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''He [McCabe] is well suited to the midfield. He has played most of his Super Rugby on the edge, either wing or fullback.' That is authentic Deanspeak. Note the logical disconnect between the two sentences.

''combined well, particularly defensively"? I was at the game and haven't got the opportunity to watch a replay of it, but I have distinct images of two of the Samoan tries being scored through a midfield gap marginally wider than the Sydney Heads. I can't criticise particular players because...

I suspect you may be right, bloodred, a continuation of a long tradition in Australian rugby. In recognition of this, perhaps our team could be named "The Headless Chooks".

I've never worried about being regarded as "silly" even by people whose opinions I respect, Godfrey, but we have now arrived at the situation where the only options we seem to currently have at 12 are McCabe and Fainga'a. Carter is clearly bigger than either of them. Is McCabe really destructive...

I'd certainly argue that Carter is closer to being "huge" than McCabe and closer to being a "centre" than McCabe at this stage of his career.

Presumably, barbarian, you mean outside of the very experienced player who was the only consistently performing 12 in the Australian franchises this season and who, to the best of my knowledge, Robbie Deans has never spoken to.

I have a totally different perspective on the Deans issue to most people. Robbie Deans was appointed after the Wallabies had been blown off the ball in the 2007 World Cup. He came to us from a New Zealand franchise that was not only extremely successful but was renowned for the physicality...

I avoided responding earlier, waves, mainly because I tend to focus only on the Uni players. Concentrating on my own club's players is something I have always done which means that I can't really comment on the Wests boys. No disrespect intended. After a couple of disappointing displays Uni...

At first glance it might have looked that way, #1. But how often did Pat get across the gain line? Also on a number of occasions there were huge gaps in the midfield defensive line, something you don't see when Tom is organising the backline defence. Defence in both centre positions requires...

My mail is that they are training seven days a week with no rest days, and that they are covering twice as many kilometres as the Super teams normally do. Clearly this regimen leaves little scope for serious strength training which necessitates recovery days. Still, not to worry, we'll razzle...

URGENT NEWSFLASH The Tsunami Alert has been downgraded to a ripple which may register on the most sophisticated seismic monitoring equipment but will be undetectable to the naked eye.

I beg to differ, Blue. As you point out, Qantas is recognised as the safest airline in the world. It would also be one of the most unionised. I believe the two facts are not unrelated.

Thanks for the heads-up, Athilnaur. I had heard the news a little earlier. That will have some of the haters spluttering into their cornflakes this morning.

I doubt very much that the relevant entity would take my calls.

I think you've drawn attention to the underlying problem, Charger. Factor in "a season ... which includes S15, Tri Nats and RWC" or a Northern Hemisphere tour in non-World Cup years, then allow for a period of rest each year, and there is little time for "all the preseason work". As a result, if...

Only straws in the wind, Riptide. Lots of repetition running, no mention of serious strength work. But what would I know?

I don't know why Nugget Helliwell came back to Uni from the Roosters, Keithy, but he is very committed now. I see him developing as a Brett Sheehan type half back. He would be valuable back in Colts but he is quite capable of mixing it with grade players. There is quite a lot of movement...

Would that it were true. I'll be very agreeably surprised if we win the battle of the breakdown against any of the countries in serious contention. Apropos of which I am seriously concerned yet again by what I hear about our physical preparation.

I like it, en_force_er.

Break out the champagne lads. This is our year. It looks like we just have to turn up to collect the silverware. Three victories have got the rest of the rugby playing world absolutely rattled. Who can forget the Bledisloe in Hong Kong? It completely obliterated recall of the fact that in...