I have replied just above to what I think about “the ball not getting to Marky”. I just think Perese would offer a different threat at 12 and so could Foketi. I just feel that Perese’s combativeness is not right in the Tahs set-up at 13.

Also, 12 and 13 are still inside 14 so whether he plays eather means Marky wouldn’t get the ball?

Imagine Perese crash ball off first phase, then Edmed, Foketi and Marky off front-foot second phase ball with Jorgensen in the mix or a Peitsch on the inside. I like the look of that.

I think this is a over simplification of what Perese can do at 12. I think having him as a close bail out option to Edmed as well as a credible and dangerous crash ball threat means defenses would have to hold back, Foketi also has great footwork and a awesome turn of speed so I think he and Marky could do so well together. Perese was also really damaging with ball in hand at 12 for the Wallabies against Portugal in the final test.

I agree he is not known for his passing but that doesn’t mean he can’t do it.

If anyone watched the U20s campaign in South Africa Bowen did show glimpses of attacking prowess and maturity beyond his years but he also showed he still has a way to go in terms of kicking strategy and tactical play. He was behind a beaten back 50% of the time and he had good bail-out options outside him in the younger Vaihu brother and O’Donnell.

Edmed in the 2022 season showed he was prepared to attack the line and be staunch as well as give his all. If Harrison keeps applying pressure on him he could rise to be a really strong 10 in SRP.

I’d like to see Perese at 12, Foketi at 13. Peitsch and Marky Mark on the wings with Wilson and Jorgensen as well as the Fijian recruit sharing the 15 jersey. Tuipulotu and Walton are good subs but are still behind the centre pairing.

Not sure if you read it Bentnuc but Miles has 5cm on the closest contender in Fergus Lee-Warner and has 8-9cm on the rest of the competition. That is a significant disparity at lineout time. It also means his reach at full stretch could be up to 5cm higher than the others.

To be fair Mostert and Barrett are backrow-second row hybrids and a player like Itoje is an exception. I am not saying that height is the end all or be all of a good lock, but having an extra 7cm on height plus the expanded wingspan could be an extra 4cm, it could be pivotal at lineout time.

I think the 1% matters when you start competing against the best.

I’d argue basketball has a better position for them but I agree there are builds which would suit rugby the best. Talent ID and retention is key.

While Amotesero has to earn his stripes at the Tahs he is also the only real lock at the Tahs in terms of size. Lee-Warner 1.97 m, Holloway, Hanigan, Sinclair are all around 195cm. Ergo all sub 2m.

In a comeptition as tough as Super you need 2m locks. So while he mist work hard 30+ caps for Clermont is plenty of evidence he is ready to start at the Tahs. But being so young he should have his minutes managed and the S and C must account for his big body so not to push him in fitness, let him be the battering ram and athletic jumper that he is and be a rock while the others work around the field.

Sinclair, Holloway and Hanigan should all be seocnd row at Super level. Swinton, Lee-Warner should be 6. Gamble at 7 with Gleeson at 8 and can be shared by Fergus. Again still a young player that must have minutes matched.

Ned Slack-Smith is from the Warringah Rats and was impressive in the U20s World Cup this year in June and also has been in the Force Academy for a year and a bit.

I agree, without expanding on it too much, Hannigan and Holloway are competition at Wallabies level for 6 as well. But yes, I did not write it like that.

This is a good move for Swinton. He is now competing with Jed Holloway, Ned Hannigan, Fergus-Lee Warner and Charlie Gamble for a flanking spot. He is getting to a point where something has to change and a stint over seas will only add to his knowledge.

Despite being a great age for a blinside flanker to stay, it may just be a timing thing and with young harnosed player Slack-Smith coming in, it will be a chocka-block roster for a couple years. Not a bad move for a player that has just not hit his straps of late. Good luck Lachie.

Lolesio is the most experienced 10 in Australia except for James O’Connor.

He has played well for Toulon but still unimpressed with his defensive technique, his attacking physicality is fine, but he just slips off tackles occasionally with poor technique but if you run straight at him he will stop you. BUT he is a great goal kicker and much like Australia is turning to set-piece to sure up results, the boot is equally as important and Lolesio has added length to his accurate boot.

Lukhan should be the biggest mover, after fading into obscurity after suffering mentally under Thorn he should now as said here be in his prime. He like Izack Rodda are genuinely massive men. Both of them could be the size and bulk the second row and backrow need until Nick Frost and Tom Hooper grow into their bodies and hone their skills. Teachers and pupils.

Pasitoa is the final one who is not so much a comeback kid as a colt ready to mix it in the ring. He is masive for a 10 and has a great read of the game as well as being quick off the mark.

The young crop of 10s battling it out across the country is awesome to see.

This in essence is a good thing for RA to be saying but this is also a message to current players wanting a piece of the pie that saw Sualii pick up such a lucrative contract.

Ergo, Marky Nawaqanitawase can now expect only a slight bump on his figure in contract discussions after meeting with the Roosters. Or perhaps he will be kept on a higher contract till 2027 so to avoid RA having to rake him back but essentially this is saying we need to start from the bottom up.

