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We're not aiming for crash hot - we're going for slightly better than bog average. In all seriousness that would be an improvement on our current back line for minimal spend (apart from DP).

Respectfully disagree - Paisami and Kerevi are too similar and limited to be paired together. Granted Kerevi is probably slightly more robust in contact and Paisami slightly better at distributing, neither of them instinctually look to involve other players. You would hate to play outside them...

Kerevi and Paisami are competing for the same spot in my eyes, with Kerevi probably just edging Paisami out at this stage. I don't think we'd want both playing together- too many dropped balls in contact and the outside backs would never see the ball!

Historically (and recently) this is exactly what it has been; Phipps, Bernard Foley, Sean McMahon, Cameron Clark and others all got their starts in the system.

It's a good point- there are more than enough talented 'footballers' and athletes in Australia that we should be consistently in the top echelon of sevens and above the likes of USA and Argentina. I don't think we need to go to the extent of recruiting AFL or even NRL quality players (and...

I know he's very careful with his image these days - but he does seem mature and is saying the right things.

I was referring more to the type of physical condition/ match fitness required to deal with an All Black forward- pack running at him for 80 minutes (I know - that part has always been arguable)

It's a good marketing decision at worst.

Play him against the Argies and not the All Blacks - he's probably still more than good enough to handle them. We need a Quade redemption arc.

Surely we're more likely to see Duncan P as opposed to Quade in the 23 purely for the fact that he's played more recent high level rugby in the Top 14. I have no doubt that Quade is still more skilled than nearly everyone in the extended squad and will be an asset on the training paddock...

Only if you’re a purist who froths over box kicks and up and unders

He's also got plenty of mistakes in him (in both offense and defence) that the top sides would definitely look to exploit. Australian rugby needs to focus on ensuring players like Petaia and Perese increase their accuracy before they are regularly starting in the 15 (at least in the centres).

And no real quality in the outside backs.

Can you do this within the law? Or would we have to find some blood and a head- knock?

Arguably Banks and Hodge are relatively interchangeable with Banks having slightly greater upside (IMO) - neither players are going to cause much concern to the ABs/ Springboks in any case. I don't think we want to be in a position where we have Banks and Hodge both starting though.

With regards to Banks vs Hodge are you essentially trading off slightly better attack (Banks) for slightly better defence (Hodge)? I'm expecting arguments that Hodge offers a second- ball player (it's more likely that whoever plays will 12 fill in at first receiver far more frequently) and a...

The guy is considered a stain on the sport that he actually covers and calling him a journalist is disingenuous. What kind of quality entertainment were Channel 7 showing on Saturday night though?

The flip side of all that is he should be pretty cheap recruit then? We don't win games with our current players on the field - we need to do better with recruitment and this could be a relatively low-risk signing- if the price is right.

That would require some actual intelligent and targeted (not to mention obvious) recruiting.

I thought the general consensus was that Banks did enough to hold the 15 jersey and he played incrementally better in each game. Look he tries hard I get it but it shouldn’t be enough at this level.