Sam Gilbert handed another run at 10 in Highlanders side to play Waratahs

We shall see.

“If continuing to break records and achieve trophies isn't a metric for success”

Achieving trophies is a metric for success, and Pep wins fewer trophies as he gets older.

“He's still competing for a major trophy this year. Should he get it, it would be 8 consecutive seasons with a major trophy. Then the world club cup in the summer.”

You’re cherry picking some quite odd stats now. In Pep’s first 8 seasons as a manager he won 6 league titles, 2 CL titles, & 4 cup titles. In Pep’s last 8 seasons as a manager (including this one) he’s won 6 league titles, 1 CL title, & 2 (or possibly 3) cup titles. In his first 8 seasons he won the FIFA world club cup 3 times; in his last 8 seasons he’s won it 1 (or possibly soon to be 2) time(s). In his first 8 seasons he won the UEFA super cup 3 times; in his last 8 he won the UEFA super cup once. His record over the past 8 seasons has been amazing - but it is a step down from his record in his first 8 seasons, and winning the FA cup and FIFA club world cup this summer won’t change that.

Pep is still a brilliant manager. He will probably remain a brilliant manager for many years to come, but you seem to want to forget how incredible he was when he first broke through. To be clear - you said that Pep had gotten better with age by every metric. That was false!

When Marcus Smith doesn’t have the ball he is floating around, looking for gaps, like a 15 would. When Fin Smith, or George Ford, or Owen Farrell, or Finn Russell, or Sam Prendergast, etc., etc., don’t have the ball, they look to organise their forward pods, and call plays to get their team on the front foot. Maybe if Marcus Smith had a different mindset he would do that to, but it actually involves a specific set of organisational and leadership skills that he has not really demonstrated. A lot is made of the fact that Smith often plays behind forward packs that don’t have go forward - but it is the job of the 10 to help generate that! If Marcus Smith played behind the Leinster pack they’d struggle much more than they do with Prendergast.

I do agree with you that (for now) Marcus is a 10 not a 15, given he has proven to be pretty poor defensively at the back. Harlequins should either try to develop him as a game-managing 10, or should give him game time to grow as a defensive 15. Persisting with their current use of him is a sure-fire way to ensure that he never reaches his potential as an international player.

If push comes to shove and it becomes ‘either/or’, it would be better if Les stayed at the Reds and looks to finish what he has started there. Then as you say bring Lancaster or similar after TRC.

The lineout may get no bigger blowtorch applied than it will this weekend, with the Brumbies the best lineout stealers in the comp - and you only have to think about what the Force did a few weeks ago.

I like your point about the breakdown and pressure on 9s. I’ve done any analysis to know who is and isn’t enjoying quick ball, but what that pressure is highlighting amongst the Australian 9s is the difference between getting to the ruck quickly and quick service. The good passers are standing out more, and you can see the teams that are playing with quicker, better ball.

Thanks for the kind words on the interview - I’ll have something on Western Force no.2 Nic Dolly next week!

I wouldnt take him on the Lions tour as it stands, but would probably be my first injury replacement.

Also he is a 10 not a 15, he can cover 15 in a pinch but should not start games there nor should he considered for his versatility

I have come around to the idea of keeping the current super rugby coaches remaining in situ, hopefully producing well coached and winning teams with a top international coach coming in to take the Wallabies job post the Rugby Championship.