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One example being Hooper's try-saving hit on Savea, where he knocked him over the sideline, in preference to waiting and tackling him passively.

The Wallabies usually draft players in for opposed training. I remember Nemani Nadolo in that role, before he changed his name and became famous.

Excellent!

That's my understanding. Flankers must bind with one arm to a lock prior to engagement. After that they must only stay bound to the scrum. But of course I could be wrong. The "before engagement" part was only recently added to the laws.

According to the laws, he only has to be bound to the scrum, no?

It's not just return with a kick: it's the option to play a running counterattack. It certainly isn't just a bandaid for defensive frailties. It's something we're able to play because we have two playmakers.

Why would you think that TWAS? I'm a Cooper fan and always have been. I'm certainly not 'inventing' Cheika's defensive system in order to boost Foley. Those kinds of provincial fanboi antics are embarrassing from grown adults.

Way to go, mister positive. There's never a shortage of fans bravely predicting a Wallaby drubbing against the ABs. On this occasion, you may be disappointed. Slight (rather than drastic) improvements are required. Wobs by 5.

That's easy. There's no replacement for Pocock, and no way to develop one.

I'd rather have Lilo. We could fly in Genia in extremis.

There's no mileage in rejecting stereotypes by employing other sterotypes. Many 'white Australians' (perhaps more than you think) aren't remotely as you describe them. Australia is a relaxed, multicultural, liberal, egalitarian society, not a racist hotbed. The ratbags are a vocal minority...

I said this on another thread, but Cheika doesn't want to 'hide' players in defence. He employs a system in which the fly-half drops in to perform the role of a second defensive full-back while the scrum-half performs the role of sweeper just behind the defensive line. This pushes playmaking...

Bloody hell, that's a shame. I mean that seriously. A great emerging talent that we need in the RWC. Good for New Zealand's opposition.

That's not a pro Horne argument, Seb V, just an observation of Cheika's defensive system, in which the fly-half drops in to perform the role of a second defensive full-back while the scrum-half performs the role of sweeper just behind the defensive line. I personally wouldn't be picking Horne...

Oh. Grr.

It's not shifting a winger to shore up a weak defence: it's a deliberate system, intended to increase counter-attacking options. Cheika does it so we'll have to get used to it.

I'd seriously consider making my way over there for an AB vs. Oz final, if I could get tickets.

Horne must still be in the mix. He was the best winger this year, and his lack of a boot isn't important, because he defends in the line. That fact that he's our go-to man for defending in the line, and is good at it, having played most of his footy at center, is a further reason to have him...

The only change on my mind is giving Speight a run. One of the good things this year has been the productive and efficient evaluation process. Time to see Speight. He's potentially such a huge asset: a real gamebreaking winger, perhaps in the "finishing" team.

I think we need to win our pool. If we lose then Au and NZ are in the same half of the draw.