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I didn't actually write down a top 20 list although taking say Slipper as Australia's number 1, I'd say for a start, both Canes, Blues, Crusaders and Sharks named this week are well ahead. That's 8 without looking. Realistically there are probably a dozen ahead in the southern hemisphere. I hate...

Got my lead back in ARU and took out the period prize - whatever that is! Currently sitting 12th in Fox but still plenty of fluctuations to go before lockout, including all tackles from the south africa games which don't affect me. Hopefully can at least hold top 20. I'd be surprised if the...

Oh right, ha! Well anyway, my point was Alexander is a concern as a Wallabies starter given recent weeks scrummaging issues. Sio, Carter and Fardy (as a lock) may also be minor queries. That's the problem. The solution is more difficult given the lack of alternatives. Slipper can play both sides...

Yep. Well I wouldn't call it embarrassing. But the premise of the sarcasm is "haha, that guy is good, it's fine if he dominates you, the Wallabies won't encounter players like that!" which doesn't wash. In terms of Wallaby selection, tonight was a black mark on Alexander. And winning 2/9...

Moore's a given. I think the weakness of the Brumbies scrum is more likely to reflect on Sio and Alexander than anyone else. Also Carter and Fardy I guess but to a far lesser extent.

By contrast, the Brumbies scrum was dominated by the Saders. 0/3 on own feed after 2/6 last week. They're just not competitive against quality opposition at scrum time.

There's no way to make sense of it from a competition integrity viewpoint. The pools being advertised are: Bulls Stormers Kings Argentina team Sharks Cheetahs Lions Tender team Aussie Teams NZ Teams We know from Super Rugby history that new teams come last every time pretty much...

That's a better finals system than the initial reports. The 4 conference winners (2 from South Africa, 1 from Aus, 1 from NZ) appear to get home finals against the 3rd placed South African side and the next 3 from Aus/NZ. You've still got the situation where the 4 weakest teams in the...

Yeah, only found this site a week or so ago unfortunately! You're a show from 14th, especially given the remarkable similarity of the top 6 teams.

I think the one thing we can say with certainty is the current 4-conference model suggested can't work no matter how it is spun. If the Kings must be added to the South African conference, that might end up being the only change. The option of a further 2 teams is being touted, but ultimately...

Haha, maybe that's the way they're looking at it!

I suspect New Zealand will sit up soon. The design is such that the Sharks and Bulls play all 3 of the new minnows plus the Lions each year and avoid either Australia or New Zealand teams altogether. They only have one other team in their pool - either the bottom placed side or the second...

I can accept that expansion is what is desired. South Africa want a 6th team (despite having 4 of the 5 weakest teams already). Argentina and a team based somewhere in Asia make sense as the others. Now we have 18 teams. Surely if you accept that premise, the best conference system is 3...

'World Class' front row is an interesting way to put it. It's good by Aussie standards, but then in any list of the world's best props, there are no Aussie names in the top 20. Good props by Aussie standards are quite a different beast from world class props - of which there are none in...

I'm back to 20th in Fox and 2nd in ARU. Last week was ho hum. Need to make a move soon in Fox if I'm going to be a show I think - there is a fair gap between the top few teams and 20th right now. ARU is a great comp to be chasing. The top 6 teams + 8th are basically identical. So whenever I...

Fair call. I'm enjoying the chat here anyway. All these discussions were previously confined to my own head so it's good to get different perspectives, especially from knowledgeable fans.

I'd agree with pretty much all of those names for the 23. Kuridrani and AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) might be an either/or situation at outside though. And I suspect it would be borderline impossible to justify starting 5 players from the Reds at this stage, barring a massive form reversal in the next few weeks. Horwill...

I read this wrong the first time. I thought he was banned for 6 months for telling a cameraman to fuck off a few times. That seemed grossly out of proportion. Turns out it was just a warning not to do it again or else that would happen. For now, it is just a $6K fine. That makes more sense.

I'm pretty much on board with this. My view was Higgers, Mowen and Fardy had to be there somewhere and there is a way to play all 3. The lock alternatives didn't appeal to me as much with Simmons and Horwill out of form in my eyes and the guys playing the best in that position currently untried...

I'm working on Fardy and Simmons being the likely starters, with Mowen and Higgers in the back row. If Mowen is deemed ineligible to play then I agree Fardy at 6 is a serious consideration and Horwill may well start. The reason Simmons is preferred over Horwill is because my sense at the end...