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My biggest concern with our defence at the moment is how absolutely passive we are at the breakdown. I get that Cheika is trying to reduce the penalty count, But we appear to have thrown out the baby with the bathwater. It was weird watching the game against the Argies were we had guys back...

Well - that was a shellacking. Fiji very impressive. Lining up to belt the runners. Perth weren't great today, but I really think a big part of that was Fiji smashing them out of the game.

I thought Hunt defended mostly in the front line anyway this year. He certainly did at times - they pushed DP in (dropped Quade back) and the defensive line was DP, Hunt & Kerevi. Although I do also know at times he fielded kicks at the back, but it was certainly my impression he mainly...

It is only 12 months ago that Robertson was switched to loosehead as well. He is patchy, but is only young, and is going ok. It'll be interesting to watch his progress over the next few years but I think he may well kick on over the next 2-3 years. I'd love for you to be right about Slipper -...

Without meaning to be negative towards your post - can't we have all of the above. Please. Don't know enough about Dempsey to know if he can deliver that, but gee it'd be good.

The thing I liked was that each try was as 'crafted' in some manner. Even in the much improved Bled 2 effort, there was an element of some of the tries coming from lapses from the ABs - an intercept & a try from a fractured scrum. Which is fine - you take your chances where you get them. But...

I thought that was Simmons best game all year. Same for Sio. Both carried strongly and defended well from my viewing of the game.

It was good to see the bench have an impact. I think every single one of them did something positive of note soon after taking the field and they all seemed to throw themselves into their work. Our defensive work has improved markedly - but gee we completely stand off the tackle/breakdown. It...

3. Kepu 2. Sio 1. Simmons

Ain't that the truth.

Largely I agree FP. I think it is mostly a product of the consensus that the current option isn't working and, with the lack of depth/player availability/lack of form from Timani it is the only other option. It seems to me though that Cheika is looking to emulate the Melbourne Rebels previous...

You might want to rewatch those games. He was terrible in the first (although clearly not on his own) and merely inadequate in the second. If I've ever seen a player good at getting his stats up by leaning on a breakdown it's him. I'm not actually sure why you keep objecting to other people's...

Every coach has favourites. I think it was Tim Sheens who once spoke how coaches considered personality traits when selecting, so would default to players they knew well. I'm not saying every conspiracy theory is justified, but I am surprised people find the suggestion of favouritism such an...

Will be interesting to hear if Arnold is injured. But I won't be surprised if he isn't. Not because I think the change is warranted, but because Cheika seems to rotate his locks every week whilst being slavishly devoted to players in other positions. No doubt Brumby Runner's head has exploded.

Yeah - this sound like Henry Speight 2.0.

Let's stick to rugby focused topics that we all agree on people so this forum doesn't descend into ad neusum posting of the same opinions over and over. Anyone have an opinion on Quade Cooper vs Bernard Foley?

Well, he definitely looks like an openside.

Very entertaining final game. Was a great advertisement for the game. Well done to UQ for getting home after the siren.

3. Beale 2. Hodge 1. Speight

I just don't see Rodda or Tui as having the mobility to be a 6. I also thought they were both pretty inconsistent this year. Plenty of promise, but throwing them in at 6 in a test match doesn't seem logical to me. I know Simmons has been generally derided on here, and his form this year wasn't...