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TOCC, as you say, Cheika's record in the post RWC period is around 44% If he wins 5 out 10 upcoming, as you have surmised, that will not get him back over 50%. In fact won't make much difference at all. But it does raise the question, at what point will Cheika's appointment become dubious? What...

Jordan Smiler played 7s for NZ before coming to Aus and playing 7s for our national side. But most would probably also say he wouldn't make the ABs too.

Why would there need to be a restriction on the NRC/NPC level for players wanting to play at the national level? The Super Rugby (or whatevert it will be called in future) is the second tier, and the NRC/NPC essentially underpin and feed into Super, not directly to test level.

TOCC, how can you assume it would be a bigger crowd in NZ? Their crowds during the Super Rugby season were pretty woeful, and almost nobody turned up to the Saders v Clan Quarter Final today. I know the weather was atrocious, but the cold at Canberra Stadium when the overnight temp is headed to -7 is...

Yes, Gary was a centre, but that's not DP's question. Glen played 15, Mark was the first 5, or No 10.

But he's consistently led the Wallabies to losses against England, South Africa, Scotland, Ireland etc. I would be confident most of the previous coaches would have had more success with the same talent.

Now that Ewen McKenzie is working in Canberra, maybe he could Link in a consulting role with the Vikings in the NRC and/or the Brumbies for the pre-season preparation for 2018? Would be a huge boost to the coaching staff in both organisations who are fronting up to their first appointments at...

Not really my place to suggest; would be nice if the ARU would bite the bullet and do something positive. The fact is that Cheika has no success to talk of over the past two years - in fact his win/loss record probably sits with the worst in living memory.

A good thought there FP. As other have said, Cheika seems to be a very good motivator, and probably should be in the coaching setup somehow, but not as Head Coach. He has had early success with the Tahs and the Wallabies but his influence seems to deteriorate after a short period, perhaps as I...

Can't see it myself FF (Folau Fainga'a). Cheika seems to get a down on certain players (see Fardy through all of 2016 and 2017) and that's the end for them. i think Cooper has joined the ranks of those on the outer. If Cheika wanted to put a rocket up his arse, wouldn't it be more effective to do so while he...

UTR and others not sold on Joe Powell, perhaps his efforts last night against TJP and the best Super Rugby side in the competition might have swayed your opinions slightly? He was the equal of TJP while on the ground and seriously better than Cubelli who came on the replace him. Also, on the question...

Well, nothing can be argued in the heat of a game. It will rest entirely on the referee's interpretation, as always. Plenty for the fans to argue after the game of course.

One change I think might result is that the tackled player won't be able to (pretend to) release the ball and pick it up again as he regains his feet if there is one of his own players "on his feet and over the ball", and thus forming a ruck. Will be interesting to see how the referees handle...

I agree Slim, but Smiler hits a bit harder and I think that was needed in the last quarter of the match.

Well and truly in the game to the 70th minute. Too many replacements upset the combinations and game flow in the Brumbies and the Canes took full advantage. Arnold replaced at 60 minutes was on the mark; he had a storming game but a man of his bulk cannot be expected to continue at that pace...

And when all that happens, the Wallabies will be filled with overseas players with maybe a token local or two if they want to remain competitive with the best. Further down the track, as NZ rugby then suffers from lack of quality opposition on a week to week basis, the two countries will come...

But there's always recourse to the courts IS, and that would certainly take up a lot of time.

Just hoping the Brumbies give a good account as I think the Canes will go all the way to the title again this year.

One thing looks certain to me, FP. There won't be as many Brumbies in the side as there are Tahs. And leaving aside the fact that they finished top of the Aus conference, it would be hard to argue that more Brumbies have not been in better form over the Super Rugby season than Tahs players.

But FP you also claimed that Cheika selects the players who can execute his plan. I'd say the evidence is in over the past two or three years that there are usually better players left out of the side who would be more capable than some who have been included. "You know what I mean?".