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For the record BH, I have nominated the poor selection of starting hooker, the poor use of the bench props, the poor bench cover for Lock, the very poor combination of Foley/Beale at 10/12 and the poor form of our wingers as factors of the disappointing result, along with the Pooper. Confining...

It is not the only problem, but against NZ it is a problem.

At least one late scrum with AA on it held up well and the Wallabies had no trouble winning the ball. Maybe it was more a problem of the use of the bench by the coaches than the starting personnel involved? No way ever should Ainsley have come on before Ala'alatoa.

BH we'll never agree on the benefits of playing two 7s, no matter the quality of the individuals. I would have a fit Hooper on the bench, but you will always have him in the starting lineup. That is just the way it is. You can take solace in the fact that Cheika will always see it your way...

How about a rampaging run from the base of a scrum over 20m to score under the posts. That is what a No 8 is about, and that is precisely what Hooper will never do.

But if Hooper was being assessed for his No 8 contributions, then the questions about his worth to the team would arise. OTH, there would be no question about Pocock's worth as the No 7.

Ah, but what would any NZer know about the intricacies of Rugby?;):(

Or is it just a blip Strewth? Can you see a trend continuing on the back of such a woeful display as they put out on Saturday?

QH, if you play any position other than No 7, then I'll take that.

On the other hand, many Tahs fans think there aren't enough NSW players in the test team. Remember all the calls earlier in the season for Wells to be in the squad? It has become a cliche, but there are too many Tahs in the squad, and too many in the starting team. Sekope Kepu is not the...

Tom, I thought I made it clear it was my selections and had nothing to do with the squad makeup. However, I do agree about starting with TPN and letting FF (Folau Fainga'a) learn off the bench.

Nup. Let him get back to fitness with Manly or Sydney in the NRC and then he'll be in the mix for a bench spot.

Cottrell has had an excellent Super season, was awarded Forward of the Year for the Rebels iirc. He is very abrasive, lets the opposition know that he is there for blood either with tackling or with ball carries. He has a ton of pace for a No 6 - chased Naholo (I think) over 50 m and didn't lose...

I agree with just about everything R3. Especially the 22m drop out. That very poor effort by Foley laid the foundations for the first ABs' try. I would and am calling for him to be dropped, not just on the back of that kick and the extra poor effort from behind his own goal line to about 5m into...

Not likely BH. Read the comments in the game thread for a real indication of how he rated.

This would be my side for Bledisloe 2 assuming Folau injured and Sio and Tupou back in the team. It is not Cheika's. 15. Hodge 14. Banks 13. Rona 12. To'omua 11. Maddocks 10. Beale 9. Genia 8. Timu 7. Pocock 6. Cottrell 5. Arnold 4. Coleman 3. Tupou 2. Fainga'a 1. Sio 16. BPA 17...

Which perfectly illustrates my point that lineouts are far too complex to be determined by one player only. In what world would a single player of the likes of Coleman or Simmons have the overall vision of the game and the responsibility for deciding which form of lineout would be appropriate in...

Big mistake to play any player, let alone a consistently poor (at test level) performer out of position. I agree that Tui didn't front up in Bledisloe 1 as we'd hoped he would. I will again put forward an unpopular name to take the No 6 spot in the remaining tests. Gus Cottrell. A true No 6/8...

Only because that is the ARU policy. Can be changed at the stroke of a pen. As far as the best team is concerned, it was certainly weakened by the replacement of Sio and Tupou. What that illustrates though is that we are very short on quality props when there is one or two injuries to cover...

Never one to rock the boat, eh BH? The Samu and Shield situations show that the NZRU can be negotiated with if circumstances require.