Premier appel (mérité) pour Marko Gazzotti avec le XV de France

That might actually come, sometime later down the line, but for now I agree that Jordie to should focus on one position and be given the chance to be great. His switch to 12 was so timely and important to the team, yet when it came down to it, that one area he was cherished for was where he let the team down in the Final. Does that mean he's just not suited to reaching his potential in the 12 jersey? IDK. I think there are certainly such facets that affected him during his 15 days as well, he would often to weird/brain explosion type things, and yuo can get yourself into trouble doing those in the open field, but yeah, skillwise I agree, 15. TBH though I see other FBs ahead of as well as those other 12s overtaking him.

And tell me if Mounga was available would Robertson select him in a flash.

And if BB is so great why was DMac selected ahead of him in the first 8 tests and then DMac was dropped to the bench and the second choice promoted.

I reckon both of you are probably Jacko in disguise. His hatred for Mounga was so apparent and also the Crusaders.

He's obviously done these facets at SR level, he just needs to get comfortable with them with less space/more pressure, finding space is probably his easiest out in terms of not stuffing things up. But many fullbacks use low dinky kicks right, he's not going to be a Jordie Barrett from the back and the worst thing he could do would be to try and develop those sorts of skills imo.

However any side that can beat England, one of the wealthiest rugby nations on the planet, 3-0 obviously has some potential, and I think another 12 months will see a much more consistent and settled side. At this stage, beating either Ireland or France would exceed expectations.

Jordie's performances got less and less inspirational with Mo'unga inside him, he's in dream land, trying to construe this article to have the same meaning he feels confident about, when the articles really got nothing to do with it at all.

Then they started playing tightforwards who could carry and it all changed, yet Foster persisted with Jordie trying to provide that solid link at 12 (which was no longer needed yet was etched into his brain from the previous 2 years). His aggression on D was most welcome still though!

Players like Leo McFarland, Augustine Pulu, Pita Ahki, Henry Stowers would more commonly have found longer careers locally, being able to better contribute to their national side, I'm meaning. The Crusader team had like Nadolo, Fonotia, and Alaalatoa playing for their country while there, I just don't see that anymore. Really unsure as I say, how that equates to their respective countries fortunes though. Those sides hardly show consistency at International level really, even if I remember them having better potential to back in the day.

This discussion was just about how some sides have slid down while others have climbed remember. Those two leagues I named just have the widest collection basket and need for players, no criticism, but it doesn't mean theyre not sucking them dry (and therefor is a bad thing). France has two divs and Japan has one big div were theres a bigger variance between top Island/highest earning talent being lured away from SR, as well as a need to fill space with the next level down of say NPC talent. This is the sucking part, them, and MLR, hover up all aspects of talent. They can stop the stars from playing and they use lowermost guys who would normally be raising the minimum standards in these teams and make them harder to scout/be rewarded with selection. It could be made into a positive aspect for the PI countries to improve performances of course, but currently I think the talent moving away from the local NZ and Aus scenes etc has been detrimental, I don't know if a stronger NZ talent pool is also to blame for those players no longer holding spots though. So regardless, while it can be said the International field is better, with Scotland and Italy now providing top competition etc, from that previous/same level of team, Samoa, Tonga, and maybe Fiji (at certain times) have gone just as much the other way imo.

With the blistering pace of Jordan out the back and two highly elusive and destructive wings the first five just needs to build pressure with game management and pinning the opposition in their own half.

DMac isn't the only problem though, with a dominant Allblacks tight five and and outstanding Sititi the other two loose forwards are a real issue.

Sititi needs to be at eight and Cane and Savea to contest the openside role with Dalton, and a tall six brought in.

Both have currently shown an inability to guide a team around the paddock and put their mark on a game.

As Nick says:

Of the three, it appeared only Beauden Barrett was trusted to run the cutter and navigate his team up and down the field. He had the lion’s share of touches [73%] from first receiver in those 60 minutes, with Jordan and Jordie reduced largely to bit-part players. But the man who enjoyed the most service from his forwards can no longer be seen as a true ‘triple threat’ at this stage of his career. Barrett Snr did not take on the defence once from first receiver in the first hour of the game.

And remember BB was in the team as a replacement for Dmac who was relegated to the bench. We have the same problem as the ABs in that we are desperately short of international quality number 10s. And until we and NZ find one we will struggle to be dominant.