The 2 Premiership clubs targeting ex-All Black Hoskins Sotutu

The QB has to run "progressions" in his head to decide what to do with the ball. The top QBs scan the field, read the defence, decide on a pass (or run), and throw the ball, in less than 3 seconds after the snap. And these guys can land the ball in a bucket at a distance of 50 yards.

Defending against this kind of choreographed mayhem is extremely challenging, and it's not for nothing that NFL cornerbacks are often the smartest and most athletic players on the field. It's no surprise that the most successful NFL coach of all time (Bill Belichick) is a defensive genius.

We don't have to like American football to appreciate how extraordinary it is. Nor should we dismiss the point of this article, namely that as rugby attacking strategies become more scripted they will inevitably incorporate some of these NFL ideas. Not sure if Leinster are learning from the NFL or reinventing the wheel, but for me its an interesting take that they are choreographing attacking options in an NFL-esque fashion.

The rules are in place, he knows they are in place, and he is deciding to rule himself out.

But I do think that of the two NZ will be the slightly harder match. SA have done much better than expected this year, but they're still not especially close to being the best team in the world outside of world cup years.

given England beat Japan in Japan this year by over 30 points, the return fixture really isn't likely to be competitive.

You can't look at the results we have had this season, and the way we have played and say with a straight face that the team isn't packed with mediocrity. But rather than looking to the players who are actually playing well, they wheel out the same players that have been poor under the two previous coaching regimes and not done anything to earn their place back in the team other than play for the right SR team. Then there are others like Sotutu who had dominant SR seasons who don't even get a look in.

I have come to understand that there are many people who simply do not believe Robertson can do anything wrong, and no amount of poor performances will convince them that their favourite players are not up to it at international level.

His defensive workrate is slightly low for an openside, but he could be a really excellent attacking number 8 in the style of Ardie, Earl, or Mercer.

I think 4 teams will help. There should be better depth. and more chnace to rest and rotate players so that they can be strategically saved for international footy.

And then dropping one against either Japan or Australia. Which of these two would you most likely lose to if you did? I’m thinking Australia.