Freddie Burns suggests bizarre Japanese way to decide points split for cancelled Premiership games

Loto should be in at blindside with Bobby V at 8 with Wilson dropped. Wilson also a good servant but doesn’t bust tackles and has poor ball handling. Probably also put Samu on the bench given donaldsons versatility.

Amatosero is a better long term prospect than Williams and should be on the bench.

Gamble has shown he’s better than McReight in both of his games against the Lions. Drop McReight and start Tizano with Gamble off the bench.

A much better balanced and more powerful team than Schmidt has selected.

And then the cycle will repeat and they’ll have to start again to have them ready by 2031.

No one else tried so how far away are we?

Tamaiti/EDG/Ofa/ - Ross/Bower?

Taylor/ST/Aumua - Moananu?

Lomax/Newell/Tosi/ - ???

Barrett/Paddy/Vaai - Lord?

Holland/Darry - Walker-Leaware/Beehre/Shalfoon?

Frizzel/Finau/Parker - Flanders/Howden/Haig?

Sititi/Sotutu/CLW/Jacobsen - ???

Ardie/Kirifi/DP/Lakai/Christie - Withy/Lasaqa?

Roigard/Ratima/Hotham/Fakatava - Preston

Dmac/Mo’unga/Reihana/Love - Barrett?

Clarke/Leroy/Caleb - Kryen??

Jordie/Jim/ALB/Tupaea/Lam - Higgins/Taele?

Rieko/Proctor/Lester - Ennor/PUJ/Poihipi?

Narawa/Reece - ??

Jordan/JRK/Perofeta/Harkin - ??

I’m obviously excluding a lot of young talented players in form, unless theyre just too good of course, but I’d only see a few bolters from the U20s. Maybe Pledger and Vaenuku have the talent to come through in two years.

I really like the idea of seeing some of these 4th and 5th guys in black, some wouldn’t even miss for the top side. I don’t see this group dropping out of contention/form in this time frame, and should easily be able to fill out the rest, but Razor will want at least some hands on stuff with them so will be a mission like you say.

Of course I’m guessing that Razors 4-4-4 allows for double ups by the likes of Rieko and Ardie etc.

“but Skelton had declared he was “raring to go” before the first Test, only to be excluded from the matchday squad.” I had assumed he was in fact held back as he was still not fully fit, Nick. That is appalling if he was simply left on the outer. Not starting Bell was a very strange decision.

Joe Schmidt has from in making odd, and in my view damaging, decisions. You would recall his leaving out Devin Toner for the Japan RWC. His lineout dominance had been supreme for years for Leinster and Ireland. Do you think he had lost form enough to be left out. I ask as you were working as an analyst then with Stuart Lancaster at Leinster. I also disagreed with the leaving out of John Cooney, who was one of the top scrumhalves in Europe at that time.

I say no thanks to your attitude destroying the team and all that’s made it strong over the years. He shouldn’t need to show a whole NPC season of good form before being considered again though things like that and dropping of, who was it, Piutau from from the Blues last season because he was taking up somebody elses opportunity is like bitting off your own hand.

The last 3 refers “3-peat”.

Will they be able to do the job when they are such overwhelming favourites to win.