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Yeah - but I think Henry is fighting with Hegarty & Stewart for that roll. Flook is a genuine outside back.

The commentators last night made reference to the lack of Stewart as the reason Vunivalu didn’t see more ball. But, as has been pointed out on here, Stewart has hardly passed the ball in Super Rugby this year, instead being used as a crash ball runner/defensive stopper & breakdown body. I also...

It’s impossible to judge a coach if he’s forced to operate on a budget 20% lower than everyone else coming off the back of significant legacy issues from the previous coaching regime.

Round 4 TOTW 1. Eloff 2. Fainga’a 3. Tupou 4. LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) 5. Neville 6. Valetini 7. McReight 8. Wilson 9. White 10. O’Connor 11. Koroibete 12. Paisami 13. Ili 14. Daugunu 15. Campbell

I think we’ll continue to see squad rotation. Stewart will get another shot, maybe as early as this week or maybe they’ll give 2Ps a bit more time.

Interesting comments on the back row. Hats off to Valetini - he was superb tonight. Work rate & impact. Looking very good for the Wallabies 6 jersey. I thought ASY (Angus Scott-Young) was outstanding too. Not as good as Valetini & a very different role, but still very good. But I thought McReight was the best...

You’d just have a different group of people complaining. Whatever they adopt, you’ll never please everyone. And, more importantly, there will always be incidents which are subjectively harshly penalised & more leniently penalised under any set of rules. Personally I think the current rule is...

Bonus points, surely?

Actually I don’t think the humidity suits as at all unless we are going to change game plan.

Hunter was moved to 12 because To'omua was injured, Petaia was the preferred 13 and Paisami was rewarded for what he had shown the Wallabies staff. He did a good job there and he has shown he is capable of being far more than a 1 trick Pony. Until his Wallabies slip up, Petaia was shooting the...

Yeah, sure. But not sure he is suddenly a defensive liability.

To an extent Reg. But I don’t think Simone is a particularly bad defender. As always, a lot will depend on whose forwards are on top. It’s easier to rack up a few missed tackles when your going backwards.

Based on these Paisami is at 71%, Petaia is at 91%. Stats aren’t everything, but certainly on those you’d like Paisami to be a bit higher. Petaia seems fine though and I can’t recall and major issues...

I’m intrigued. How many tackles have Petaia & Paisami missed this year. Historically Petaia’s been an outstanding defender and reads the attack very well. I can’t even recall his defence being a problem for the Wallabies last year - all his problems as far as I can remember were in attack...

Still, that’s a shame. Hope he shakes it off. Quality player. Last year was something of a break out year and whilst this year has some additional challenges he has plenty to offer.

On the family farm

If anything I thought the Brumbies moved their players around more. It also seems to me most of the Kiwi sides, and the Crusaders specifically appear happy to use a lot of squad rotation. I think it is a chicken and egg thing with depth. You want the squad depth to be able to rely on any subs...

I think it’s more about balance of the bench. Hegarty & Flook cover numbers 10 - 15 better than Stewart & Hegarty or Stewart & Flook. And it may be, and probably is, that this is what Thorn see’s as his best side - but rotating guys out of the 23 doesn’t necessarily mean he’s undervaluing them...

Brumbies side is no slouch either, and in great form. Reds will need to be more disciplined then they have been or Brumbies will grind them down. But I’m optimistic for a cracking match. Brumbies have been very good in Canberra, but if the Reds are going to stick to their guns with the high...

Well - there is that too