Black Ferns add New Zealand Barbarians fixture to an already stacked schedule

I wouldn't bet on them being outside the top 8 again, but unless this is breakout season for one of their young 10s it's hard to see them challenging the Blues, Chiefs, and Brumbies.

Tight tussle with similarly encumbered Hurricanes for 4th spot.

Rebels players reallocated among the remaining 4 teams will help this a bit, but with 2 of the remaining Aussie teams really struggling this year I don't think they will realise their full potential until they cut the Force too.

They still start slow, even in their RC wins. Would be genuinely top tier if they got going from the start.

I’d like to know what constitutes a 208 week ban though?

Must the eyeball be dislodged? Hanging by a vein?

I love watching Bristol but their approach will only get them so far I think. Exeter played like this when they first got promoted to the prem and had intermittent success, it wasn't until they wised up and played a more balanced game that they became a consistently top side.

I really want Bristol to continue playing this brand of rugby and I don't mind them running it from under their posts but I don't think they need to do it every single time. They need to be just a little bit more selective about when and where on the pitch they play. Every game they put themselves under so much needless pressure by turning the ball over under their posts trying to do kamikaze moves when it's not required. By all means run it from your goal line if there is a chance for a counter attack, we all want to see Bristol running in 100m tries from under their posts but I think until they learn when to do it and when to be pragmatic, they are unlikely to win the premiership.

Defense has been a real positive from Bristol, they've shown a lot of improvement there... And I will say that I think this kamikaze strategy they employ is a very good one for a struggling side and could be employed by Newcastle. It's seems to have turned around Gloucester's fortunes. The big advantage is even if you don't have the biggest and best players, what you have is cohesion. This is why Scotland keep battering England. England have better individuals but they look muddled as a team, trying to play a mixed strategy under coaches who lack charisma, the team has no identity. Scotland come out and give it full throttle from 1-15 even if they struggle against the top sides, sides like England and Wales who lack that identity drown under the relentless will and synergy of the Scots. If Newcastle did the same they could really surprise some people, I know the weather is bad up there but it hasn't bothered the Scots. Bristol can learn from Scotland too, Pat is on to something when he says the following but Scotland don't play test matches like headless chickens. They still play with the same level of clarity and ambition Bristol do but they are much better at picking their moments. They needed to go back to this mad game to get their cohesion back after a couple of seasons struggling but I hope they get a bit wiser from matches like Leinster and La Rochelle.

“If there’s clarity on what you’re trying to do as a team you can win anything.”

As for your other post, you plan in private, not in the media. That should be obvious.

Yes the bg word is 'continuity' . Keep Joe on, or Les with Joe helping him as a consultant.