Harlequins name Marcus Smith to start after his England release

Reminded me of the Honey Badger, does he have half the, how do you guys say it, ‘yarn’ that he does!?😆

So even if it’s a full round robin dbl, there could still be that front loading of your local derbies, in which case the ladder would look exactly the same. We first have to wait for the season to pan out to know if HHTs is right and aus sides are only high because they’ve been playing each other.

Why have their been no articles about who’s played who like last year? Lost the rights to that software/IP?

Like now/last year, they (Aus) go from having three (two?) doubleup games, so say 50%, to now.. what, 100% of their conference competition being doubleup, home and away games? That’s a big difference in perception, so 4 home games (each local side) and 3 or 4 (half) of the rest. So if you can follow me so far, 2 of those home games could be the Drua and Moana, so it’s just random if you end up getting just two, or even just the one, kiwi team at home (where as the 6 NZ sides have 4 aus teams for their 3 or 4 non local home games?).

I think I might be making sense there. You can see his point though, he thinks it might be more advantageous to have a top team at home, rather than the bottom. But honestly I see no skin in the game between having it safe and a gaurenteed home win, versus banking on beating a good side at home and also being able to win away. I saw no truth offered by the article in that perception though.

Perhaps it’s a flaw in the system to have the doubleup games made up like that? Especially with the third conference, the Pacific, Drua and Moana, automatically playing each other twice? I’m sure they always have, so how did they balance the rest of their doubleup games? Perhaps a proper fixture model was pointless this year with 11 teams, but the new committee might be advised to find a proper way of creating the season rather than the hand picking of games, and who plays who, which doubleups would be most interesting etc, that we all know it is now.

It would more be that Razor was backtracking on his word as to why he’d want to leave that environment, not necessarily because he though Reece wasn’t good enough. Leon was supposed to the the back three selector.

Fihaki is still not upto last seasons standards imo. I remember him being a bit better, but that was possibly because they were struggling otherwise until very late in the season. Tonights game should be very interesting!

My view is very clearly AA should have been penalised. Angus had some weak comment when challenged by the QLders that there was a pre latch.

I will just get stuck into Angus on this one. He has form in this area, when in the 6 N a few weeks ago he saw nothing wrong with Peter O’Mahoney being taken out when clearly not attached to a ruck by French lock Thibaud Flament. The hole created allowed a clear run in for a French try. It was in my view, a disgraceful decision.

Tis AA one last weekend was more subtle, and as Nick interestingly says “ Allan Alaalatoa cleverly peels away one of the Reds’ cleanout players en route to the breakdown” “en route to the breakdown” says it all for me. AA had no right under the laws to do what he did, nor had Angus any right to ignore the offence.

Angus Gardner is a good referee, but he does lose the plot at times badly. I won’t start on the Lolesio high shot on Tate McDermott. Don’t want to risk dropping into OJohn mode !!

Take someone else in place of him, like Springer, who’s been outstanding, and you can’t really make a case for him can you?

I can’t believe he’s getting twice as much money. I think that is probably an error or an exaggeration comparing his last contract to this new one. He would surely have received a big bump up from NZR as well in a new contract. Or is the climate that volatile for everyone? I’d imagine he’d be able to get 500k+ from NZR, theres no way you need more than that to setup any amount of family, so that’s a copout for real reasons like the management and treatment.

Two years out is next year Liam (🤣), so between now and then, basically over the course of the year, I think you’d need to wane out both Reece (there’s no way someone would go that far to favour Sevu Reece) and Tele’a out and have potential RWC players starting. Who would they be.. worth looking at this year (because they may come next or the year after)?

Clarke and Leicester are you’re locks for the left wing.

Big Jim, even though they’d be looking at him and Jordie being the main #23 options for the side, could indeed get gametime on the right wing this year before being moved into 12.

Caleb is the obvious one of course. I could have him in through the French tour, more likely just in the RC squad, but definitely in by Nov if you’re ensuring your not rushing him in when he’s uncomfortable. He does appear to be that guy however, he’ll .. you know.. from the get go. But he’s gone better on the left this year.

Nareki is your main starter replacement. He’s experienced, and got the skills and team work that Tele’a and Reece don’t. I can’t see any reason why he can’t shift to the right and be their versatile player instead of Jordan. His skills are just going to last and be more relevant than Reece’s.

Next up are different footballers, like James Lowe, that need smart open minds to be appreciated. Leroy Carter has been immense coming into the professional environment of Super Rugby, from sevens, having had a few season at NPC level where I never really took note. He has a very good alround game and looks to be a top class professional and top bloke, I’d definitely feel safe with him on one with and threats in the other two spots. Also Kryen Taumoefolau looks more a League winger to me, which would need a much different plan than for Tele’a or Reece, and probably more time than the rest of this season and some NPC might give.

Then you’ve got guys I’m not so sure I’d want to see this year like, wait for it.. Fihaki (keep waiting), Stevenson, Love, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Zarn Sullivan as their replacements (some good fullback prospects in that group though). Might Jordan need to be used more at 14 if they jettison them both early like Liam suggests they will? I haven’t forgotten you if you’re still waiting, my next Dagg, the next Corey Jane for me is Jacob Ratamaitavuki-Kneepkens. Played superbly last season for a good 7-8 weeks the Landers, and solid in the skills department for the rest. Would love to be able to see if stats indeed show he has a low error rate, he could show he has the class to play both positions tactically (at a minimum) and really add to the teams counter attack threat.

Emoni Narawa is not really someone I’m that sure about anymore, after having a season at center and looking good mainly. It just feels to me like he’s not going to perfect his craft enough as a wing to AB class despite having the ability to. Certainly more productive than someone like Fihaki, in all three facets, running, kicking, and on defence. Even more than Reece if I’m honest (who appears to have already hit that barrier referenced in this article, not much he can do about it), not that that would be hard for two of them.

Looking further though, Springer I have wraps on and he should already be starting over the other two at SR level, but I don’t think Razor should do a Farrell and select him before he’s first taken his place in the Crusaders team. Further down the line it’s not worth naming prospects for at this point, next to zero chance they come through this season.

The loss of Mark in particular puts the AB’s in a bit of a pickle if you ask me.

If the squad is balanced with an relatively even mix of Irish, Scots and English, plus a sprinkle of Welsh players, this Lions group may never face this issue. Also one should factor in that this is a tour to Australia, and not NZ or SA. I feel it is likely the WB ‘ s might win one game, possibly the last, against a Lions team below full strength, with the series won.

I think that had their been a proper home and away then perhaps there would only be two or maybe just 3 aussie sides in the top 6 towards the lower half.