Watch: This is why it's impossible not to like CJ Stander

No team is going to get much outwide with Barrett at 10, Rieko should be used to drop back instead of Forbes or Evans (two good backups/players coming through to the ones they lost) and do some returns.

PS; Seems a bit off not getting a sabbatical to have a baby, should have been straight back in where you left off. Great attitude, don’t be ashamed.

I’m going to jump on this one; “Also the squad isnt exactly bursting with talent which you could confidently say will be there come 2031 especially when you consider how young players are being hunted by foreign clubs.”

That has to change for any coach on this planet to ever have a realistic chance of winning the Webb Ellis. Australia is in a unique position, bad one, of having so much competition for rugby talent, men and women. Rugby League exists in the north in the UK as a challenge, is to some extent a threat in NZ, but I would judge minor, present in France, but is not a serious threat. Big one here is AFL, which is unique to Australia. Soccer is another, which ofc exists worldwide. Actually soccer would take away a lot of world class talent in the UK as far as backs go. That is not often talked about, recognised.

I have a story one that one. I went to a senior school in Belfast, rugby only, and one of the kids, little guy, was a brilliant soccer player, a huge sport in N.Ireland. The big lads, Yr12/Sixth formers, always grabbed him to play in the little school yard games played at lunch break(tennis ball only, so no broken windows). Rest of us just played in our year group teams. The little guy did not want to play rugby, as that would have meant no Sat. soccer for him. So he left after First form, and went to a soccer school.

When we were about 15, we heard teh little guy was going over to Man. United to try his luck from apprentice level. He did well.

Oh yes, his name….Georgie Best. Just imagine if he had fallen in love with rugby, played 10/13/15 for Ireland !