Mauvaka, le rouge et le noir dans le sang

Why would I go to the match when I have TV at home? You know, the thing that sat in the corner of your lounge before the debt collectors came...

Oh, and I see you're the one that gives yourself a thumbs up each comment? I suppose it's hard not having anyone else do it...

Just crisps then for the drawn SA-IRE series?

I'm Teddy Rockstesdy but it's a nickname I admit.

I hail from the North of Ireland and am currently based between Rome and Venice with work.

I played professionally until a shattered kneecap did for me at the age of 24. I'm not bitter remotely and enjoy the game more than ever, now.

I'm 41, 6'2 1/2" and 91 kilos. Birthday is in June. My once jet black hair is now grey. I have blue eyes, an Irish passport and white skin.

I'm currently doing my coaching badges by way of a hobby and to improve my Italian.

What else would you like to know?

Could you afford to go to the match?

Is jy seker jy's nie Terry24 maar met 'n klein beter houding?

Also, on your favourite subject of illiteracy/grammar, you put your question mark after the quote marks. It's before, lad. Always before.

Sorry to be a stickler but a third world education is no excuse.

Englands biggest problem is tight-head prop. Dan Cole cannot keep going, Will Stuart doesnt bring his Bath form to England and Joe Heyes hasnt kicked on as hoped. The lads at Sale look good, hopefully they keep improving.

The England team that played Ireland needs more run-outs. Bringing back a fit Genge and Chessum and keeping the two back-rowers on the bench - two out of Ted Hill, Barbeary and CCS - would do me to play NZ and SA. A good few changes for Australia should be enough and a win against Japan is a definite requirement even with a B team. I think we will get 3 out of 4. Fingers crossed.

Ford fly-half v NZ and SA, M Smith v Australia and Fin Smith v Japan. Thats how I would do it. Maybe have Marcus as the starting 15 v Japan too, with Ford and Furbank on the bench for that one.

I sense your comments would stick better if I was, ya know... 'Engelsmense'...

I'm not, Steve. Oh dear.

Is préachán tú

Guns are hard to find in the civilised world.

Cane is missing it tackles at times and is part of a loose forward trio that's lost two from three and incredibly lucky to sneak a win against the Wallabies who were all over the Allblacks like rash.

And yet we get the distinct impression we are all supposed to be feting him as a legend that's being given 100 test caps because he's been in the Allblacks since 2012.

Savea had also had a good go and been not quite good enough in 2019 and 2023 also. Two key loose forwards that has one definitely not at the 2027 world cup and Savea who is simply not going to be good enough by then to retain the number eight position.

Meanwhile we've three larger, younger Dalton carrying the tackle bags as soon as Cane got over a back injury and we are literally dying in the final half of each game as our two aged loose forwards fade.

Married to that we've DMac, a delightful player with tremendous skill. Very elusive like one of the small Bok wingers. The problem is that he simply doesn't shut down and manage territory, hes tantalizingly close but no cigar and he's now 29. A case of he's not going to change.

Will Jordan is the ordained fullback and the plan is to ensure he lacks any competition by picking his under study at the Crusaders, a guy that hasn't done anything yet unlike several other fullback candidates.

Reece, another DMac, small and tantalizingly close but not test standard.

Meanwhile the Allblacks now seen to all get long term contracts and if half descent it just keeps going like David Havilis.

The Allblacks need urgent reform, players need to be on retainers at super level and then picked seasonally.

The world cup squad build years are now, 2025 with firmed up squad by late 2026. There seems to be very little recognition of that or the contracts the rugby players association have got the NZ union to agree to prevent a surge in players capped to see if they have what it takes.

The painful losses in South Africa were avoidable with a heavier six forward ratio on the bench, Beauden at ten. Cane ir Savea leading in a NZ answer to the bomb squad

Big fan of Razor but he's going to have to build depth, get ruthless and leave at home players he knows what they give him at test level that aren't threatening to start and blood new caps.

It's becoming obvious he's got a Crusaders bias and needs to stop it quick, he's in my view been a flop so far and Schmidt would've been the better pick.

Can Razor sort this crisis out? Each test he trundles out the DMac, Cane and Ardie show I get less and less confident.