According to this board's own self appointed RU correspondent Lancaster was his choice for the England job - he clearly knows a good rugby coach when he sees one.

The point is valid. A new coach can have an amazing effect - particularly if players have simply been going through the motions waiting for the previous coach to leave.

I look at some of the defence Leeds have dished up this year and cannot read anything into it other than a number of senior players couldn't give a toss. They aren't defending as a unit, show awful technique in the collision, there's little cover out wide and up the middle the inside defenders are simply not bothering to fill gaps - hence to score against Leeds all you seemingly have to do is pass one way and then back inside. That's nothing to do with confidence or ability - some of these guys have been pros for well over 10 years and yet have no idea how to tackle?

I think this is optimistic. Lots of people on these boards are talking about the million pound game. Correct me if I am wrong but to get to the million pound game we have to finish the middle 8's in 4th or 5th place! I am not even confident we can achieve that. It might all be over by round 4 of the middle 8's. Also people saying we will have important players back, moon, hall etc. A big assumption here that we won't lose more players to injury as the season goes on !!

I'd be surprised if we couldn't finish at least 5th. Talk about changing expectations...

I think you misunderstood my post. I am unsure what made you think differently, when I clearly said we were a poor and poorly run team. I might expect those wins to come, but I still don't think it will be enough to get in the eights.

I remember Gary Hetherington jumping into a massive review after the 'disastrous' 2006 season.

So God know what he'll do after this season!

Pray.

Assuming we survive by the skin of our teeth I'd expect some major changes on and off field for next season. The problem with doing a review post season is that nowadays all the decent players will be contracted well before then, so what's left will be the dregs. Again.

If there's one thing GH does have to take responsibility for its recruitment, particularly for hooker. Which is a bit surprising given that's where he played.

I'd have said second row was Hetherington's position when he turned out for Leeds, although he played many more games than those relative few for the blue and amber.

He was a second rate hooker for most of the games I saw him play. Did he sign from York?

The role of the hooker has changed considerably since GH's playing days.

Reading his comments it would suggest McDermott is going nowhere - it does beg the question what would have to happen for him to dispose of McDermott's services?

It might mean he is going nowhere this week. I wouldn't be so sure of that for next season. He might well be at the club, who knows, but he won't be in his current role.

GH could do with asset-stripping another club that finds itself in financial difficulties.

Just like he asset-stripped Keighley almost two decades ago.

Good to report that Owen Farrell who was one of my predictions for stardom, as you may recall, is selected at fly half for England v Australia tomorrow.