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Banks is the incumbent and obviously coaching team's preferred fullback -he will definitely play more test football. He also has been the best performing fullback in Super Rugby for a number of years and likely to continue, which will make him very hard to leave out of future test squads. It's...

We’re out of options so JOC (James O'Connor), Kellaway or Petaia - starting with the first two and potentially look to give Petaia minutes at the end of the games. Banks is our preferred starter in big games (ABs, Boks and England though).

Hodge has shown in his last couple of injections at fullback just why coaches are so reluctant to pick him- I honestly believe they just don’t trust his ability. Hodges game has always relied on effort- he runs hard, tackles hard and works. At the same time half his effort plays are attempts to...

It’s not just the lineout and additional aggression- Swinton can dominate contact in tight and gets over the advantage line. Wilson’s skill set suits playing wider (height in contact/ running lines) and while he looks adequate playing tight in Super he’s been dominated at Test level.

Good performance and a fantastic result. I thought the starting 15 all played well - Swinton will have detractors but he's effective in his role and Ikitau finally got some pay for his consistency. Hodge is wearing thin and cannot start at 15 against a top class side (ideally any team) - the...

James Turner and Alex Newsome are Shute Shield guns - thriving in a fully professional competition is a different proposition to dominating semi- pros. There's also the harsh reality that if you're an outside back and haven't been snapped up by a professional outfit in your very early 20s -...

It's still very weak across the second-row, no. 8 and outside backs.

Think a stronger, bigger and slower Cameron Clarke.

In saying all that though - who's quicker over 20 metres out of Hodge and JOC (James O'Connor)?

Agreed - JOC (James O'Connor) has lost much of the athleticism/ robustness that made him such a weapon in his younger days. As you said he could maybe do a job as conservative inside centre (doubtful if he would add any net benefit over current options) and you definitely don't want him any wider than that.

We won the game- the coaches aren't going to make changes in areas we weren't weak such as the backrow so I can't see Wilson getting a run this weekend. I think the trick with Fainga'a and Swinton is to replace them as soon as they show the first sign of fatigue (essentially the first time they...

I really like this novel approach of players proving themselves in a position after a season or two in a lower competition.

He hasn't played fullback in Super Rugby for years and has also been injured for about 3 months - he's not going to be selected at fullback for the RC.

This forum really struggles to recognise and reward consistency - we're very quick to praise or cancel individuals from individual performances or efforts. If Kerevi continues to make that pass or even better starts distributing effectively before contact across multiple games, then sure let's...

He gets remunerated accordingly.

I think we are going to have to persist with Banks at fullback in the interim because he's the best of a limited bunch (of those who have experience) This is until he has an absolute shocker (repeated mistakes not just one/ two major ones) and his position is completely untenable.

Not sure the English, Irish or Welsh would be too willing to lessen the impact of mauls.

I wouldn't mind Koribete having a rest over the next couple of weeks. I love his enthusiasm and intent but am getting increasingly frustrated with his limitations (you know what he will do every touch) and growing repeated idiosyncrasies (obsession with getting tackled, placing the ball and...

You're going to get the usual suspects arguing about the unique beauty and technical skill required to effectively maul but the fact remains that if set up properly, there's essentially no way to defend it (without at least giving away a penalty) - going against rugby's ethos of 'the contest'...

Agreed - he's also generally pretty effective in tight both with the ball and supporting - you rarely see him held up in contact or dominated.