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Still don't understand why Lilo is not going to 10 when Cooper is replaced. To'omua at 12 has been a revelation this year while Lilo's best play by far for the Brumbies was at 10 and he does not look comfortable at 12 for mine,

He should, but Kuridrani's brain explosion is going to make it difficult, unless we bring Cummins in one and use CFS outside him. For me, that's a bridge too far.

Its not obvious, but there is a kernel of truth in what you say: Slipper was good last night. Although Robinson is a better scrummager, and it showed when he came on, last night Slipper was pretty good. Sipper has had some terrible scrum games too and it will be interesting to see Slipper...

Because the way we play at the ruck, we rarely commit three players to a ruck. They are all out clogging up the backline.

McKenzie does (I hate a smart-arse:)). Depending on how far into the match it is the two possibilities are Timani on, Simmons to 8 if its early and Gill on, Fardy to 8 if its after oranges.

Surprised to see Andrew Hore not getting a run in what is his farewell tour.

A seventeen team round robin gives you 16 games in the regular season. That's the same number that is played now pre-finals. An eight team finals format adds another week to the competition, which already starts too early and further adds to player burnout. Any Argentinian team will be at a...

Given some of the laughable nominations for IRB player of the year and especially the final choices, being on the IRB list has less than zero credibility. Look at the nominations for this year, especially the NH ones. Kieran Reid should win it but that's almost a guarantee that he won't. I...

I know its not a high bar to jump over, but the writing on the Scotsman rugby site is comprehensively better than I am used to on SMH, not to mention Rupert's rags.

Not if Weekes is your regular starter.

The same words could be used of the Wallabies. Perhaps that's the point and I missed the irony but for me if the Wallabies don't step their game up from last Saturday, I don't expect them to win.

For the South Africans, a round robin tournament would mean either one five week road trip or two trips, neither of which is a great option. Australian and New Zealand teams would have a three week road trip to SA. Its doable, but I think you'd have to guarantee the teams a bye the week after...

..and there was a huge improvement when the Italian bench LHP came on.

I'd certainly like to see some changes, but last night was the game to give players like Phipps, Foley and Gill a run but we "couldn't" because we'd gone so badly last week. Ireland will be much tougher than Italy now they've had a hitout and started refining their new gameplan/coaching set-up...

3. Cooper 2. Simmons 1. To'omua

That's why he was selected at 6.

I think you're absolutely right but are ignoring one thing: 18 rounds of Super rugby will leave at least one third of the pack in team rehab, and we'll be in the same position we are this year. Every year after Super rugby you are building a team from those who survived without major knee and...

If you selected a joint 23 from the two teams then the only certainty for a start IMO would be Mas. Dusautoir would make the bench, as would Fofana and maybe Parra and Pape. The French will have to play the game of a lifetime to even stay close.

Its probably already been posted but I think Link might have been thinking this way: Italy has a strong scrum, an average lineout and good breakdown work but not much imagination or running flair (Parisse excepted). Link wants to play Alexander and Slipper as his props because of their better...

Not only has he squibbed it but if his selection policies continue then a number of the squad will come home having had nothing but practice holding tackle bags. The structure of the tour was well set up from the beginning. The two toughest games book-ended the tour with the middle game also...