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I think the whole thing with goal drop outs is it encourages attacking kicks because the outcome is much better if a defending player grounds the ball. It should also open up defensive space as they will have to defend the threat of a kick far more than they do now.

I dunno - a player gets to pick his time to hang up the boots. He’s had a great career. Was never going to be a superstar but a very solid super rugby player who, it could be said, got the best out of himself when he really doesn’t match the profile of the modern day hooker. Unless of course...

I would have thought Hamish Stewart was better.

I would like to know what the rationale was for Campbell kicking. Obviously they saw something in him they thought they could develop - but he never looked comfortable to me.

Good team - but why no Scott Malolua? I’d have him clearly in front of Sorovi. Also reckon Campbell will be in the side - although I concede that leaves us with a problem regarding the kicker. I did see someone comment previously that Harry Wilson was going to do an Eales and kick. Was that a...

If we have Carter Gordon already in the system why not just back him?

Most (all?) of the DOs were paid rubbish money. The hours were horrid and not at all supportive of work/life balance. There were some very good ones - some great ones in fact - but also a lot who were just doing it because it was a job until something better came along and/or they finished Uni.

Yeah - I get all that. But - correct me if I’m wrong - but from what I’ve read he still isn’t a primary lineout target and benefits from playing in a team where they have a number of backrow options who are strong in the lineout. Australia simply doesn’t have the backrow options to complement...

Skelton would have been a huge addition to the Tahs pack. Would have given them much more balance. But he would have had to improve out of sight and be a viable jumping option to be a priority signing for the Wallabies.

Is there really a position we are desperate for in terms of the Wallabies though? If Rodda does go then someone like Arnold or maybe Skelton (based on comments I’ve read here as I haven’t seen much of the European rugby) would be a useful addition to our lock stocks, and we’d kill for a gun 10...

Certainly it’s a balance act PC. I am often critical of the way that some young athletes are put in pedestals and pandered to and the type of person that evolves out of that (although my observations are more based on school aged sports ‘stars’ then older athletes). I reflect again that these...

I take the point that our lineout was misfiring despite having good height, but think we have to be a bit careful comparing what works at lower level to what works at Super Rugby level. Height is by no means the be all and end all, but you can’t afford to give too much of it away.

Is Wood available for selection? I though his injury was season ending - or has the later then normal season given him enough recovery time? In a similar vein, anyone know how Petaia is tracking?

The All Blacks used Lomu in the midfield regularly, and Tuigamala before him. But they also had players like Bunce & Little inside who were pretty handy crossing the gain line themselves and it created chances for Lomu to get his man 1 on 1. It’s just that Lomu’s highlights reel is normally...

I would have put him more in the 'inconsistent performer' category Reg. I remember him having many cracking games for the Reds and when he was on song he definitely ticked all the boxes of a top flight winger. But, unfortunately, there were other games were he was a bit non existent and those...

Agree BH. But I guess part of my point was that I think the term ‘second fullback’ is probably a bit misleading. Historically 1 or both of wingers in test teams have often had the skills we associate with the ‘second fullback’ - they were just skills that wingers were generally expected to...

It’s not really a modern invention though. Going back a lot of the great wingers were great because they had skills across the board. Guys like Campese, Moon, Roff, and Jeff Wilson from New Zealand were top flight wingers who could comfortably handle fullback. Other guys like Rogers & O’Connor...

Pick one of Banks & DHP and the other misses the 23. I want to see a winger on the wing and there appears to be some good options coming through even if they are unproven. We’ve spent the last 5 years trying to shoe-horn guys into positions to manufacture balance and, as good as some of...

I don’t think Campbell is directly comparable to the others. Campbell has looked handy on the wing, but nothing extraordinary. At Fullback he’s been a revelation - but that still may not be enough. To get in the squad I think he needs to push out either DHP or Banks and I’m not sure that’ll...

Well - cows apparently are producing enough Methane to send the whole world to ruin. Maybe they’re lighting their farts?