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Certainly Bruce, England Twickenham 2010, our forwards often went AWOL again and England comprehensively outplayed us at the breakdown and accordingly won the match. We may have 'marginally improved' in forwards play since 2008, but it was hardly of 'consistent forwards excellence' class by end...

Note that categoric assessment TBH. But just as a little qualification to your point, in the cause of nothing other than a good debate on this general point: who won Test 1 v England, Perth 2010, and why were there (from memory) two penalty tries scored that game?

Agree with both you and Barb. Key point in part is: for sure, there will pre RWC be more long term and short term injuries to more top Wallabies, just as there'll be for our competition (btw, minimising same is obviously one of PdV's big motivations for naming his large sick bed in SA that...

Agree Major, agree. You will recall how those Aus fans/posters/media who were convinced the Cru would knock us over last Saturday (and the majority, on a 'head before heart' basis said they would, as did the supposedly all-knowing bookies), all prominently referenced the devastating Cru scrum...

Horwill states that he and other Reds players want to play v Samoa...(but I must say I wonder if that's wise): http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyunion/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rugby/11/07/12/RUGBYU_Australia.html&BID=504

Actually ch, I was at the game, and there was applause (as well as boos) for HRH Richie when he went to the podium. But IMO this is all such a stuffed-shirt, holier-than-fucking-thou, theoretical and illusory debate: - give me the 52,000 strong passionate crowd we had on July 9 making the...

I think we have a good-to-excellent chance of winning the BC and 3N in 2011. Why? - we now have, ex- Finals Winners Reds, a core of highly seasoned and highly confident Aus players that (a) have now beaten the Cru (best proxy for ABs there is) 5 times in a row which is now way beyond...

Be careful what you wish for... The ARU may actually be working on just such a battle royal: http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/queensland-reds-might-get-chance-to-take-on-top-teams-from-rugby-world/story-e6frep5o-1226092638286

A bit of video and text re Reds 'ticker tape parade' and related in Brisbane today, good vibes all round: http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/ticker-tape-parade-for-victorious-queensland-reds/story-e6freon6-1226092352700

Indeed, squared. You are so very right to fully benchmark skill-for-skill Wallabies mid-2011 (or late 2010) to those of October 2007, TBH. Ensuring that we have corrected every clear deficiency so evident on that fateful day will be an important constituent of our potential for success in RWC...

Lee: just apropos the above and the whole subject of 'Test/RWC selections for varying physical conditions' (a parameter not often referenced here, certainly in the last month or so), this comment from Toby Robson from NZ is a poignant reminder of certain key possibilities we may be faced with...

Moses - a new major stat has arrived, and one I am thrilled about (for all of Aus rugby's future), namely: the Reds v Cru GF on Saturday achieved the biggest ever audience - 518,000 - for a sports event in the history of Pay TV in Australia, man this is a major development, and this figure is...

Thanks Lee. Enjoyed reading that. And btw: perhaps today is a day that, for our Reds, never has your signature line been so apt.

Lee: I have a (most sincere) question for you: what does it feel like today, as you contemplate a home S15 GF, filled with Reds players that you must have watched from juniors, club, school, Academies, whatever, over so many years, and over so many victory songs sung and sad tales rendered in...

Major: only very slightly off topic, but by chance I must inquire: will you be erecting anything like this tomorrow night in your place of abode?: http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/fan-builds-stand-in-lounge-super-final-4291643

Does getting a decent pre-match review of Saturday's game in The New York Times Sports section rate with us?: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/08/sports/rugby/08iht-rugby08.html

Just a belated and serendipitous question given the teams involved in this thread: Ali's Choice, profound Crusaders' fan and poster of thoughtful thoughts, where have you gone?

Absolutely and on all counts above!

For those that might not have picked it up, v good article just published from Link on Finals, present and past: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rugby-union/reds/what-ive-learned-about-grand-finals-20110707-1h3sj.html

IMO, if Kepu is match fit, his selection for a run-on position in the 3N will be an absolute acid test of one very important Wallaby coaching parameter for 2011 and the winning of the RWC, namely: will Deans move from pig-headed, reckless stubbornness (fed by the ARU to the fawning Aus rugby...