England hat-trick hero Joseph hails fast start after Scotland mauling

If only they had the foresight and the will to have developed Japan and Fiji some years back.

No reason it couldn't have been tried by now for their own 6 team format.

It's impossible to replicate the ease of travel for the 6N but a 6 team SH comp would have been well worth a shot.

The above stats also say to me that while England and France may push some players too hard, we could play more games and our players would benefit. Just looking at players like Charlie Gamble and lsl and how they have thrived playing the Lions rather than going back to club.

I just think it takes all the prestige away from a RWC. Which is now competing with the nations cup too.

I love the NH v SH November games and they always felt high stakes even though they were basically friendlies. Friday night rugby is the best.

I loved watching the RC from a different hempishere and getting all the kiwis, bok and Aussie pundits and commentators. Thrilling and different.

Too much integration takes away from it for me.

Sure, it’s not helpful when the NH wait for players like Fergus Burke to start maturing before swiping them, but it’s also not helped by the NZ obsession of messing young 10’s around by deciding they need to be fullbacks too.

End result, they end up not being particularly good in either position. The same things happening with Ruben Love, who frankly they should be giving time at 10, and leave him there to develop. Instead, we’ve essentially punched the 2027 WC tickets of three guys all the wrong side of 30 already.

More than halve of their huge extended test squads still play outside of Europe and they get a big pay bonus for their union off the back of the URC. They've earned that as their teams have been a great asset.

They should also be domianating the RC with their current squad so I don't see the need.

World rugby still doesn't respect Georgia or the likes to make joining it possible.

That's crazy - even with the TV revenue, the wealth of owners and excellent gate attendances.

Not sustainable at this level.

That was the figure last year, it does get let the longer you wait, it gets more the closer you get to that last season. It’s the cost factor that his club would endure finding a replacement essentially, so I’m saying it just wont happen at all because they are no longer able to replace him.

Your comments have been far too thoughtful and sensible! Is everything ok, bud?

No human is conditioned to thrive like that. Total burn out.

Running totally on adrenaline.