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I don't think that Hodge is actually an improvement; Banks has been criticised for his lack of impact in attack but has been consistently far more threatening than Hodge in Super Rugby for a number of years (Banks might break a tackle every few games while Hodge is lucky to break one a year)...

I’d give Swinton a shot- at least he runs hard aggressive lines and it’s always a bonus when when he’s not carded.

That’s bullshit BR and you know that- White has had countless shockers in his career where people have been screaming for him never to play another test again. What this game showed is that coming on against a tired and disjointed forward pack is alaways going to suit a player whose core...

His passing and kicking accuracy is better- that’s straight up what it means. The Wallabies coach has publicly said it himself who probably has a fair understanding of core skills. Anyway I think we need to move on from To’omua; he was brought in the team for experience and to take pressure...

Hate to disappoint some of you prone to overreaction but he will- he had an average game but his core skill set is still better than Tate’s and every halfback looks impressive coming on the field on the 60th minute against a tired/ disjointed pack. Swain, Hooper and Koribete were good- the real...

You're essentially arguing about your second-string fly-half. As a back-up, Stewart should be more than adequate (provided he doesn't have to start more than two to three games).

It's harsh but fair - Hodge is often lauded (and selected) for his long-range boot but far more often than not he misses the clutch kicks.

Hodge has his purpose but ideally you'd never want him starting in a Wallabies side. A good metric for the improvement of Australian rugby would actually be how regularly we aren't forced to select him!

Agreed - I'm not suggesting he's as dynamic or dangerous as Tate but he's not just a pass/ box-kick robot either.

You reckon? Who started the majority of games for the Brumbies?

Decent team - I'd prefer a more experienced reserve second rower and Hodge in the 23 purely for 10 cover (especially with To'omua under an injury cloud) but probably the best we can do in the circumstances. Although I'd argue that Folau Fainga'a is still a better player than Lonergan.

Gordon isn't the conservative box-kicking machine that people are alluding to here. He made his career as a ball- running scrum-half since he first arrived from club land and still shows that in the rare instances he's behind a pack with any kind of ascendancy.

Bit unfair on Gordon to be honest - I don't know if there was any player more influential to their team across the whole Super Rugby competition - I don't think Hodge has ever been the difference in a team being competitive or not.

I agree that the Waratah's attacking prowess needs to be considered in context. The majority of their points tended to come after the opposition had already scored plenty themselves and the reality is that most teams will never defend with the same ruthlessness / urgency when they have a...

Agreed. Adding two or three established players is not going to make this Waratahs team suddenly successful; at best it might make us competitive in the Aus. conference (fighting for third) but still unlikely to win a game in NZ. A team with Harrison/ Donaldson starting at 10/15 won't be winning...

So who's going to be the next Waratah signing? Rod Iona, one of the Abel brothers or Harrison Goddard?

Prop numbers...

This guy hasn't been signed because he's from Randwick - he's been signed from his sevens potential. He's a country guy who has always been on the radar from schoolboys and would have been advised to head to Randwick after leaving school (probably by people associated with the Waratahs...

A 190kg squat for a professional athlete or footballer in Australia is okay verging on good (especially in a sevens program when you are doing a high volume of running) - the average AFL player wouldn't be lifting that. Anyone who's squatting that much and not a professional or using some...

None of those shortlisted names are overly inspiring. Open question- would any of them actually be an improvement over Rob Penney?