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I agree with everything you've said prior that many of our young players have potential and should improve, however it's hard to argue with the notion that they definitely lack 'star-power' and 'strike'. It's a very different proposition from the days of KB (Kurtley Beale),IF, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (in-form) and DM.

Where's the firepower? Is James Ramm considered 'firepower' in this era?

I think the Western Force and Rebels will be strongly competing with the 'Tahs.

There's also the allure that you get the management skills and expertise from the private equity company that you might not have otherwise to better run the business - it's all about aligning incentives as much as possible in that a more successful Super Rugby is in the best interest of the ARU...

Zac Guildford might not have ended well but it wasn't disastrous - there was more than enough upside to take the risk. Talented players are always going to be given opportunities - look at any professional sport.

What's the real risk here though? He'll be on a cheap contract with plenty of clauses and if he stuffs up they will get rid of him pretty quickly like they did with Zac Guildford. He's a not a commercial risk really either as the Tah's don't have enough of a public profile to generate any real...

Make shute shield great again?

Watch some games of Premiership rugby and then watch some games of Super Rugby AU - come back and tell us which competition you prefer (I love endless box-kicking as much as the next rugby purist ;))

Not sure if this a knock against the Super Rugby competition but he's obviously going to learn more in the UK because of actual gametime. He would have been 3/4 in the pecking order for a fullback or fly-half position at the Waratahs.

It's pleasing to see a potential backline without the names Newsome, Clarke or Foketi in the starting side.

It's probably an easier route for him to become a starting Super Rugby player/ fringe Wallaby then a consistent NRL first grader at this stage - which may be enough to keep him in Union (not necessarily at the 'Tahs or in Australia though).

Agreed. It addresses an existing hole in the squad (actual threatening ball-runners) and is a low- risk and cheap signing - if he slips up/ doesn't perform you get rid of him.

What do you think it means when the players who 'underperform' for the Wallabies, in most instances, consistently outperform all their competitors at the levels below international rugby?

Yep we need Alex Newsome, Cam Clarke and Michael Wells in the 23.

It might even just be absolute top- tier trolling.

Some level of bias is to be expected and managed, but some posters have views that verge on delusion with regards to the strength of their teams and players.

You know that not all those names are the same, and we could add Nic White or AAA on that list too.

Largely agree although I think Gordon was solid apart from the box kick out on the full. I would like to see either him or McDermott actually starting a game in tandem though.

Another pretty ordinary game to be frank; probably due to a combination of the weather and the type of rugby that Argentina play. I thought the forward pack did a reasonable job- secured the majority of our set-piece ball and provided a platform. It's still lacking a powerful ball-runner or...

I doubt they're throwing too much money at the kid either, in this instance I'm sure the Red's offer would be highlighting the Super Rugby/ lifestyle/legacy opportunities (it doesn't hurt that his family is quite comfortable too).