I respect Phil and his sentiment, I hope this is the start of McLennan’s fade into the background.

The most positive words from Australian rugby for more over 11 months. Positivity with genuine evidence to back it up.

The coaches taking on this type of individual responsibility to feed into the Wallabies is great.

But 2024 is the year the Australia sides must step-up.

Ben Darwin from Gain Line Analytics says cohesion and continuity is vital for success and all bar Les Kiss and his Reds have genuine continuity for 2+ years. Kiss has the fact that the squad is essentially the same with some front row stocks being added.

Good to see Coleman is changing his style, 2023 aside from losing Bell was a shocking display of tactics. Foote has no excuses, Cron is still missing some top shelf X-factor talent and Larkham has lost some of the most talented deputies/IP in the Aussie game, will be interesting how he does effectively with a clean slate of coaches.

But regardless, no excuses because the NZ teams are going much more change and lack of continuity. Plus player exodus.

I hear you hambone, I don’t want to put the knocker on them, I just think Foote has been coach now for two years and has the time to learn a lot and now has a squad that has the experience and size as well as a good coaching team around him to yield results.

I 100% agree though, Philip and especially Hosea would have been great to bolster the pack.

Great they’ve hired a psych, I think the important thing for Carter is knowing he has no expectations other than perform at Super Rugby. Play hard, do the basics well, the squad around should do the heavy lifting. Goal kicking, in-play kicking, passing and tackling. Just do those well.

In regards to the wider squad, Foote and the team have 0 excuses not to blitz this season, they have the biggest pack in Australia and one of the more experienced in terms of SRP and international.

I am super excited but also have high expectations.

His words just don’t mean much anymore. They can be as on point and relevant as he likes, but in Australia he has run out of oxygen, so regardless of their validity, they are worthless when coming from someone who hurt rugby in Aus so.

G’day Rocky, I use it because it is a commonly understood term which includes but is not limited to shared and unified S&C programs as well as medical and injury recovery programs.

A top down approach where the governing body RA would have control of contracting, player welfare management and asset management to grow the game.

It would also mean franchises would work to ensure the Wallabies are fed with ready and complete players, placing the national team ahead of parochial squabbles.

There have been many variations of what this could look like on here and other outlets by editors and age old pundits. So I am unsure of what you are looking for.

The issue in Australia is that they don’t trust RA and fear giving up their locations, franchise names and other fractured federated aspects.

The culling of double up of staff across the country would ensure Wallabies once picked would all be “seeing from the same hymn sheet” which currently doesn’t happen as far as standards go. As well as a better use of economy.

I recommend you go read what others have suggested and then reply to what you want to see. I have my own ideas, what are yours?

This is joke from McLennan, he says “don’t aim your hate at Eddie”, the cross-hairs are at him now. He was the sole driver of Jones returning, that’s on his head.

“He knows business and what needs to happen” Jones says about Hamish but he doesn’t have the cashflow to do it? Ideas are cheap, Hamish, just quit “mate”

It is actually beggar’s belief. The fact they say “they have each others backs” is damning, thick as thieves and their words mean nothing. Action is needed and Jones’ cowardice to say “too hard” and Hamish’s bullish “I am staying” are actions that say plenty.

Rugby in Australia has 101 problems but without you two grandstanding loudmouths it would have 99. I am so incredibly angered by these two and what they are making the sport me all love into.

I want centralization and better pathways with a high performance coordinator but should Hamish and Eddie anywhere near it?

Australian rugby is lucky it has the Lions, Nations Cup, World Cups coming up. Because they act as strong bargaining chips in a broadcasting deal, as opposed to the Wallabies horror form and track record.

This is the only silver lining I see.

I decided to make the cut off 25yrs so I couldn’t have Barrett, otherwise Dupont would have been first on the list. In terms of Carreras I totally agree, I just hope he slots back to 15 as I think he is wasted at 10.

No I totally agree, if you are a tested player then it his neither here nor there because you know wat it takes to be the best in an international side, but yeah, my remarks about the untested remains.

You also have to be winning those competitions, a winning team is vastly different to those at the bottom who may be relegated.

While I agree they played well Anibal Pyro, I would argue Levanini was lucky not to have the penalty for his scuffle reversed, and I thought Carreras had a bigger impact than Sanchez. But I agree about Isa, Petti, Moroni, Cubelli and Kremer. Kremer was just very staunch.

I just felt some young guns in the Argentinian make-up stepped up and did their part really well as opposed to game defining moments from veterans in the other games. 🏉

Carrier defining performances from Savea and Cane for sure. Just incredible nous and determination.

I think the weekend has shown why experienced players win world cups. Savea, Cane, Whitelock, Smith, Etzebeth, Vermeulen, Mostsert, Lawes, George, Farrell, Mo’unga, Kolbe, Curry these are the players that won crucial moments that clinched their respective games. Sprinkle these with young exceptional talent and you have the recipe.

It makes Eddie Jones’ selections for the Wallabies all the more baffling.

I did in fact have Petaia changed for Mateo Carreras in post edit but those changes were never made, who else has impressed you in the tournment that fits the criteria? Will Jordan obviously but perhaps I English lock? A Fijian back rower?