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Giteau and To'omua I think, with Gits in my mind favourite for starting 12. Kerevi's defence needs some long term remedial coaching to remove the RG influence. This squad will be a start. Beale is there to back up 15 if Folau needs a rest or (heaven forbid) gets injured, and perhaps for...

I think that its very simple as to why Mumm is in the squad. As one of the best locks in the UK competition, he clearly has impeccable credentials. People think he is the same player who left Oz two years ago and that he has learnt nothing subsequently. The reports from the UK indicate that is...

Without going into the detail of who plays where, I doubt Cheika will go with anything except a 6:2 bench split for all the major games up to and including the World Cup. That way he can play three replacements to cover lock and the backrow, which allows both Hooper and Pocock game time...

Amazed that Kriel (the backrower) didn't get a run. Forty nine names on the total list, but not his. Reckon he'll pop up with a European contract soon when he's treated like this.

Maybe he'll only be the back-up for Lance; but knowing the way Foley thinks Jono will be struggling to get a game off the bench. Its not a good look if its confirmed.

There aren't too many obvious weaknesses in that line-up. Only chance for the Brumbies I think is to do what the Waratahs did and dominate their players in the collisions, especially the forwards.

Don't agree that Waratahs lose nothing. They lose their second playmaker and the player most able to release Izzy into space. I'm not Cheik but I'd be thinking long and hard about putting Lance at 12 and having Big T and Betham on the wings, with Carraro as cover. It took the whole first half...

”​Quade is a wonderful player, don’t get me wrong I would love for him to be part of NSW Waratahs at some stage. But we are full, we have salary cap issues and also I think he would be struggling to find a spot in our team​,” Gibson said.​...

That's an awful result for the Rebels. He has shown some real promise this year. I know Debreczeni is first pick at 10, but he is not so far in front that you'd never pick Hegarty as a reserve or injury replacement.

Agreed. I forgot him.

To return to my question: Why is Ackermann not more highly regarded in South Africa? He clearly has the ability to get the best out of his players and to form a cohesive group for his franchise that works together to get the optimum possible result. Genuine question, not wanting to start a shit...

I reckon Joe Hockey will be pissed if he gets off! The man wants lifters, not leaners. :)

Anyone heard any news on Beale's injury. I have heard that his groin sprain has now become a quad strain, but this doesn't sound all that credible to me. No word yet on whether he's likely to start, anyone got the inside story?

I am getting slowly more confident about the Waratahs - Brumbies final in Sydney as I reflect on the nature of the teams and their skillsets. The Waratahs lost to the Highlanders this year but it was one of those games where a couple of incidents during the game meant the home team were able...

Bloody beauty!

And this year the squad lost Sam Lousi and now Andrew Holloway. Two out of 35! This was not luck. Those who think it is have not thought hard enough about why the Tah injury record of the last three years can be written down on a piece of paper smaller than one sheet of toilet paper. The...

His firing from the Tahs was an absolute disaster, caused by the refusal of the leather-patch brigade to go to him, apologise and beg him to come back after he took us within a smidgin of winning the final. Getting fired from Stade Francais is almost a badge of honour on your CV. Most of their...

Given the lack of talent at the Lions (did anyone make the Boks squad?) their performance over the last two years has been absolutely exceptional. So why isn't Ackermann more highly rated? You'd think the richer franchises would be breaking the door down to get his signature, but he doesn't seem...

Its also possible (or at least it was some years ago) to fly Jo'burg to Auckland direct. To get to Wellington you have to make one stopover, usually either Sydney, Melbourne or Auckland. Its just a matter of choosing the option with the shortest overall elapsed time.

First thing they have to do is fly straight through to NZ and start adjusting early to NZ time. Trying to do it in two bites is the wrong approach, especially when a trip to Canberra involves deplaning at Sydney and transferring terminals. That just adds to the nightmare. Cape Town to Jo'burg to...