Ollie Lawrence's Bath future in doubt after Van Graan comments

You don't think the tour showed the team playing well? Genuinely interested.

I think defenses are certainly better constructed to deal with it, but did you feel that it had tried to evolve with the new defense? Perhaps that's too difficult without the source of that IP, Lancaster, available? Case in point NZ succesfully nullifying it I thought at the time, but now I think looking back to your game v SA, and it's more direct and collision based approached, I wonder if you really were trying to play in that quarter final like you did against NZ in 21/22. Had the transition away already started?

IDK it might just be rose tinted glasses but without watching Ireland game by game they just now longer have the timing or speed (sorry if I'm repeating stuff that you're replying to I can't remember what I wrote) in how they move the ball sideways that I liked. I remember them moving the ball so fast to the other side of the field, that was flooded with loosies, that they could simply overwhelm with numbers and plays smart enough to pass to the one unmarked player.

I saw some nice prescribed 'plays' against SA that require a similar sort of execution but they were just different and less frequent imo. I still feel the level of play during that good run should be good enough to beat even defences that have worked it out. Look I was relieved that it wasn't coming out against us in France tbh, and I may just not be appreciating how we developed a D to fully snuffle it out, but even if that's the case I still think Ireland would be doing very well to accept that it's good enough to be just out of reach against sides like NZ. Certainly, and this is even before the NZ game last month and you having beaten SA, that what Farrell is producing is not going to be good enough to even be close to the NZ and SA.

You can't knock him for trying of course, it's just with a bit of regret here. Yes, I agree fully with that last paragraph, I'm not just talking this Autumn series mind you. What I ultimately thought the difference was, was just a lack of prep in the same areas they used to prep, and that might mostly be with the Leinster contingent, in that team. Thats not a idea bsed on a change of coach there, just decision by coachs that, yep, weve reach maximum precision with the team moving the ball, lets work on something else. Not that they obviously read this sort of thing but thats the main message ive been trying to implore on your team, that your success was down to this one facet (speaking with a perspective from a country who's whole success has been a DNA of continous link based team rugby) of play and you need to try and get back to it.

McReight has been awesome for Qld and the Wallabies, he is becoming a totally rounded 7 and he also seems to be a very grounded young man. Similarly to us in Wales, the Aussies have always been able to produce quality open sides.

Anyone who doesn't think Joe is the right man to take the Wallabies to the next World Cup is delusional. He is a clear and strategical thinker and great communicator with an extraordinary amount of rugby knowledge.

Very excited about the Lions Tour.

I'm really digging a cup style tournament with Japan too. So that is Super, once JRLO finishes (might get them to finish earlier in year?) hold a 8 to 10 week tourny with whatever team make up they want to have (I like a 3 team setup for them as well) that leads upto July Internationals?

NPC and NRC have a short build up for form/selection purposes to this Super Cup, and then continues again after July and through the SH international window?

Otherwise if Super is domestic only it needs revenue from running longer (18 weeks) and the local leagues have to be underneath and gets stronger whenever either or both International and Super isn't on. Just two trans tasman trophy tiers imo (keep the proper local league the benchmark, like maybe not even have finals) top half and bottom half in each have some sort of cup. It might be a it f'd up like last seasons ERPC was were teams from the same country played each other (which will happen in NZ has more sides, which for balance of standards you'd think it has to ) but it's not a perfect world.

I really think it can be achieved and be succesful AD

Your thoughts on whether nsw will play JAS at 15/11 or do you think there is a directive to play him in the centres?

The money and standard of coaching is much higher in France, the URC and the Prem so utilise them.

The business model question has been decided and SA has shown selecting OS wins.

Also by not selecting OS players Schmidt is going to grind to dust key guys like Bell. Cf Rassie using more than 50 players in his squad.

He has a tendency to select undersized players as well eg Amatesero who may well leave for France due to Schmidts poor selection like Meafou who is playing so well for France.

The scrum is the worst element yet Schmidt didn’t select Sio or Ainsley both playing well in England and France. He’s also not taken up development and gotten under utilised guys like Pone over to France to get better coaching. Hooker you have Latu and Uelese fit again. Backs you have Kerevi, Hodge, Perese and Kerr Barlow. Locks you have guys like Philip and Arnold.

Would all of these guys be first choice. No but you keep them in the squad for injuries and so that you don’t kill your first choice guys.

Get Jacques Nienaber or someone like that who understands strategic elements of the game better.

So setup up new Super teams, sure, but move all existing 5 teams into a domestic only comp and promote 5 other existing clubs to play with them, 3 NSW (so 4 with Tahs already etc) and 2 QLD. Then have a tender process for any other bodies that want to join, like Country/Adelaide. The two states 7 teams cycle through there own states by prom/rel, and in time perhaps rest of australia can have two tiers to challenge, Force, Rebels, Brumbies.

I've lost track of what was discussed already (short memory) but my feeling that would be the best way forward (I just like the idea of SR shortening and the NPC being developed more as well).

Yeah that's just a great evolution of the RC imo, we'd been calling for it for a long time here. I just hope it's nothing to do with SA being included in the 6N as that would mean we'd get to play you even less than that.

Eg Scott Sio scrummed very well for Exeter v du Toit and Stewart this weekend. SA and England props. Yet our scrum was weak against Ireland. He’s not utilised Philip, Kerevi, Latu, Ulysse, Perese, Hodge

Ainsley or Samu. Kerr Barlow is also eligible and he is better than McDermott who runs too much and passes too late.

Get someone in with a better strategic sense who is going to forge good links with OS clubs and get the standard up like Rassie did.

In fact let’s try to clone Rassie.

Hansens fantastic to watch but he may rank below the irish backs for entertainment.