5 players that could light up the 10th Rugby World Cup

Granted, the 3 AB quota is probably only something put in during the beginning of their existence to give them a boost but maybe NZR don’t find too many downsides from it? The new tournament could be regulated heavily, all teams data open to the respective unions to monitor their players in overseas teams etc.

“They’ve earned the opportunity; they’ve been loyal, they get to go away and come back.” In this respect, there is no difference between Jordie and Richie

There is a huge difference here! Richie didn’t want to come back, he is staying in Japan FFS LOL

That freedom of choice is what sticks in Robinson’s craw

I doubt it’s that, I think it’s more the look of not getting your man. Though if Robinson was to think deeper on it, it could have fuel a hatred of allowing “free men”, yes.

It leaves New Zealand rugby in something of a quandary

You mean NZR? No, I think it leaves the player in a quandary..

This is no washed-up has-been seeking to improve his pension plan in some easy far corner of planet rugby, it is a player still near the peak of his powers and marked by his resilience in the face of adversity.

I had been thinking in all likely hood it had been looking more and more likey; Richie would need to switch allegiance if he really was in a quandary about what he could achieve. With a typical normal NH player returning Mo’unga would have arguable had more time in the saddle at International level if he choose Samoa or Tonga, but then I realised that JRLO players return so early in the year that he will still be able to join club rugby, and doesn’t need to wait for NPC.

Richie’s two further titles probably haven’t helped the situation. Arguably one of the reasons he underperformed on the International stage was because of the ease of his domestic success. He struggled for a long time with what it actually meant to be a top player, and I really would be surprised if he has lapsed back into that mindset playing in the JRLO. But if he could return to NZ in May or June next year, well I would back him to then have enough time to get back to where he was when he nearly won a WC with the team on his shoulders.

On the other hand, a team made of up of Mircale Fai’ilagi, Taufa Funaki?, Richie, Lalomilo Lalomilo, Tele’a, Shaun Stevenson would be pretty baller for Samoa as well!