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The Stephen Moore special

Meehan with the better scrumhalf play than Snowden and Stirzaker combined.

Right now, Foley is the definite first choice 10. Beyond question. But if the best centre pairing option in Australia (not that it is yet, but it certainly could be) isn't considered viable because of Foley, then eventually we have to address that.

Hopefully we get a strong showing from Kerevi at 12 this weekend! His attacking ability is incredible, but he lacks the awareness to properly defend as a 13. Would be great to see him and Kuridrani given time in the centres, we really abandoned it too quickly after last June.

There's no bregrudging going on, it's more a question of if the Brumbies even tried to get them. Nor is it an anti-Australian thing: if Ewen McKenzie or Eddie Jones or Michael Cheika was available, wouldn't you say we should go for them? It's a proven talent question. The head coach plays a...

Australian rugby is too content to simply search the carpark for its coaches. We don't want McKellar because he's a continuity of Larkham and that isn't working. If you can convince Cron to come and be the assistant, why not have him as head coach? We need a new approach here. Six months ago...

If we're just aiming to win this "series", we should definitely pick Higgenbotham at 8. No question. But, with eyes to the World Cup, Timani should be given the time at 8, and a new long-term 6 brought in. I wouldn't even be opposed to giving Ross Haylet-Petty a shot at 6.

Biggest issues are Loosehead, Blindside, 8, Scrumhalf, and 12. Our eyes have to be on the World Cup in two years time, and we should use the weaker opposition as a chance to bring players in for the long haul. Loosehead depth is just an injury issue: when Sio and Slipper are fit again, they'll...

To put it another way, this is the team we could make with contracted players: 1. Scott Sio 2. - 3. Allan Ala'alatoa 4. Rory Arnold 5. Sam Carter 6. Tom Staniforth 7. David Pocock 8. Lolo Fakaosilea 9. Joe Powell 10. Christian Lealiifano 11. Henry Speight 12. Kyle Godwin 13. - 14. - 15. - Who...

According to Wiki, these are the players who are out of contract at the end of the year: Ben Alexander Les Makin Nic Mayhew Faalelei Sione Robbie Abel Saia Fainga'a Josh Mann-Rea Blake Enever Chris Alcock Tom Cusack Jordan Smiler Rob Valetini Jarrad Butler Ben Hyne Tomas Cubelli De Wet Roos...

We really do have a pedigree of developing talent here in Canberra, or at least getting the best out of what is already there. Debreczeni has all the physical and mental attributes, now he just needs the skills, and we can give him that. Agree on Chipshop. Any Wellington NPC fan knows just how...

Definitely ahead of where we expected to be, and it's a cold-hearted fan who isn't thrilled to see a local like Powell go from clubland to Wallabies camp in less than two years. Like I said, keep giving them time and we'll reap the rewards.

We're not cutting a Super side due to poor national performance; since expansion to five sides, we've won the Tri Nations, the Rugby Championship, and come second and third at two World Cups. One of the main reasons that a team is gone is performance. You can put that down to coaching if you'd...

Halfway through the season, and the 2018 threads have begun. EDIT: SQUAD TRACKING FOR 2018 Hooker: Josh Mann-Rea (2019) Robbie Abel (2019) Folau Fainga'a (EPS) (2018) Prop: Ben Alexander (2018) Scott Sio (2019) Allan Ala'alatoa (2019) Les Makin (2019) Nic Mayhew (2018) Mees Erasmus - EPS (2018)...

The damning moment of the game was that kick through in the last five minues, when Toua is racing up but looks around and sees nobody with him. I'm scared of either McKellar or Fisher coming in; we don't need continuity of a coaching system that isn't working, and we don't need to give Laurie...

I back Powell and Hawera to come good for the Brumbies; they have the talent and we have a pedigree for developing players. Hawera has been a bit more exposed since Godwin went down, but that seems more closely related to Smith filling in that 12 role in our first-reciever-by-committee approach...

Really feels like the absence of key inside-back talent (Cubes, Lilo, recently Godwin) has been the difference between controlling a game and holding on for dear life. If we had recognised talent there, I'd argue we'd be 7 wins from 9 right now. That said, I like what the future holds for...

I'd be backing Gordon at 9 ahead of anyone else in Australia.

With Sio out, I really hope we get to see Sione come off the bench!

Gutted that Sio is out, especially after his strong return. But I'm not worried about his replacement; Mayhew has been tremendous this season. We'll probably go back to having Alexander cover LHP and bring Makin back onto the bench, but I'm excited by the posibility of Sione getting a shot!