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Yeah I do wonder about the lack of height though.

Is it possible this is the smallest Wallabies backline of the professional era? Banks is the tallest at 1.86m and Koroibete the heaviest at 96kg.

DHP has improved.

This is going to be a midget backline.

I'm a firm believer in giving local talent opportunities to step up before going to imports. With White and Lonergan in the 23, I'd rather the third spot go to Seamus Smith.

The wetter it gets, the more inclined I become to (somewhat reluctantly) pick To'omua at flyhalf.

If Simone sticks around and Wright continues to improve his defensive positioning, 13 seems like somewhere he could make himself at home. As a centre pairing, they'd fit neatly into the Nonu/Smith mould.

"He was over tired and very fussy, so we took him for a little car ride and managed to get him off to sleep."

I think another big centre/winger. If Simone were injured, the options would be fairly limited. Kuenzle at 12 or Ikitau at 12 with Kata at 13 would be the only options that don't involve repurposing a winger. Another versatile back rower to replace McCaffrey as well. A lot of the Brumbies'...

I think Swinton would've been a perfect fit for Cheika's Wallabies. It is my sincere hope that Rennie will guide us into a new era in which players like Swinton are considered too dumb for the national side.

I won't be surprised to see relatively few Brumbies picked, and not because of Cheika-era parochialism. On a head to head basis, I don't think the Brumbies have that many of the best players in the country. They won the comp primarily on the basis of good strategy and - crucially - a VERY strong...

He's absolutely prolific at chasing attacking kicks though and putting receivers under immense pressure. Swings and roundabouts?

I didn't say O'Connor has been useless for the Reds, only that his previous performances at 10 for the Wallabies were dreadful, and that he was outplayed by a rookie in the SRAU final. I don't think either of these is a particularly controversial statement. Look I hope I'm wrong, but I think...

To be fair, he had some excellent performances for the Brumbies as well.

Yep fair point, he had to learn on the job and improved quickly. The team also adapted quickly to a more forward-oriented approach to compensate, which is a credit to the coaching staff.

Yeah look I don't think there's a good option at 10. To'omua is - as you say - pretty average, and needs a really creative 12 (e.g. Lealiifano) alongside him (which I don't think is on the menu). I'm mystified by the confidence fans and pundits seem to have in O'Connor, whose previous attempts...

I would say it was almost entirely down to his absence. It's not a criticism of Kuenzle - it's rare for a rookie to be thrown into the top job and immediately excel - but the backline was completely rudderless as soon as he took over. Go back and read the comments on the matches the Brumbies...

Hewat is a big loss.

Yeah I agree, and would rather put forward the capable but unspectacular To'omua or the flaky and generally useless O'Connor on that particular stage. I only really posted to stress the point that three and nine are different numbers.

Uhhh wut? Lolesio has nine starts for the Brumbies this year, eight wins and one away loss in NZ by a single point. Comfortably one of the Brumbies' best players all season and MOTM in the final.