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That's certainly a much more balanced and beatable NRC squad than the quasi-Super Rugby team they had playing last season!

Yeah there are a few surprises there. My first thought too was that Talakai must surely be injured. I thought Tupou was going to be brought up as a loosehead. But I guess they need another tighthead with Holmes leaving. He got absolutely schooled in the scrum against the Crusaders in the...

Tucker now reporting Fainga'a may miss the game too through injury. That will put Duncan P back to 12 and presumably one of the U20s to start at fullback. The odds on an upset must have just lengthened again...

I'd be interested to know how this process compares to the one that ended up appointing RG. It sounds pretty thorough, and pretty promising.

Yes, well I've made it clear how I feel about Browning getting shafted, but I do tend to think that Houston is more of a 'starter' and Browning offers more flexibility as a utility loose forward. Whether they start Browning this week and make Houston earn his spot, or chuck him straight in...

Yeah looks like Tui will be starting at lock if those reports are accurate. A Tui two-pack! Paia'aua confirmed as likely 15 too. So maybe Magnay at 23. So perhaps it will be... 1. Slipper 2. Ready 3. Holmes 4. Neville 5. Tui 6. Tui 7. Gill 8. Houston 9. Frisby 10. McIntyre 11. Nabuli 12...

There's one potential game short on locks when you include the U20s - but U20s are not first-line locks. You shouldn't be relying on your U20s except in exceptional circumstances, and then preferably off the bench. Neither Lukhan Tui nor Rodda are Super quality yet. So yes, they should have...

Yeah, I know - but they can find the time (and money) to sign Timu and Houston to start immediately. Was there honestly no way they could have found a way to hold onto Matwijow, or sign a new lock instead of yet another backrower? Three first-line locks (Simmons, Neville and Douglas) is never...

A bit of both I think. Simmons' injury has come at a bad time, but we knew we had depth issues at lock going back to the start of the season. Letting Matwijow go before Douglas is ready to return is a problem, particularly when the U20s aren't available. Reds management seem to have a thing...

And Fox Sports reporting "Michael Cheika says the Wallabies are too unfit for his style of play." I really hope that's just an off-the-cuff comment rather than what Cheika actually believes is the reason we just got whitewashed. "Michael Cheika says his style of play is too unfit for the...

I hope CK does get a game. I don't know what he did to O'Connor for CFS to keep getting picked ahead of him, must have run over his dog or something. I thought he had a great NRC season, not always the biggest impact in contact but he's pretty fast and always seems to put in a solid effort...

It's a bit unfortunate, the Reds would be in with a chance against this injured Brumbies side if not for the fact their own injury list is not much better. Douglas and Houston could really spark them up, but without Hunt, Laloifi and Simmons it'll be a hard ask. On the plus side, at least Frisby...

3. McMahon 2. To'omua 1. DHP

After that shocker he had in the first test he deserved to be dropped. He had what, 20 minutes' game time? Touched the ball at least twice and didn't produce a single intercept try.

Looks like Palu gets a bench spot then. Don't understand the dropping of Kerevi over Kuridrani. I thought Kerevi was the better centre both games, and he's certainly been the better of the two in Super form leading up to June. Unless Cheika thinks Kerevi is not experienced enough to handle...

Done. My suggestion for "what new initiatives would you like to see in Super Rugby" was neutral referees. Other than Joubert those Saffa refs on their home games are bad for my blood pressure.

I don't think that because England were using a wolf pack defence, it follows that their tries weren't soft. The one from Folau's pass was definitely soft, he was under a bit of pressure from the rush but nothing unusual for a fullback. It was just a shocking pass. After that, it was fortunate...

I really don't understand all the talk I've seen in the media about making big changes to the backline, the need to bring a second playmaker in to 12 to "take the pressure off" Foley. He didn't seem to be under any pressure in general play. We carved the Poms up, made consistent metres in...

Yep. When they're in gold, they're our boys. It's only when they're in blue that they are only slightly less filthy than the Filth.

3. Folau 2. DHP 1. Hooper