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Well I found that pretty exciting. First 30 minutes I was thinking here we go again, as the Tahs continually turned over possession and made stupid mistakes. Then bang! Where did that come from? Seriously, the two big differences were the forwards gaining parity (or dare I say, even a little...

With Kepu back hopefully we see the end of Tawake. Ryan to cover LHP, Vui to cover THP. I would still start with Fitzpatrick for his more accurate work at the lineout, & bring Latu on later. If Simmons is fit he comes straight in, Hanigan to 6, Wells to 8 & Holloway and Miller both on the bench...

Wow, let's hope that was a one-off, otherwise another shit season awaits. Plenty of negatives: Scrum got monstered again, way to many loose carries, Latu may be a good player, but like TPN before him, can't throw a ball into the lineout. The back four are defending poorly, not falling off...

Is Matt Sandell fit? He got a contract again this year, despite spending all of last season injured, however with all the prop woes we've had he hasn't entered calculations at all. I'm assuming someone at the Tahs rates him, hard to see why his contract would have been renewed otherwise.

I've mentioned it before, but I thought Short looked a bit overwhelmed at the 10's. I think I would have also been inclined to leave Gordon on unless he was injured or we had an unbeatable lead.

Robertson was switched to LHP to accommodate Kepu. I hasn't really worked, but no-one seems to be prepared to acknowledge that!

The whole cynical play thing is a fine line, particularly the intercept. Personally, I think unless it is a blatant knock-down, with clearly no intention to catch the ball, in which case it should be a penalty/yellow, otherwise just a scrum. There are plenty of fingertip knocks of the ball that...

Really enjoyed that despite the typical early season mistake-fest from both sides. Biggest positive for me was the Tahs defence for 80 minutes, 100% up from last year (although that doesn't set the bar very high). I thought the backs generally were very good, with Beale the best, although I...

Love the argument mst, that if someone doesn't agree with you they don't understand how contracts work! Have had just a bit to do with them through the last 40 years, lots of things involved in how they work, but at the heart they are about what is agreed to between the parties as expressed in...

BH, that would all be fine if, at the same time we were paying him $750k for time away from the game, he wasn't also getting paid to pay in Japan. No question of this guy's ability, and if the ARU decides it's worth keeping him on a retainer of $750k to allow him time off the game and ensure...

Rarely do this, but I actually agree with Spiro here. However, no doubt anything will be defended when St David of Pocock, patron saint of pilfers, is concerned.

Is Fitzpatrick definitely unavailable? If not I thought he would start at 2. Also thought Mason might get the bench gig over Hegarty. Possibly not as versatile as Hegarty, but has really shone in the trials, and Beal's versatility allows you to shuffle players around in the event of an injury. I...

Either you have a lot of inside knowledge, or you make a hell of a lot of assumptions IS. Not saying all or any of what you're saying isn't true, just a hell of a lot of things there I haven't read anywhere else and, even if occasionally speculated, certainly haven't seen any confirmation. Did...

I know it won't happen, but to me the logical thing would be to have Ryan at LHP, where I think all agree he is far better suited, and Robertson at THP, where he played his first season of Super Rugby and scrummaged at a level he hasn't reached since. His move to LHP was to accommodate Kepu...

The problem with all this is trying to codify what is acceptable and what's not. I like the idea of players being able to comment freely, however there need to be limits, and they become very subjective. Someone made the comment that they should be able to criticise the ARU. Okay, I criticise...

Unlikely, but he's coming on well. Should get a fair bit of game time.

Killer, I was totally opposed to cutting the Force, the way it was handled was dreadful, the lies told by people in positions of influence to justify their decisions were inexcusable, and Clyne's tenure as Chairman of the ARU has been extremely unsuccessful and, in parts, damaging for Australian...

Hanigan to go to lock midway 2nd half and be subbed by a backrower. Dempsey back mid-season to reclaim 6, Hanigan or Staniforth to go depending on form.

Robertson Latu Kepu Simmons Staniforth Hanigan Hooper McCalman (or Holloway if he hasn't signed) Phipps Foley Clarke Beale Rona Newsome Folau Ryan Roach Vui Wilkin Holloway (or Wells) Gordon Mason Nayavoro

I must be the only person here not happy to see TT there. Ffs, the guy was getting dominated in the scrum in the NRC! For all his ball running power, the guy has way too far to go in the scrum to be considered at this level yet. I also don't get Phillips demotion, I think he has been good...