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A stronger 15 then I was expecting, I'm guessing the bench will be cleared fairly early to manage some of the top line players minutes and get some more into the fringe guys though

I'm not sure Daugunu had a better season at wing then Vunivalu, but given he was injured for the entire RC he was never going to be in direct contention for the world cup squad. Toole is a more interesting alternative, but Vunivalu likely wins out by virtue of being more able to physically...

I think it's all he's there for though - a flat track bully to help maximise points difference against Portugal, which may be important if Wales, Fiji and us all take a game off of each other. Certainly that's what saw him in the squad above Pietsch who's finishing has let him down more than...

Mitigated by the curvature of the earth effecting a sudden change in the running height of the ball carrier

Probably O'Connor, but any of Flook, Pietsch, Anderson and Daugunu could be seen as fullback cover in a game like this.

I really hope there's at least 23 of them, otherwise we're going to have a hell of time of it.

That's not a dead window for women's rugby, it's when the premier international tournament, the WXV, is scheduled to run.

Yeah, from my reading it's the Brumbies and the Reds who are the most sceptical.Very terse statement from the Brumbies that focuses on their own success and a qualified support from the Reds: Makes sense given they're the two sides with the most recent success and stability, particularly from...

Josh Kemeny already got his debut against Argentina.

That only works for them if the game is delayed a few days, as it stands a championship this weekend would be twice in a blue moon:

Should really be the Allan Ala'alatoa's down to the Dane Zander's. But yes, from my understanding of the contracting model they have been working on the aim is to cover the entirety of the professional game, so I assume high performance will be a part of that. They also stress the contracting...

It's not too optimistic, but I feel like they might have mentioned that if it was lined up. Could all still be being worked out though - might be they play a closed doors trial at the start and a proper game at the end like the Reds did last year with Saitama

Yeah, October 8-15. article doesn't mention how many games so it's probably only the one at the end of the week. https://www.rugby.com.au/news/melbourne-rebels-and-kintetsu-liners-extend-partnership-and-celebrate-with-osaka-tour-2023821

Not sure if that break even includes the broadcast rights money, but most accounts suggest they pretty significantly undercharged for them this time around, better valuation of them in the future will make a significant difference.

I think from this world cup on tackle school should shift to be a requirement in the first 1-2 years of professional rugby with no reductions available to complete it. Any player who then picks up a ban without having completed it after that time period would cop an extra week on their ban to do...

Phenomenal run from Stewart for that try, found the seams so well.

Starting out with Proctor at 12 seems like a waste, I'm pretty sure pretty much all of his professional rugby has been at 13. He's probably played more wing/fullback than he has inside centre.

That was the case this year outside of super round, wasn't it?

Ben Mowen has also signed on as an assistant coach. I think you might still be in need of another prop after loosing De Lutiis, with Ala'alatoa's return likely to be during the season and managed. Unless you move Slipper across I don't think there's any cover at tight head for the start of the...

I think there may have been a few who signed up short term deals to make sure they had something going, may end up back on the market and open to offers for 2024 or 2025.