think our best option may be to look overseas, there aren't any standouts that come to mind that can make the jump from shute shiled etc to s15
So Cheika spends the first week of the Test window in France, where his Leinster guns and fellow Randwick old boys Elsom and Whitaker are running the show at Narbonne - where Peterson duly signs within a fortnight. Coincidence? Perhaps - though if not, what does Cheika get in return?
Too late for big Chris Thomson, he came home 12 months ago and promptly retired (at Rebels) - and noting he's already got one grey import (Jackpot) he could only be after a foreign development player, or an Aussie to bring home (unlikely as Jenkins, Tomeki, Valentine, Halangahu and Tyrone Smith aren't likely to be on his radar) - unless, unless... McKibbin goes and Valentine returns. McKibbin had his window to go back to his country of birth (Scotland) to claim a test spot, but Grayson Hart might have closed that for him this weekend just past.
So while Narbonne won't fix his scrum locking dilemma - which shapes up as Skelton, Potgetier, Chapman, Dennis, Holloway of which only Skelton is a genuine lock though does not jump - nor would it appear other domestic Super sides will either. I had heard Simmons was shopping himself to the Tahs and that we should chase McDuling, though I understand they're both still under contract next year. The only free agents appear to be O'Donoghue and Whetton unless a Shute Shield player or this U20s player I read about today become a development option. So while Douglas frees up some salary $$ for both Tahs and ARU, there's not much left to fill his boots.
We've also got potential issues out wide with Alofa Alofa Alofa Alofa gone and Crawford (maybe) heading for Rebels, and Hodge and Volavola unlikely to be retained - I really hope Cheika gives Horne some early indication of his worth unlike the 1-yr offering he received for 2014. Hopefully something compelling will turn up in the NRC - I reckon Naiyaravoro will own this comp but it'll be good to see a few youngsters like Kellaway mixing it with seasoned super rugby players.
Go Tahs!