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May I extend the definition of 'squad' to one of total Wallaby organisational capability, just for a moment? What REALY MUST CHANGE AND NOW in the preparation for all of 2013's Tests (especially the BIL) is much more fundamental than who plays 12 or 15 or such like. It is surely this: a...

As BDA notes above, somehow speculating that a 'takes the 3 points' approach at various game stages would have almost certainly won the match for the Reds is factually ill-considered, it assumes the game post that significantly altered captain's decision would have unfolded just as it did in...

Outstanding commercial and financial 2012 result announced by the QRU at its AGM today. Rugby in QLD now as big in total Aus rugby % market share terms as in NSW. I doubt this comparative % national share level has ever been reached before...

Indeed, and thank goodness it is so heading. It will be far better for everyone involved if QC (Quade Cooper) never plays again under Deans: - If the Wallabies fall away again this year in key contests, Deans has absolute form as a 'blames the players not me' style of coach, and QC (Quade Cooper) will for sure be the fall...

Is it not perhaps also the case that it's been a long while since Australia had at least three S14/5 teams all in the same year with very high (and consistently so) standards of all-of-80 defence, namely the Brumbies, Reds and Force.

Just out of interest, how did you (and others here) feel when the ARU itself decided to entirely dispense with any pretence of actually providing our Wallabies with a gold jersey, but inexplicably (as far as I know) moved to various yellow-ey shades from daffodil to near-canary? Could this not...

If you look closely at WG's ruck-base work vs the Chiefs you'll see an old, familiar flaw creeping back just a little into his play: mini-meerkating for a second or two too long when the ball was free enabling the opposition to grasp the pill and (on one occasions at least IIRC) turn the ball...

I think what can be said with both high concern (for Australian rugby) and factual accuracy is this: the degree to which, over 5+ years, Deans has never been held accountable by his masters, the ARU, against not only their own firmly and publicly pre-stated Wallaby KPIs (AB wins, 3Ns wins, a RWC...

Here's a quality piece of QC (Quade Cooper) analysis, like him or not. Balanced and fact-based, instead of the usual 'my lazy intuitive prejudices, un-researched hunches, and personal player favourites' model so typical of much Australian rugby commentary. Credit to Sully for his Daily Rugby News which drew...

To support the best of all worlds - Reds and Brumbies end the pre-Finals phase as numbers 1 and 2 (either way) on the S15 ladder, what we now want to happen of course is that the Tahs defeat the Chiefs on Friday night (yes, I'm serious).

I suspect only his bank manager would be applauding the experience.

Well said, and unquestionably, even if I considered it an impossible feat after 2012's efforts, our FoxSports comms in 2013 have lowered their standards even further: the childish, unprofessional cheerleading and boosterisms for Aus teams (often when wholly undeserved), the unabashed individual...

As I expressed considerable concerns re Davies in this match, it'd be gutless if I didn't recognise and applaud his tries and a less nerve-racked return to the Reds starting side than I would have anticipated. Good on you Rocket, a commendable return to the Reds. Trying to be objective, his...

IMO, if Jake White was of the view to Deans that J Mogg could handle Test pressure - and that's a big question but there's no one better to answer it - than he's a great choice to play BIL at 15 where, amongst his other obvious talents, his long and typically accurate kicks can be simply...

Kinda lucky the Americans didn't though need a 5-year long learning curve to enter WWII.

Just to 'enrich the debate' re QC (Quade Cooper) or no QC (Quade Cooper) for BIL, Link's weighed in strongly re QC (Quade Cooper) today: http://m.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/mckenzie-holds-line-on-cooper-defence-20130413-2hrys.html

Scotty, I think you make an excellent point, but I also think what fp meant was something like: 'This has not got masses to do with ultimately picking the most talented squad per se, rather it reflects Deans increasing conservatism regarding every aspect of Wallaby squad and game tactics, a...

I loved the phrases quoted by Cully in yesterday's interview with Link wherein the latter said something like: 'I see rugby games like chess....I like to get oppositions to play what they haven't practiced.' Similar to a phrase he's used before: 'We like to get oppositions to play the way...

From a Sydney perspective, maybe. But up here, earlier this week when the 'omission of QC (Quade Cooper) from the logistics camp' was injudiciously leaked (note media had to resort to calling QC (Quade Cooper) himself to confirm the omission), that story made the back page (i.e., leading sports page) of the Courier Mail...

The remarkable thing re Cooper and this 'logistics camp' is that even if Deans was highly unlikely to pick QC (Quade Cooper) for the BIL, why not be smart in a media sense and 'keep the peace' with QC (Quade Cooper) and invite him along, what on earth was to be lost by doing that, and by inviting him the impression of...