Irish bolster squad with two front rowers and a back from Scotland

I think D’Mac is a gifted player but a natural 15. It doesn’t really mater now. They just need to stick with him as any player will improve in their position with a run of games in that coaching environment. A steady 7/10 can be enough.

I know he’s divisive amongst Kiwis but he returned from an ACL at 23/24 yrs which takes a lot. He’s got my full respect for that.

Dupont doesn’t even do gym work!

I think both coaches got burned but they've used their time brilliantly and had the last laugh.

Most of the (smart) premier league coaches are locked into contracts that renders them too expensive to be sacked, early doors.

He was 8 against the unholy trinity last July and Nov. They lost against all 3. Very limited impact from behind the base of the scrum.

He's a dynamic and modern 7. Perhaps a 7 1/2 if it existed but not an 8.

Just my opinion on a rugby forum that encourages opinions. I'm not trying to steal your pension fund so you can relax.

Val Kilmer has died. That's real life. The first on screen batman to go. Sad times.

Most of them have had lesser jobs since then, but its only Graham Henry who could really be said to have coached at the top level “well into his 60s”. He’s a bit of an outlier, and that was 14 years ago. Its very possible that that will change, but I’m not seeing much evidence of that!

One factor that might be important is that NBA and the NFL are 1 league sports. Rugby league is pretty much a 2 league sport, and those 2 leagues are so far apart there can’t be much trading between them. Rugby union and especially association football have many more leagues, and so there are more opportunities for younger managers to break through.

Also, the fact that Rugby tends to have less chopping and changing of coaches is an argument against hiring older coaches. Hire a good coach in his 40s and he could stay in the job for 20 years, but realistically how long would Les Kiss be the best coach in Australia for?

Fact is the nature of the game is changing and fast lighter backrows becoming more and more common as ball in play times go up and teams look to play wider. He is faces a challenge to make the initial squad but he is definately part of the conversation

you’re right that Pollock won’t go to the Lions, but he’s a much better 8 than he is a 7. That’s because - like Earl - his carrying game is immense but his defensive workrate is a step behind players like Curry, Curry, Underhill, and Pepper.