australia is a production line for quality 7s but we’re sticking with an unproven option who is usually second rower. Just saying we should be testing options there as well.

In the first 30 minutes. Everything was an improvement in the first 30, so was that Tom or just the combined effect of everyone having a crack? After that everything went to shit, including - particularly even - the breakdown.

That's because he's open side flanker and we defended a lot. Frost is a second rower and he attempted 28 (also missed 5). There were 6 Wallabies that made over 15 tackles. Papalli (26 - their OSF, 1 miss) and Taylor (16) were the only Kiwis. For reference the Wallabies made 248 tackles to...

I don't think it's that so much, it's more that if we are going to move to having a big bloke on either flank, why Tom? Why not Rob Leota? Or Langi Gleeson? Or Harry Wilson? Or Pete Samu? It's not a criticism of Tom, but what's his strength over these players?

I have a theory that Eddie believes a good NH team will beat a good SH team. Looking at the RWC draw we are going to need to get through the NH teams more than the SH ones, and it's really only NZ we have to worry about in the SH style as SAF play more of a NH style these days. Probably more...