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I think you’ve misinterpreted my post, which originated from a the discussion about Tom Lynagh’s development. I agree that there is an increasing trend towards players playing professional rugby earlier, for a number of reasons. However if you look at other countries and other comps - NZ Rugby...

I don’t know enough about Marcus Smith to comment much there. I will say he looks and outstanding talent and I think he would look better than most of his peers anyway. But getting 100 games under your belt is definitely a much better introduction and, in general terms, he is more likely to...

Personally I welcome the time when we get back to not seeing these young guys feature in Super until they are 21-22 or later. I recognise there are lots of factors which make that very hard now, but I can’t help but think (hope) that the current level of youth in the comp is something of an...

Wait - which one plays hooker?

Is Nic Berry reffing? Imagine the blow up when Tupou, Nasser & Patu get us home in the 79th minute with a scrum penalty.

If you like at that list though, and there are a lot of guys in there I don’t know, but guys like Felemi, Straker & Anae have demonstrated that they can scrum safely at super level. At the other end of the scale and in the abscence of the NRC it might actually give a couple of young guys a...

To me that’s the obvious mix. The best/most physically capable of the u20s plus a few older blokes who are prepared to do some extra work for a retainer. Is previously noted, main emphasis would be on making sure they can compete safely at scrum time. Everything else would be a bonus.

Tate & JOC (James O'Connor) clearly our best halves IMO. I know a lot of people were critical on JOC (James O'Connor) on the EOYT, and not without reason, but he was excellent last Super AU. He is still a very good player. Probably not a playmaking in the traditional sense, but skilful and good vision. Seems to have developed a...

Interesting list. I thought Grealy was great in his debut, but hard to see him featuring much this year with some of the guys in front of him. Likewise Tizzano with Hooper returning. Had a fine season, but hard to see him getting much time without an injury.

I found Blyth’s drop in the pecking order a bit hard to follow. I’ve read on here that Blyth wasn’t a stand out in Prems, but I thought he was pretty damn good at Super level up until he first got demoted, and I thought he was excellent in 2020. I hope he finds his mojo or sorts out whatever...

That was along my lines of thinking Dean. But then it means leaving McReight out of the staring XV. Which seems crazy when he was nothing short of exceptional last year and, for mine, the clear best 7 (and arguably best back rower) in Super AU.

To be clear I am a big fan of all 6 of our backrow options. Unfortunately I feel it very unlikely they’ll all be there in 2023 as there are going to be a couple of guys who won’t be getting a regular start who are well and truly starting quality. But for 2022 it’s a great problem to have and...

Thoughts on Uru Reg? Do you see him being a chance of forcing his way into the starting backrow? Edit: for the record, I do think your suggested starters/bench is most likely.

Changing topics I’d be interested on people’s views on our backrow and how we think things will play out. Firstly, let me say, I though McReight and Scott-Young were outstanding last year and two of our very best. Having said that Wright is such a good player - hard to see him being left out -...

I agree Adam. Having said that I know I had two pairs of boots because my playing boots took a much bigger toll on my feet and ankles. Even allowing for the fact these guys are wearing much better quality of boots then me I would assume that would be even more pronounced at the level these guys...

Hi Dan. I guess the problem I see with rating the teams is relativity. When I look at the Reds I see a still young, but maturing squad. If they can keep them together than they are really still 2 yrs away from when the team should really be expected to peak. Nonetheless, last year they were the...

Even if it only sends a handful of mid level players back our way, that will be a good thing. Most of our starting XVs are pretty respectable. But all of our teams are relying on young guys playing above their age and experience once we have a few injuries. A couple of seasoned veterans would...

True - but I think the general point here is that it is one of the favourite lines of the average league journo to announce a player is sick of Union and wants to try league. I take stories on Vunivalu going back with a grain of salt. They remind me a bit of the quote on economists - they’ve...

Yeah - most teams in a transition stage. But so too are Australia. Both the men’s and women’s teams are filled with players for whom the Dubai series were their first and second carnivals. Completely agree that the return of NZ will throw up a new challenge and I also assume Fiji in particular +...

You can watch the full games on replay via the World Rugby 7s You Tube channel. Well worth it. Both good games. Both the Men’s and Women’s teams refresh seems to have bought through soon real gems.