Italy make historic leap in world rankings ahead of crunch Wales clash

Their treatment of anything below Super Rugby, and their stubbornness around overseas player selection (even if it’s something like Aussies policy) is what’s really hurt the lower levels, and that filters upwards.

We lose players to other counties because those nations know they can ‘project player’ them because of the NZR policy, and the players moving into Super and AB levels are coming from a relatively poor NPC, in terms of player quality at least. Everyone could benefit from all the ABs being released to play, especially those who would learn and improve from playing alongside or against them.

Yes, the constant taking of talent by Japan and the NH doesn’t help, but the NZR is playing a large part in making sure the top of the house is ‘strong’, while neglecting the foundation it’s built on. Eventually the house starts to topple, as it’s slowly been doing for years now.

So, these 8 are the outer-fringe players who will probably hardly see any rugby in black for the rest of the season or are about to be replaced by returning players.

Meanwhile, some like Billy Proctor, if selected for the nest Test won’t have played for 5-6 weeks at all. And then if they look rusty (which they will be) it’ll be those not in the protected ‘leadership group’ that will pay the selection price if things turn pear shaped.

If they were the top side of course, yes, but my point was that they rotate with the Lions. As in I don’t think it’s NZRs or anyones choice. Like Dans saying, if it was choice they would probably choose someone else that would be more marketable (a country who’s fans would be interested in it), but also that if it was the France side that toured, they may be playing Aus or SA instead. Can’t recall who we had in 2021.

This idiot has a bugbear about northing and southern tours being the same tour >.< Logically I guess you can thinking of it from the perspective of the touring team?