Ok, so I'm moving on to next year. Let's have a look at current squads (confirmed signings as far as I am aware) and make up some starting teams:
Reds:
15 Mark McLinden
14 Peter Hynes
13 Morgan Turinui
12 Anthony Fainga'a
11 Rodney Davies
10 Quade Cooper
9 Ben Lucas
8 Ezra Taylor
7 Poutasi Luafutu
6 Scott Higginbotham
5 Robert Simmons
4 Adam Byrnes
3 Laurie Weeks
2 James Hanson
1 Ben Daley
16 Saia Fainga'a
17 Greg Holmes
18 ??
19 Leroy Houston
20 ??
21 Charlie Fetoai
22 Will Chambers
Other contracted players = Aiden Toua, Blair Connor, Brando Vaalu, Dayna Edwards, Jack Kennedy
Players whose contracts I am not sure about = Van Humphreys, Will Genia
Tahs:
15 Drew Mitchell
14 Lachlan Turner
13 Timana Tahu
12 Rob Horne
11 Lote Tuqiri
10 Daniel Halangahu
9 Luke Burgess
8 Wycliffe Palu
7 Phil Waugh
6 Scott Fava
5 Dean Mumm
4 ??
3 Dan Palmer
2 Adam Freier
1 Benn Robinson
16 ??
17 ??
18 ??
19 ??
20 Josh Holmes
21 Tom Carter
22 Ratu Nasiganiyavi
Players whose contracts I am not sure about = Matt Carraro, Ben Mowen, Al Baxter
Brumbies:
15 Adam Ashley-Cooper
14 Alfi Mafi
13 Tryone Smith
12 Matt Giteau
11 Stirling Mortlcok
10 Christian Lealiifano
9 Josh Valentine
8 Stephen Hoiles
7 George Smith
6 Julian Salvi
5 Ben Hand
4 Sitaleki Timani
3 ??
2 Stephen Moore
1 Ben Alexander
16 Huia Edmonds
17 ??
18 ??
19 ??
20 Patrick Phibbs
21 Gene Fairbanks
22 Matt To'omua
Players whose contracts I am not sure about = Guy Shepherdson, Salesi Maafu
Force:
15 Cameron Shepherd
14 ??
13 Ryan Cross
12 ??
11 Nick Cummins
10 Scott Daruda
9 Brett Sheehan
8 Richard Brown
7 David Pocock
6 Matt Hodgson
5 Sam Wykes
4 Nathan Sharpe
3 Tim Fairbrother
2 ??
1 Pek Cowan
16 ??
17 Tom Hockings
18 Richard Stanford
19 ??
20 Chris O'Young
21 ??
22 ??
Other contracted players = AJ Whalley, Troy Takiari
Players whose contracts I am not sure about = Dane Haylett-Petty, Haig Sare, Josh Tatupu, Kieran Longbottom, Luke Holmes
So the lineups themselves mean not much other than to show where some recruitment focus should be.
For the Reds, its obviously experience - so Hardman, Barnes, Horwill, MMM and Ione are key (or players of that ilk). I hope Genia, at least, does have a contract.
For the Tahs, back up fly half, but really in the back up pack they need to sure up the likes of Baxter, Dunning, Kepu, TPN etc.
At the Brums, THPs are a precious commodity. Get some. And as per the Tahs, they need to ensure depth in their pack.
The Force - backs it seems. To cover the loss of Gits, Mitch, Stani and Val. And of course - hookers.
Reds:
15 Mark McLinden
14 Peter Hynes
13 Morgan Turinui
12 Anthony Fainga'a
11 Rodney Davies
10 Quade Cooper
9 Ben Lucas
8 Ezra Taylor
7 Poutasi Luafutu
6 Scott Higginbotham
5 Robert Simmons
4 Adam Byrnes
3 Laurie Weeks
2 James Hanson
1 Ben Daley
16 Saia Fainga'a
17 Greg Holmes
18 ??
19 Leroy Houston
20 ??
21 Charlie Fetoai
22 Will Chambers
Other contracted players = Aiden Toua, Blair Connor, Brando Vaalu, Dayna Edwards, Jack Kennedy
Players whose contracts I am not sure about = Van Humphreys, Will Genia
Tahs:
15 Drew Mitchell
14 Lachlan Turner
13 Timana Tahu
12 Rob Horne
11 Lote Tuqiri
10 Daniel Halangahu
9 Luke Burgess
8 Wycliffe Palu
7 Phil Waugh
6 Scott Fava
5 Dean Mumm
4 ??
3 Dan Palmer
2 Adam Freier
1 Benn Robinson
16 ??
17 ??
18 ??
19 ??
20 Josh Holmes
21 Tom Carter
22 Ratu Nasiganiyavi
Players whose contracts I am not sure about = Matt Carraro, Ben Mowen, Al Baxter
Brumbies:
15 Adam Ashley-Cooper
14 Alfi Mafi
13 Tryone Smith
12 Matt Giteau
11 Stirling Mortlcok
10 Christian Lealiifano
9 Josh Valentine
8 Stephen Hoiles
7 George Smith
6 Julian Salvi
5 Ben Hand
4 Sitaleki Timani
3 ??
2 Stephen Moore
1 Ben Alexander
16 Huia Edmonds
17 ??
18 ??
19 ??
20 Patrick Phibbs
21 Gene Fairbanks
22 Matt To'omua
Players whose contracts I am not sure about = Guy Shepherdson, Salesi Maafu
Force:
15 Cameron Shepherd
14 ??
13 Ryan Cross
12 ??
11 Nick Cummins
10 Scott Daruda
9 Brett Sheehan
8 Richard Brown
7 David Pocock
6 Matt Hodgson
5 Sam Wykes
4 Nathan Sharpe
3 Tim Fairbrother
2 ??
1 Pek Cowan
16 ??
17 Tom Hockings
18 Richard Stanford
19 ??
20 Chris O'Young
21 ??
22 ??
Other contracted players = AJ Whalley, Troy Takiari
Players whose contracts I am not sure about = Dane Haylett-Petty, Haig Sare, Josh Tatupu, Kieran Longbottom, Luke Holmes
So the lineups themselves mean not much other than to show where some recruitment focus should be.
For the Reds, its obviously experience - so Hardman, Barnes, Horwill, MMM and Ione are key (or players of that ilk). I hope Genia, at least, does have a contract.
For the Tahs, back up fly half, but really in the back up pack they need to sure up the likes of Baxter, Dunning, Kepu, TPN etc.
At the Brums, THPs are a precious commodity. Get some. And as per the Tahs, they need to ensure depth in their pack.
The Force - backs it seems. To cover the loss of Gits, Mitch, Stani and Val. And of course - hookers.