Highlanders recruit Burns eager to play alongside 'some of the world's best'

But, as Galthié usually do, the first test team will rotate and very few will actually play all three tests (maybe Le Garrec & Seconds?). From what we know already, neither Guillard (@ 8) nor Villière (@ 11) will be on the next game sheet

And this is the truly ridiculous part. Teams only get better by developing connections and understandings in its sub-units and that means familiarity. Playing in the company of the same bloke next to you.

If only two of the same players appear in the 2nd Test, the exercise is even more void of any meaning the before. A nod to player welfare but a curse on the tour.

Ps, the one tour I haven’t watched so far because I watched the Brisbane Lions (current AFL premiers) instead, ended up being the most competitive thus far. There's a similar dilemma with the Brumbies tour match as that clashes with the State of Origin decider that I dearly hope Queensland win.

Who participates in that choice is an essential component. Obv broadcasters and sponsors pay the wages ultimately, so they will have a voice, as will the LNR/FFR. The third prong has to be an org representing the players interests directly.

For those French players who were not involved in the Top14 playoffs, yet approaching and breaking the 2000’/25 games criteria, like Fickou, Auradou, Le Garrec or Guillard, were the 3 weeks enough to rest between the last game of the season and the first test?

A key question, to which my answer would be ‘No’. Mental and physical fatigue in a high-octane collision sport is cumulative, and at a certain point there is no real recovery possible. You can refill a car with petrol endlessly but it also needs a full service - which means for rugby players a proper off-season. In a comparable sport like American Football that is seven months, in rugby the French players would be lucky to get seven weeks!

The NFL is a 17 week regular season with four poss playoff rounds, and I would be inclined to see 22-24 as the right benchmark for pro rugby players.

But yes, player welfare needs to be at the core of decision making and strong pa is part of that.

An outsider coming to the figures in those two squads would be hard pressed to discern the criteria…

I do feel a strong Players Association which is prepared to dive into the politics and fight its corner in negotiation with LNR/FFR is vital.

I don’t know whether those contracts would call for a certain number of appearances by the top players, but that would be a dangerous development. Players Associations are still in their infancy compared to the NFL but it is essential they have a strong say in their own welfare.

The Prem had its problems resolved for it eventually by financial difficulties which meant the RFU have a lot more say in player managment [dual contracts etc] but no sign of that happening across the channel with the French league in robust health.

So it’s wrong to try and play Test rugby without league matches running concurrently?

So it’s wrong to take a bespoke view of player welfare and try to reach the best outcome for all concerned?

Come back when you’ve got something constructive to say…

Ps how does a boy who grew up in Ulster and played for them end up looking at the world through blue tinted Leinster glasses?

It all sounds like corporate speak for “Last summer when we left them off the leash on tour, two got arrested for alleged sexual violence while another star player walked around the streets at 2 AM hunting down Arabs”.

“We’ve also missed all of our major financial targets following a home world cup which was run at a loss despite the promise of record revenue and we have dwindling numbers of young players coming through at grass roots.”

The test window was pushed back a few years ago to allow France to run off their Top14 and have adequate recovery time. France have gradually extended their domestic season.

It’s on them.

I doubt he’d have made it to a dozen caps in today’s game.