Row erupts in Irish rugby as U20s player excluded in wake of possible Saracens deal

I am actually a big believer in McReight…and his parents I’m told were from Belfast. Just for these games I see Tizzano as the better choice at 7 to start.

Edit: 6N won’t touch Georgia with their political issues and they are small beer commercially vs SA. Money talks, as ever!

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.