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You do a nice line in understatement, Gnostic: "A few of the French heads were hanging." "Some of the effort seemed to go out of their play " By contrast the French crowd kept their heads high, the better to whistle shrilly at their own players.

Unfortunately they tend to be a bit of a graveyard for kids' educational potential, an issue that urgently needs addressing.

Dobber, interviews with Burgo always have something of a surreal quality. He would never have been in danger of playing Firsts at Joeys considering that when he got to Sydney Uni he started playing in Fourth Colts.

Dobber, what about John Langford who went to Knox but never played a game of rugby there, instead focussing on golf and cross-country running? His first ever game of rugby came at Sydney University's Wesley College when the legendary Wesley rugby coach Maurie 'Patrick' Cunningham persuaded a...

RF, let me be the first of the resident pedants to point out that the word "independent" doesn't have an "a" in it. Correctly other people's spelling and grammar is rightly considered rude in forums, but an exception is surely justified for a misspelt logo.

Whatever it takes. I don't care how much Canberra involvement there is in the Parramatta Club if it helps a proud club to survive and prosper. They've obviously engaged a coach who can bring players with him, an essential first step in turning things around.

There'd be overlapping of positions but you'd have to include the three Ellas, Lloyd Walker and Russell Fairfax.

They've got one of the best second row prospects in the country in their academy. Sam Carter is a real spring heel, son of David who played five Tests in the late 'Eighties. The old man was described as "a big tough farmer's son". The apple hasn't fallen too far from the tree.

While we're having a chuckle, TOCC, let's recall the story of Queensland's first white settlers, courtesy of Wikipedia: "On October 23, 1823, Surveyor General John Oxley set out with a party in the cutter "Mermaid" from Sydney to "survey Port Curtis [now Gladstone], Moreton Bay and Port...

I think they're all still with their overseas clubs, Lindommer.

Yes, I understood exactly where you were coming from, HJ. Interestingly, he is very much a favoured son at Uni where I have never heard anyone bag him. He is remembered for his pivotal role, with Martin Harland, in setting up the EDS program. The same cannot be said at Randwick where he not...

I don't think he "polarizes supporters", HJ, but he always seems to have plenty of enemies working in the background. And this time around and with this club the success or failure will be attributed to him, as it should be. Apart from some great coaching appointments throughout the...

Are you suggesting, numero uno telopea speciosissima, that Michael Foley has been replaced as scrum coach by another Wallaby prop? I would have thought that Foley was doing a great job with the Waratah pack, although one should never underestimate the capacity of any rugby organisation to...

I'm starting to grasp the logic of letting Melbourne into the competition. The cane toads feuding with the Mexicans. It gives us in the senior state a bit of peace and quiet.

Apologies, lily, I didn't fully grasp where you were coming from. I agree with you that there are a lot of very talented players who are overlooked because they didn't make Schools or Under 20 selection. The franchises tend to take the easy way out because their focus is often on exploiting...

I'm not sure it is fair to categorise the present squad members as "children", lily. Previous posters have highlighted two factors which may have been responsible for the disappointing result in the last tournament, i.e., the selection of an unbalanced squad overloaded with backs and the absence...

My own thoughts which are based on no inside knowledge. I'd be surprised if Phil goes OS because he identifies so strongly with Sydney and New South Wales. He's always been very astute with investments so I don't see any financial imperative. He has almost completed a Masters degree. I'd...

Ronnie, I apologise for breaking my own rule of not criticising new members. Nick Phipps doesn't need me to stick up for him. He is already on track to make it in the professional game even though he has only played a very few club games at first grade level. I am more concerned at other...

He was kept back in Colts until this year, RH, which gave him plenty of time to perfect his craft. In 2010 he was very much involved in playing Sevens which resulted in him playing Thirds for Sydney Uni behind Brendenhann and Matt Schwagger in mid-season. Once he got into the Ones he really...

My issue with Ronnie's post centres around his "chopped liver" comment. His points about how the team played may be justified but if so, the coaches and selectors are the more legitimate targets. There has been criticism on this forum of the fact that the squad is unbalanced with only one...