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I think we can acknowledge that Fainga'a had a barry without believing that starting Uelese is the solution. The bloke went on with 20 to go and was absolutely gassed by the end, literally crawling back onside. I get that you play high energy as a sub, but there were three starting forwards out...

Part of the purpose of the bench is to cover for potential injuries. The fact that Chris Whitaker rarely got off the bench wouldn't have justified not carrying a reserve 9.

If Simmons was a tradesman he'd wind up on Today Tonight.

If there was a weakness in the back row in that first match, it was that they weren't moving quickly enough to follow the linebreaks, leading to the ball runners getting turned over. I think moving a second rower into the backrow is unlikely to improve the situation.

3. Daugunu 2. White 1. Slipper

The only counterpoint I'd make to this is Jake White's philosophy on bringing players back from injury (which I think is particularly applicable to very fragile players like Petaia). If you start him, and he gets re-injured, you can sub him off. If you bring him on at half time and he gets...

A draw in a match in which the All Blacks were paying $1.08 for the win. Worthy of celebration I think.

He's had one bad game, with a new set of colleagues and a new lineout system. He's been the best thrower all season, let's not soil the sheets just yet.

Gross dude. It wasn't THAT good.

White, Samu, Banks and Koroibete all had forgettable first halves but improved significantly as the game went on. Let's not forget this was the first game of the season and we drew with the All Blacks at home, care of some shocking refereeing blunders. The only change I'd be inclined to make is...

Look as a general rule, coaches shouldn't make any career-ending decisions on the basis of one game, let alone the first game of the season. However, when a player has built a reputation over a decade for giving away dumb penalties, and then comes on and gives away a dumb penalty, costing his...

Angus Gardner missed a massive foot in touch for Ioane's try, and the most blatant ruck penalty of the game in the 84th minute by the All Blacks 19, right in front of the sticks. Just dreadful.

Staggering non-decision there. Blatant hands in the ruck from NZ right in front.

No way he's kicking that in this weather.

I'm old enough to remember how shit Latham was for the Wallabies, and for low long he was. He was older than Banks is now when he finally came good, and finished his career as the best fullback in the world.

Scrum deserved an advantage there.

Time for Valetini I think. We need somebody following the breakaways and shifting bodies.

White has come alive. Suddenly playing a blinder.

Big improvement (thank Christ) from White this half.