I think @ his age & with the younger guys knocking on the door we should let him go. The game called out yesterday for a big performance off the bench & he didn't have that much game time & that big an impact off the bench from what i can remember

Lets not all go hammering rau,the guy is 80 mins away from wembley,
no one would begrudge him a place on the bench for a challenge cup final,
Yeah he does throw one or two loose balls or makes the wrong decision sometimes but that could be how smith wants him to play???!!

Any player whose main strength is offloading will always make errors due to the way they loosely carry the ball.

The other player who springs to mind at present is Gareth Hock. When his offloads come off he looks a genius, when they dont he looks a liability.

Same with Rauhihi ....

With regards to his contract situation. If the coaching staff believe he is the best option for next season then I have faith in their assessment. If they believe that either a new signing or that Cooper ( or Pickersgill - however not holding my breath) is ready to step up and be the 4th prop on a regular basis then I have faith in that assessment also.

As fans we are great at picking up on players weaknessess. Look at players who come/came under fire from supporters.
Wainwright and Clarke for instance. Both under fire from supporters but both, who if the players picked the team, would be one of the first names on the team sheet due to the unseen,unheralded work that they do.

Just remember the team won yesterday made up of 17 players who collectively did the job required .. end of story

He just goes through the motions with little urgency, no way should he get another year.

i have faith in smith to make the right decision,personally wouldnt offer him another year.

When he tries to offload he's a moron, his decision making process is awful. When he gets his head down, he makes alot of metres, attracts defenders and carries a threat, so he should just stick to the basics and we'd all be happy, but he never will.

Second half yesterday, the start of it, I'm guessing after a stern telling off, he was alot better, reigned himself in.

He had a shocker yesterday after playing well for a number of weeks. I thought "Its back to the bad old Rau again"

Last season for Rah, just to prone to a brain fart coughing up possession when we need him to keep hold.

Very annoying, to cough up the ball so often is stupid. Especially in such a big match.

in attack

Rah and Riley always worry me
Rah's silly offloads
Riley, the way he holds the ball at arms length just inviting a steal or a big hit fumble.

in defence

Westwood and Carvell at the play of the ball

If Westwood could keep his discipline, concentration and composure he would be an out and out world beater.

I'm happy to see Riley make way for Hicks.

I feel better when Rauhihi is on the bench rather than on the field.

Rah is a 'big unit' and if he did just the basics which is all you ask of your interchange forwards then i'd be happy with him. If he was English i'd keep him but personally i'd like to get someone else in on his quota space.