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Agree. I assume everyone realises that since Graham left the Wallabies coaching team in late 2010, there is NO assigned Wallaby backs or attack specialist coach. That is correct, NONE. It's assumed that Deans, with some input from Nucifora, is personally coaching the backs and attack.

I see this: compare and contrast: Link's first 4 games with the Reds, 2010 v his last 4 Reds games 2011 S15. You may note some considerable, genuine development and major improvement in virtually every area of play. Now, Deans' 2008 Wallaby games v ABs compared with tonight's 2011 Wallaby game v...

He also said - perceptively - that there was 'learning' to be had from this game.

At the very best, Rocky should play only. He is not an adequate captain, and, to be generous, it seems to burden his play which was mediocre to poor for all but the last 10 or so mins. Horwill should captain, Genia vice, and Horwill to insist on major changes to the the backrow.

Ruggo, I hesitate to agree. Re your first para, you will recall that it was major S14 success that justified in the minds of all comers what an outstanding candidate for Wallaby coach RD would be. And an international Test coach in the SH has the major benefit of receiving elite players...

Thanks Richo, your first para above is precisely what I intended, and meant in context. I was not (in these posts) trying to argue that Link is automatically the man for the Wallabies, I was rather examining the rate of improvement and achievement that is demonstrably possible in Aus elite rugby...

Simply: it just seemed to me that the idea of leaving Simmons and Horwill at home and 'resting' for the potentially crucial SA match (crucial to a 3N win, that is) and relying upon Sharpe and Vickerman there was potentially very high risk against what will be a better SA team playing in front of...

Groucho, of all the means of protecting our coaches and Wallabies and ARU management from legitimate critique, this one (above) IMO is the weakest of the bunch. History is littered with powerful examples of where 'non experts' and 'ordinary people' dared to question an embedded elite's MO...

Really Ruggo? Aren't we desperate to try and win the 3N? Or does nothing matter now but the potential of a RWC win?

I always like to see The New York Times covering Australian rugby: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/04/sports/rugby/04iht-RUGBY04.html?_r=1

Fine work Hawko, fine work.

That's an astute and fair question CN as it relates to coaching resources and time devoted to it by same. And, to point, the scrum area has a dedicated Wallabies specialist coach in Noriega.

Towards the of the S15, many Kiwi commentators considered Beau R one of the entire competition's best, most effective, 7s, let alone Australia's. So, if Pocock is injured we presumably will have Hodgson come on.

Don't you think 'giving Timani a crack against the ABs' in what is simply a crucial game that could determine the psychology of victory's call going into the RWC (let alone the importance of us winning the BC) is, well, just a tad reckless given the poor way he played v Samoa, and that he's a...

Madness not to consider Samo for 50 or 20-30 v ABs. He was super-effective twice against the Cru and Blues (i.e., numerous AB forwards), and links brilliantly with Genia at the back of the scrum, a linkage that may be very important at scrum time in this match. Neither Hodgson nor McCalman have...

At this time and place for the Wallabies, I am far more concerned with quality in depth and effectiveness in this coaching group, than raw cost. The revelations from Gagger's chat with Horwill reported elsewhere today are simply dynamite - that Nuci is de facto required, inter alia, to coach the...

To JH: 1. Without giving away 'Reds' trade secrets', can you comment upon how 2011 game plans were formulated at the Reds, and how effective you assess the Reds' game plans were in general throughout the season, and why. 2. Much no doubt deserved attention has been focussed upon Link's...

WJ, I agree with Mr R Rooster, I think you are onto an element of truth in all this. And WTF is this title Nucifora now has with the Wallabies - 'Coaching Co-ordinator'. What can that mean, and why would a 'co-ordinator' type of coaching role be needed when that is manifestly the head coach's...

Indeed RR, it's another impenetrable mystery of the whole current Wallaby coaching set-up how Nucifora combines many of the tasks and distractions above with being, as of now, a core member of the Wallaby coaching team in a RWC year.

Actually, I recall Nucifora's increased, direct Wallabies role had its genesis in the 'in depth review' that was allegedly conducted by the ARU into Wallabies' coaching resources post the disappointing 2009 EOYT. This promised a full and open report at the time, but when early 2010 came around...