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Chisholm has been captaining a side in France but if you saw the side's form and Chisholm's form you wouldn't be impressed. Mumm's side and Mumm's form on the other hand have been impressive (he's also captaining). Chis was the better player (and bigger) when in Aus but on form Mumm gets...

Most of, but I think they're ahead on the ledger against Scotland over the last 3-4 years and that's a home union. Plus let's remember Wales pre-WC were a mess, regularly losing to Fiji with a full strength side. I don't think Italy are that far off the 8-ball, though they were shocking on Sat...

I don't know how the Tier system works but surely the Japs could be Tier 1. I mean their quality isn't there but they have a fully professional league they have control over and 95% of their players play locally. Their real issue that stops them from getting better is the fact their league...

Mitchell hasn't impressed me from what I've seen. Kimlin on the other had would be a shoe in if he'd of been patient. I suppose it's tough for a fringe international like Kimlin who hung around for so many years waiting for a spot and never lucked out, and now it's there.

It's not, basically with the LV Cup you run your young players and if you make the finals then you name a full strength side. The approach to player management is not too dissimilar to the AFL preseason tournament.

Gitts would undoubtedly be in the 23 for his ability to cover 12, 10, and arguably 9. Dean Mumm would be at least in the 23 on current form and on current lock stocks (surprising, but others will agree). Digby would be there probably over Cummo (even though he had a good test). Maybe Salvi...

In French rugby it seems like every club has a carbon copy of Falefa.

How does he go nowadays? I ask because the Rebels have a 5/8 spot open and I remember Daruda being not too shabby, certainly worthy of playing the role Hilgendorf played for us on age and previous form.

Yeah, I'd say they were the kinds of tackles he shouldn't have been forced into but was by a combo of his enthusiasm and people around him missing them. He goes okay Shota. If he starts next year he won't be the worst starting 2 in the league but he's also be far from the best.

Doubtful. Top 14 is a similar standard to Super Rugby but it's a different kind of game with different expectations. One thing about the Top 14 is they're happy for a fat, lazy tight forward to be a fat, lazy tight forward. Plenty guys running about in starting jerseys in France look like they...

So he's an Aussie of American heritage pursuing his opportunities over there?

You're absolutely right about the kicking for touch, didn't even consider that angle. I'd be surprised if it was a good selection. It won't be the reason we lose, but I don't think it'll turn the tide either. In fact, the only Wob 2nd rower to actually play plenty of 6 in his career is...

It also strikes me as odd that in that circumstance with Simmons available he moved Horwill to 6 and this time the other way around. It's a talking point though with Italy playing two locks listed at 1.96cm (and I'd say Pavanello is at most 1.92cm) and their 6 and 8 being tall but no taller...

Tell me more about these blokes. Dolan must be good to displace Clever from 8. Though I've always thought he should be at 6. I've heard L'Estrange's name before. What's his deal? Does he regularly play Uni 1sts?

In other news, Big Timani has sorted out his French contract and is gone at the end of the Spring season. This rules out him taking one of the 2 spots left on the Rebels roster which have been pencil in as a lock and a 5/8 according to Cordingley. He's said these players would preferentially...

Alright well then use Tilse as an example, if he was at the Rebels for any of the years we've been around (though not next year) you can bet he'd of been starting. He's played as low as Uni 3rds whilst being a Super Rugby contracted player. The Uni 1st XV squad is Super Rugby standard and I...

Skelton couldn't make the same team, and many people bitched when he missed the Wallaby squad. I don't disagree with you that he's not great, but Syd Uni's selection tactics aren't a good yardstick.

I guess the trouble with US rugby is, how do you divy it up? Canada falls very cleanly into franchises or rep teams, the US huge with a pretty inconsistent population distribution. The only solution I can think of is create a few rep teams and ask those who are serious to move to population...

IDK about that, most players good enough to make a Super Rugby squad would be good enough to be in a Fijian 23. They had a strong squad a few years ago but they're been sub par for a while. Let's remember in most professional leagues around the world Rokabaro would be getting regular game time.

Higgers' scrum management at 8 is surprisingly excellent for a relatively loose player. It's why when he played with Devle at the end of the year Delve was at 6. I think in the opinion of the Wallaby staff (and plenty of other high level coaching teams) the key difference between a 6 and an 8...