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I have to say that I am really looking forward to going with some mates to the Reds Gala Ball tonight. Partly, it's a refuge to quality and pleasure. To go from the Wallabies week-to-week debacles and mediocrities and stuff-ups to our Reds 2010: - a team that was well coached in all...

Thanks Langthorne. Your usual goodness. And, I agree! (I am actually quite excited about the new S15 next year and the arrival of the Rebels. Btw, McQueen's return will add greatly to the quality of the debate about elite coaching in Australia, and its value, as we see how he progresses over...

Thanks ROR. Some very constructive and creative ideas here. No one could argue this isn't a major issue/challenge for the successful medium-term strengthening - or maybe even for core viability - of rugby in Australia.

From Austin's excellent GAGR post today re Wallabies vs Ireland: The back line has just about come to a spluttering halt and the combination of Cooper and Giteau is not working at all. The Wallabies would have known going into the match that Ireland’s defence would be well organised yet the...

LF: A genuine mystery for me is: why has Burgess' obvious instability and poor technique in creating passes (known now over a long period) not been able to be fixed with the requisite specialist skills coaching (and, don't mock it, some work with a sports psychologist if the issues are...

Intriguing speculation, is it not? With a shocker of a 2010 3N behind us and, say, loss also of the BC, JO'N's rationale for holding RD through to the RWC (or anything else) is then hanging by a tiny thread. The 'long-term development and youth' line will be hugely worn down. RD will have...

Though perhaps wise to remember that amongst all the bile, back in 2007/8 there were some more thoughtful, calmer critiques re Deans in NZ: One, the line went, that he had done a poor job whilst assisting Mitchell with the ABs, too much selection experimentation, new player flops, games plans...

Agree with all above. Wallabies general record at Suncorp is excellent and perfect w-l v SA there in particular. + SA teams last game in Oz before return home is often a down performance for them. Brisbane is the Wallabies best chance overall. But, against that, unlike last year when there was...

I could take this particular humour on a line further, but it might get us into trouble (or never 'speaking' again).

David: the pieces are now starting to make more sense to me, from what I am seeing on the field. Thanks. (Just a btw: his recruitment blurb to the Wallabies in March 09 never as far as I can tell designated him a backs coach, or dedicated to backs' skills.) So, Graham is sort of, de facto, a...

Not all girls react like that...

Look, I think you know what I am getting at. Was just trying to make the point in extremis: I want to see evidence on July 24 of proper corrective action, in depth, done is an intensely committed manner, and of the standards expected of an expensive, elite coaching group. I don't want PR...

David, thanks, I am inclined to agree ;-). Moreover, I am very confused - always have been - re what this "Skills Coach" position actually does and what are its KPIs. Does it cover breakdown skills, passing, every skill, what exactly? It's certainly not clear that it's the equivalent of fully...

DPK: Let me say. I am a big fan of Mitchell. I think the way his potential dismissal from the Test team has been leaked to the media (obviously by Wallaby management) is a panic-ridden disgrace of awful man-management that will do _absolutely nothing_ to help Mitchell, or the team. If people...

Frankly, I wish Deans would stop watching trial games, and thinking more, and holding BaaBaas games and all such, and just bloody well go on 2010 S14 track record in the hardest and best of the games there. Many of his 'developmental' selections, alone or in combination, have clearly failed and...

Well, all I can say is that they better all start fast getting used to playing with Cooper and playing bloody well with him and not making a lot of the ever-more-typical Wallaby speak on such matters that just amounts to excuse-making vs showing top quality skills and back line integration. If...

Yes, agree David, let's not start painting over those types of (potentially) major, unforced, game-losing errors by Wallaby players as 'his only error that game otherwise he was fine', etc. That's absurd, with respect. This is our top national team in a key Test and Beale should do (much) better...

Well, there was some time for training before the Fiji game when the 2010 Wallabies assembled. I doubt that time was used optimally for the intensive training you infer is required. I compared and contrasted the fine state of readiness-to-conquer the ABs showed in their first half v Ireland...

Yes, but this is a bit picky :-). I do appreciate that no team wins every time and that there was indeed variation in these S14 teams' performances (as there are in Test teams). My more general point stands, I believe. This point hit me hard on Saturday, and it was not at all a good feeling to...

HaHaHa....that Palu try in hindsight was what kept us out of the 4! So, to avoid further unjustified humiliation by moderator, can I choose a pic now? I have now a more serious point - or thesis perhaps - and it's this: If either the Reds 2010 or Waratahs (any recent year) were playing Ireland...