VIDEO: Crusaders retain key player for 2018

Yes, I agree with the no penalty shots - some are just no-brainers! Especially out in front, mid-late in a tight game on a very wet night away in NZ!

And the idea of getting all the SRP head coaches involved in WB coaching is beyond stupid. Read Dan McKellar’s recent comments on that.

I think they should go all in and mirror the soccer champions league. 2 legged knockouts.

Home advantage only really exists to allow the home team to upscale to another stadium and increase revenue. They’d still get money for extra games and TV broadcasts.

The extra games would likely mean it will just be the be biggest squads who can compete the best but I think we’re already long past that stage.

The Reds have the depth - esp in the front five - to achieve something concrete this season, no doubt about it.

I am a little concerned about the pen goal v. 5m lineout ‘rule’ [it’s something Les did with Irish] as I feel it’s too inflexible. But it’s clear they need to keep the SRP coaches in SRP, except for Les, who may be given a double role, with another coach doing the bulk of the on-field coaching work.

I just wanted to point out one thing with: “The Reds are yet to beat a top four opponent in either season, bar the Western Force in 2025, twice”.

The Reds beat the Chiefs last year the first time they met (24-19). Although they met later in the quarters and the Chiefs pumped them, this first game still counts! It was such a cracking game and it really announced the Reds as the (almost) real deal last year.

What I've found most pleasing this year is that they're winning the games they're “meant” to win - the 2 x Force games, the Tahs game and the Moana game. Last year they would've fluffed at least 2 of those.

Hopefully Les Kiss can take them all the way to a final this year. Albeit I suspect if they get there, it'll be somewhere in NZ, and a bridge too far for them to come back with any silverware. 🏆

Canes have the edge in Locks, Loosies and midfield for me. They also have their front row back, is it time they dominate again like last year? Fullbacks could be the key contributors, mainly how love goes when shifted to 10 though. You reckon Hotham and Kemara can run the team into a commanding position after 60min?

Kiss should be head coach with Larkham as attack coach and McKellar can be forwards coach, all while staying at their franchises. Australians can walk and chew gum at the same time. It would be great for cohesion in Australian rugby.

I realise this doesn't fit the narrative of no Australian ever being good enough to coach the Wallabies and non Australians being terrified of the Aussie spirit and passion ever being ignited but there you go.

FYI they were not revealing any rugby IP they had not already shown in home matches against the ABs in Dublin!

The idea that France ‘can beat NZ anyway’ away from home is preposterous. It ain’t so until they prove it.

Agree re: ROG.👍

It would be a little craven to use ROG’s own honesty against him, wouldn’t it? Certainly not as an excuse to remove him from post.