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Easiest game plan to implement and most effective. Hope Foley has an off day and kicks well.

Foley is a horrible defender, especially early this year. Although has looked better defending at 12. I'd say Cooper and Foley are on par. I think Phipps at 9 has worked in Foley's favour as well as being the goal-kicker. These are the only 2 reasons I can see him pushing Cooper to the bench.

Poor Speight, he finally gets another crack but again with Foley at 10, don't think he'll be seeing much ball and that is only going to further strengthen the perception he is not a test level player. Please start him outside Cooper!!

Think Itoje would have a bit of an advantage playing the six nations though, think it's easier to stand out against lesser opposition. Imagine if Hooper or McMahon played in the six nations - I think they'd stand out in most of those games.

World player of the year between Barrett and itoje? Hope Barrett gets it.

Tackles aren't aggressive enough? Don't know which player you've been watching the last few years. He puts hard hitters on their ass. Recently refer to him putting the England 8 Vunipola on his backside in England Test 1. Maybe he doesn't rush out of the line often though which is probably what...

This is like 2015 over again, everyone saying Hooper should be chosen over Poey, Poey is not as effective etc etc.... only for Poey to come out firing and was certainly the better performer over the year. Probably would have won world player of the year if Carter did have a superb final. Not...

Yes a broken hand, so he can still run? Doubt fitness would be much of an issue given he can still train for fitness. Not likes its a torn hammy. He probably could play with a broken hand if he had too. ;)

Nah Pocock is the long-term Captain after he returns ;)

Not sure it's a 50/50 with Timani and Pocock, I think Cheika has a very clear pecking order for 8. 1. Poey 2. McMahon 3. Timani Timani way down the list. Would love to see him start though especially given the Pooper will not be around next year.

Agree, but at this point the series is lost and we have little hope of winning at Eden Park. I think it would be better served to stick with Timani and further develop him. By the end of next year Timani could very well be the better 8.

Hooper would have better impact from the bench then Pocock. In my view Pocock's value is better utilised as a starter, if he is reff'd out of the game he can be subbed early for Hooper. Hooper has been consistent but not that good to not even consider starting a player of Pococks calibre -...

Or selects him at 7 and moves Hooper to the bench.

Some probably define physicality a bit different too. Personally I wouldn't call Eales physical either, I don't exactly recall him hitting hard in contact. But I would call him tough, really bloody tough.

Nah i disagree there. Look at the Nonu and C.Smith combination. One of the best of all time, both complimented each other. So what would be better then that combination? In the the future there will probably be 2 players who have the skills of both. That is what we should be working towards...

I hate how a 12 is either a ball-player or crash-baller. Maybe we can have someone in-between like Hodge. Or maybe we can potentially have both, in Kerevi.

Don't think it was that exaggerated. Injuries certainly helped certain players get game time. (as they always do). Anyways moving on.

Fair call, I agree his distribution at test level has been quite poor, I re-call at least 2 offloads / final passes that missed the mark. Not sure what he is like at the Rebels, but the fact he has played a lot at 10 gives me a lot of hope. If it's not up to scratch he'd still be a solid...

"Against his will" "no other choice" - no one said that? Or even implied that?

Yeah look that was probably a bit of an exaggeration. He defends in the 12 channel, low error rate and whilst he hasn't set the world alight on attack, he has been strong in contact. So I guess when I said "stepped up", I mean playing him at 12 IMO, is low risk as he ain't going to be missing...