Australia's winners, losers and improvers for Super Rugby 2016

As far as full-back for the Brumbies is concerned, I wouldn't be surprised to see Aidan Toua starting over Robbie Coleman .

Thanks stillmissit. Yes, enjoying more time with fam and friends. Hope you're having a great holiday season. I'll have a go re SR coaches. Im actually working on coaches in general but haven't finished research yet. I have a bank of back logged articles. So in any case, there will be a spate going out in the ensuing days

Have to agree the tahs forwards did dominate the Brumbies, but they have lost some of their best as Jeznez explains. The Brumbies also have a lot of depth in the forwards. Players like Enever, Smiler, Allatoa, Ruan Smith, Albert Anae all who have proven their mettle. Smiler, Butler and Vaea are class, yet only one them is going to get a start. Can't wait to see how that battle works itself out. To Cornchips, I'm not concerned about FB, I rate Robbie Coleman highly and think he will go well there this year. Doesn't have the boot of Mogg, but has smarts and is pretty pacy himself. CL can also play fullback, which everyone seems to have forgotton. He played 15 for Waikato for a couple seasons if I remember correctly. Andrew Smith is also a great player to have back, similar player to AAC in that he will play wherever you need him in the backline and not let you down.

Holloway also plays a lot of 6. Just need to get the mix right.

Can't be, Guilford is not eligible.

He is still listed in the squad on the Tahs website. Apparently he will be back before the season's end. Cannot recall which Roarer said that. Good call on Mumm. Him at 6 and Dennis at8 wouldn't surprise. Winger Robinson is another one I missed, have heard the press reports but he isn't listed on the web page.

And MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone

thanks for the article stillmissit. Good topic. Im looking at coaches before anything else: - Brumbies: good continmuity, but room to improve to broaden their attack options. Which I suspect will happen after being involved in RWC15 - Tahs Some continuity. But there is risk. Depends of the pack can maintain their 'rolling thunder' - Reds. not expecting a miracle. Good players, ineffective coach who makes too many gameplay changes players cannot follow or deliver. He also seems to fail the get best out of his players individual contributors and as a team - Rebs. Unlike the Reds. The players are delivering close to their best, and as a team - except too many short backrowers, and need to finish off their redzone opportunities (like the Force) - Force. Attack stifled. Midfield messy A and D. Expect improvement in performance, but not results

The Waratah's definitely touched them up in Sydney, but not so in Canberra. Brumbies the better side for most of that game but failed to close. Brumbies also had a lot of injuries last year whilst the Waratahs were pretty much injury free. The Brumbies forward pack is very solid. Their backs are the worry if anything.

...........so In 5 years of having 'diluted' talent we've managed 2 Super titles (2011 + 2014) plus one other grand finalist who had an awesome opportunity to win that too. Tell me again about how we have too many teams........

Frisby should make the WBs? Seriously? Based on what? He's shown a lot of talent in the NRC playing in the best team in the comp running around all the tired, 6-point try influenced, legs, but apart from the odd moment, has hardly shown that he can step up to Super Rugby. Having just cracked the starting 15, and no doubt with designs for higher honours, there is no way he'll head offshore if he doesn't make the team this year. That would be crazy. He's waited a few years for the starting 9 jumper, he won't give it up after one year.

Ta'avao is great around the park though not as strong at scrum. A bit like Slipper but a TH. Backrow depth is certainly a concern but Mumm could shift there if need be. I wouldn't be too troubled about depth at 9. There were so many good 9's running around the NRC they will get someone up to scratch. Sure, experience will be lacking, but it won't be a trainwreck. They've been talking up Izzy at 13, Carraro at 12 and Beale at 15 in the offseason, so I see the backline looking like this: 10. Foley, 11. Guildford, 12. Carraro, 13. Folau/Horne, 14. Robinson/Kellaway/Horne 15. Beale I expect Horne to play centres while Folau is injured though I could be wrong there. Either way, it's a very talented backline, but lacking in size, which is why I said creativity will be key. If Foley misses some games in Japan that will be a massive blow, especially as they've lost Lance. Horwitz is highly rated but what I saw in the NRC playing a inside centre was a guy who kept dropping it. Stewart impressed me in a quiet sort of way though. Looked defensively sound and ran well with the ball without busting anyone up. If the Tahs get too many injuries the finals will be a struggle, but their A team is capable. Jeznez you mentioned Naiyaravoro coming back, what's that all about?

that's a good one, Rick :)

I also think Frisby will do the job this year.

@bazza, really? are you really trying to argue that the team with the best track record by far are rubbish because they hold the record of finals lost? The saders won 7 titles, reached the final 4 times (not 6 or 7 as you said) and the semis 5 times. Next in line are the Blues with 3 titles, 1 final and 2 semis. And what diference most the saders from the rest of the teams is that, except the first year, the other 19 seasons they've been at least fighting for being in the finals, fighting with the bests each season. The rest of the teams are nowhere near them.

They also hold the record for winning the most finals...by a mile, and didn't need help from Joubert at any level. Plus many of their players were either winning bledisloes, the REAL Rugby championships, world cups, or fighting off earthquakes. What were your blokes doing all that time? But good on the 2011 and 2015 W's side. A perfect example of when not to peak. Selective criticism can only get you so far Bazza. Good try though. Oh, Merry Xmas too.

" All those Crusader moments have been lost in time, like tears in the rain "

That`ll be Checks 2016 starting Wallabies 15 plus POCOCK..

Yes they are very similar to the Wallabies..Except the Wallabies have won a couple of nothing cups in 2011 and 2015....The Crusaders since 2008.... ZERO......No one remembers who comes second.. Crusaders hold the record for losing the most SUPER RUGBY FINALS... 6 or 7 i think...