Super Rugby has been back for a couple of weeks and the Six Nations is in full swing so we thought it was the perfect opportunity to get Nick Bishop answering your burning questions.
Each Friday, during key parts of the rugby season we get Nick Bishop, The Roar’s resident rugby expert, to answer your rugby questions in a column called Coach’s Corner.
You can see Nick’s last Coach’s Corner from November last year right here.
It’s early days in Super Rugby but the Australian teams have had mixed fortunes. The Reds and Brumbies look good but will that form translate against the New Zealand teams?
And are the Rebels still brushing off the cobwebs or are the cobwebs permanent?
We’ve also seen two impressive performances by the Western Force who will return home on Friday night. What’s the secret to their consistency?
In Europe a convincing win by France next weekend over Wales in the Six Nations will see the side go ahead of the All Blacks on the World Rugby rankings. Do they deserve to be the second-best team in the world?
Whatever rugby questions are on your mind, now’s your opportunity to ask them. Enter them in the comments section below and then revisit The Roar on Friday to see Nick Bishop’s answers.
numpty
Roar Rookie
Cheers. Agreed, but I'm holding out until they are at full strength, not that I expect it'll change things. They need some depth at front row, I don't really think any but Tupou and Mafi are of SR standard.
Nicholas Bishop
Expert
Most improved so far are the Force and the Tahs, but much of the story still to be told yet...
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
My cc question is how to target the French. They have some big boppers up front, is tiring them out and exploiting their size a potential weakness?
Olly
Roar Rookie
Comes down to how our locks develop to me. No point having a winger if you can't win ball.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Hello Nick, early days but curious to get you view on which AU teams have shown improvement and who are looking the same as 2021? Example IMO the Reds backs are still not a well oiled backline unit but a team of individuals like last year...
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
I realise this for general lineouts, but when you have must-win attacking or defending ones 5m out, it would help to have the most accurate guy doing it. Look at the pie Horton threw at the end of the Tahs game to lose any chance of a win. Just a thought.
Nicholas Bishop
Expert
Hi JD, I'm building up a file on RTS and will try to answer your Q next week - please remind me. For me there were just as many minuses as there were plusses, not least falling off the tackle for the Canes final try!
Nicholas Bishop
Expert
They don't SE, but your scrum-half cannot be both throwing in to lineout and passing away from it!
Nicholas Bishop
Expert
Pretty obvious answer really. Skelton would be up there, but not top three when you have Arnold, QC, Marika and Kerevi to accommodate. I've only ever recommended big Will for the WB bench :happy:
Nicholas Bishop
Expert
Dombrandt? :laughing:
Nicholas Bishop
Expert
I'll address this in tomorrow's piece Numps. At present I think they will still struggle against NZ sides.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Why is everyone worried about Quade's body, he's probably one of the fittest & best conditioned in the Wallabies, especially with all his new age stuff? It'll only be injury that knocks him out. Poor guy probably doesn't drink & watches everything that he eats nowadays.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Along this line Nic, why do hookers always have to be lineout throwers. Surely the passing skills of a halfback would transfer well here? A lot of the current Oz super rugby hookers are poor throwers what can we do?
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Why wasnt Jordie Barrett penalised and a penalty try given when he did his deliberate knock-on to stop the Blues scoring?
Ace
Guest
Quades level has always been high for the Wallabies and will be in 2023. Im worried that the error prone non tackling Beale is in Rennies sights.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Good point Yabbie. My concern is that if they are brought in without enough experience and struggle then their confidence will take a big hit. The media and fans are a lot less forgiving when comes to International games.
Bobbles
Guest
Nick what about your favourite Wallaby Will Skelton? Dropped him already? . Isn't he vital to the Wallabies lineout?
Zulu
Guest
Coach your boy Skelton is superfluous to requirements now as only 3 players can be chosen from OS and they will be Kerevi Cooper and Koribeite.How do you feel now as you will never see Skelton anymore in Gold?
Wigeye
Guest
should qc hold the mortgage on 10 jersey if he cannot be available for all tests for wallabys?. Many will say definitely..but obviously hinders the the others that can step up. Noah's had his go time for others. Allblacks...weakest area dominate big strong props lost the edge . We are off the pace , 6 nations teams are killing it and that's great for world rugby and fans
Kiwiburger
Guest
Keen to hear your takes on the new crop of 10s coming through in NZ. BB won’t be around forever and Damien hasn’t completely stamped his mark at 10 yet. Do you go for Reuben Love or Fergus Burke as your 3rd in a year or two. Any other guys looking interesting?