RWC Build up

If I could be an international coach, where would I be?

Well, #1 is obviously New Zealand. McCaw is coming back into form. Slade looks like he might grow into excellent cover for Carter and already looks great as a utility back (he can play well at 10, 11, 14, 15) and all the coaching headaches except at maybe 7 and definitely 10, seem to be choosing the right players from a pool of excellent players at all positions. Unless Henry is suddenly afflicted with a touch of the PdVs he might get criticism from partizan supporters of a particular player who is unlucky but it's tiny differences rather than clear choices all over the park.

#2 would be Australia. Yes, based on last week's evidence Australia are going to get to the final and lose to the ABs but... it's a one-off game and there's a chance to get some moral boosting by stuffing the Boks in SA and then beating the ABs in Australia, or at least showing signs of improvement against them.

#3 would be Wales. That might seem odd, but when you're missing Hook, 2 Lions props, Lee Byrne and the like. When a side disrupted by losing their first choice 10 in the warm-up and their winger with a broken ankle too manage to outscore England 3 tries to 2 and only lose on a couple of drop-goals and at Twickenham you've got to say that's not bad. There is a need for improvement, but the training can change from the hard fitness work to the skills and combinations, plus some real quality to come back - it might not work but it's a good start.

Who wouldn't I be?

#1 on this list - least desirable place: Ireland. The mix of players returning from injury and second choice players looked poor. Very poor in fact. They deserved to get hammered by Scotland and it is only because their team made several bad choices that they weren't.

#2 South Africa. Two humiliating, massive defeats on the road. Ouch. OK, you can try and spin to the team that the first choice players won't be so bad, but that puts you in the Ireland position - second choices are very poor. And smarting from a defeat but confident overall, how will a hardened Australia do against players returning from "injury?" If they lose that, they've got a rampaging AB visit to try and cope with too. Ouch.

#3 England. Johnson may have most of his 30 decided, but it's not clear quite who they are, nor that he's got a range of good choices. He does in some places but not many. What looks like a strongly attacking midfield and outside backs combination was outscored by Wales in tries. Not great.

Who doesn't make the lists?

Scotland... There's work to be done. I'm not sure they'll do well, but on balance more positive than negative. France... didn't play. Argentina ditto.