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Huge upset in Durban with a Stormers win. Tahs very well positioned to top the table now. Jakeball and its prices: only one try scored in that entire match.

Not glum old sport, just a superior mixture of passion and realism, making disappointment with poor coaching and performances somewhat ferocious in nature. Re the blue and grey of the great Churchie, I simply cannot wait for the GPS rugby season to start - Churchie a serious contender to win...

Gee, interesting idea, but this is, so far, threadbare speculation with very little substantiation from anywhere. But whatever, he was another wonderful player for Churchie school (along with QC (Quade Cooper), Pocock, Schatz, etc), playing at 15 in the school's 1st XV 2003 undefeated season. Also played AFL...

Posting this here as it's relevant to this game, but reveals much more re 2015 plans, Harris' departure et al............my emphasis added:

Well halle-fucking-luyah! That's one of the most heartening rugby articles of 2014. At long last, a national coach saying smart stuff about critical stuff that may or will win Tests. And before disasters have struck that we then have to get over and figure out why we didn't do more specialist...

I know I'm speculating but I have quietly wondered all year if the somewhat odd combination of 'joint head coaches' of Larkham and Fisher and a Captain in Mowen leaving the team for pastures new is not proving problematic at the Brumbies in terms of focussed strategies and clear, stable...

Whatever, goal kicking decides Tests - e.g., see BIL 1 and 2 last year. Who's going to goal kick and how they prepare for the task will surely be a crucial consideration for Link. Interestingly, QC (Quade Cooper)'s place kicking - though not to a DC or M Steyn level - has really improved in recent periods...

I said 'partly' to blame if you noticed. And, yes, paying attention to every relevant detail pre crucial Test matches is what makes or identifies truly exceptional coaching groups at elite national level. Blind Freddy could see on arriving at Suncorp that night that the pitch was very top soft...

We all remember Gits' great skills, and yet too the the later career stage crabbing and erratic kicking that was problematic for any Wallaby back line. But the real sadness (and loss to the Wallabies) was Deans' now-notorious obstinacy and vanity: he did not like Gits' independence of opinion...

If there is one position that the 2015 Reds MUST recruit for and possess it's a proper 15. A 15 that can kick well from both feet, that can get decent distances with his kicks, that is fast and can spark deep counter attack based on good vision, etc. Harris was just an adequate stand in 15...

...........and let's not forget BIL 1 2013 when on an obviously soft Suncorp surface Beale as back-up kicker chose moulded boots not metal studs.........though I partly blame the then Wallabies coaches for that massive oversight that probably cost the series as it turned out.

FWIW, I've been singularly unimpressed with the Tahs business management capability, and contacts I have tell me that there are plenty of 'management' positions in the Tahs HQ. I'd opt every day of the week to swap an HQ position or two for a full set of specialist coaches for the Tahs...

Really, you seriously think what we saw last night is merely arising from the native talent 'of the type of players in the backline'? Look at the same players last year, even early in this season. The improvements in precision, handling accuracy at speed, ensemble running lines from depth...

On one of my favourite topics - the underrated but nonetheless critical importance of top grade specialist coaches under competent Head Coaches - I am hugely impressed by D Gibson's obviously effective attack coaching with the 2014 Tahs. What he and his players are achieving is clearly at the...

I hope so too. But in recent weeks I have heard from enough very credible sources that there is significant disaffection within the Reds squad concerning coaching, game plans, selections and general team morale.

...............and Ant F looks the world to me like a player that peaked in 2011, maybe 2012, and that will never come back. No way does he today look like a player you'd rate as a title-winning 12 or 13. Remembering too that Ant's defence was always his greatest asset and that too has clearly...

No one said or even inferred any such thing! This recent discussion concerns the degree to which 'natural and normal' desires to look at better offers ($s and/or playing time) elsewhere will accelerate and become more likely with the 2014 Reds mega-implosion which has clearly affected many...

Perhaps I should I have started a 'Wallabies Assistant Coaches 2014' thread. But I guess this thread's broad title can accommodate my view that I hope today (or very soon) Link announces that he'll upgrade his core group of Assistants, such critical positions in elite rugby. I"ll say it now...

I have no insight into AA's possible opinions and plans, but I do know that the focus on these boards re the Reds' recruitment needs and team change requirements has not yet balanced the discussion with the other side of the ledger: .........namely the Reds (main squad and EPS) players that...

Infinitely better to have an Interim Coach along with a well explained (to the fans and media) transparent recruiting process than rushing into a panicky, pressure-driven immediate choice as new HC that by no means may be the very best available candidate if a proper, patient, global search was...