France hooker Julien Marchand faces race to make knockout stages

The big names were flat and Jase said so. I expected that, so should have those guys!

If you ask me Scotty would have been far more lively if he'd prepared to play a new position, 6. Sititi would have had that little extra edge too playing 8. I'd think either Lord of Holland would have brought more impact that playing a starter on the bench (tough it would have been fun if Vaa'i was there instead of a back). I'm not really sure what the deal is with 10 to say he intentionally went with a sub standard guy there (though that is not part of my "players have knocked off for the season narrative"), but I would have loved new guy there (anywhere in the backs/bench I mean).

It's obviously opinion but I think players like Kirifi and the three locks (he did well to start Patrick at least) would have given a much better effort, and I rate their ability to mean we'd have seen a much better performance from the ABs as a result of those selections.

Dont' get me wrong if you haven't seen my posts this week. Definitely not in the "wring the changes" camp. Just enough to get that 30point margin instead of 20.

Cant deny Smith when there was no Roigard at the time but at that point I was really digging Ratima's form (he might have been the sub tho)?

Dmac is better than Mo'unga. BBBR is a fine lad but I dunno if he's going to be producing Vaa'i grade performances at this point. Even more so re Whitelock (he was already 'done'), and I'd take Sititi over Frizell any day of the week (though I would have taken him over Ardie).

Can't argue with that last part.

Oh "didn't" he, yeah far more than any 100 point brigade (not that I bother paying attention to Italy that much, other than having enjoyed a couple of the games I saw with them in 6N). I just disagree that he chose the strongest side. Which to put that another way in lamens terms, means he couldn't get the room, the training room full of test veterans in this case, to prepare in that manner. Let alone the media room. Check the article from Jason.

Anyway, getting carried away when noones in the room with me.

I think you pretty much nailed it on the head. That performance is about par with that 10.

Not good reading I'm afraid Razor. It was the experienced guys that were 'found wanting' not the was just getting used to the test arena. Same number of errors as usual Jason!

Love the detailed review of everyone, SB have the best diehard fans going around.

Himeno has a year in SR with worst NZ team and lost in the TT Final, he was really good for such a one off showing. Definitely has the ability to be up their with those names if he wanted to more away from the JRLO.

Eddie is just getting your hopes up. Firstly do your homework and study the stars of the current game, see where you are alike and get to work on perfecting your work and style. Become a hybrid player, because without it, you will never rise to the top. You may become a very good back rower, but not the best. Not for the next 20 years, and definitely NOT WITH Eddie Jones. I may sound harsh, but it's the harsh truth. You will need a much better coach for that to happen.

Just like they refuse to see SA as the best team and some have even said that should the Boks win a third WC in a row, they will still not be the best team ever. Even if they win every game between now and the WC. That is some serious hate coming SA's way.

Everyone forget how the McCaw AB's intimidated refs, was always on the wrong side, played on the ground etc. Things they would never have gotten away with today. They may have a better win ratio, but SA build depth, not caring about rank inbetween WC's until this year.

They weren't as bad inbetween as people claim, because non e of their losses was big ones and they almost never faced the strongest Bok team outside of the WC, allowing countries like France and Ireland to rise to the top unopposed.

Rassie is still at it, building more depth, getting more young stars into the fold. By the time he leaves (I hope never) he will leave a very strong Bok side for the next 15- 20 years. Not everyone will play for 20 years, but each year Rassie acknowledge the young stars and get them involved and ready for international rugby.

Not everyone will make it to the WC, but those 51/52 players will compete for those spots for the WC. They will deliver their best. The future of the Boks is in very safe hands. The only thing that bothers me is Rassie's health. If he can overcome it, rugby looks dark for the rest of the rugby world. He is already the greatest coach in WR history. By the time he retires, he will be the biggest legend any sport has ever seen