Sam Simmonds annoncé à Pau, Suleiman Hartzenberg vers La Rochelle ?

It would have been the fuse for sustaining huge home support had they done it.

With the talent they had and all around their physical peak it really had to be their year.

I'll fully admit I thought they would walk it. Especially after their opening ABs victory.

A serious chance missed.

More accurate to say the WB attack was very predictable and shortned up very quickly under pressure.

I don’t think Joe likes the fact that the Lions are dominating the edges of the ruck which is one of his ‘special preserves’.

That gives you impulse power off the line but it only appears to be offside!

No idea why Angus Bell does not start I’m afraid.

Yes. Dev Toner. Never a great all-round forward but always superb lineout value. Maybe Joe needs a Jase Ryan to counterpoint him?

Always going outside to take an urgent phone call when it's his round!

It's waiting to be done I think.

The civil case against World rugby is basically saying they weren't advised of the risks rather than blaming them as such for getting injured. So it's more around education and application.

They can't really say rugby causes CTE either as that can only be confirmed by autopsy. The burden of proof is too great.

I think it will be some type of half way compromise if/when it's resolved but the concussion protocols will still be front and centre.

It just takes time as it has to start at the bottom in underage and amatuer level. It's hard to retrain 28 year old pros overnight.

What do you think his plan/tactic was?

It seemed like a strong line out and kick chase team on paper for test 1. And a strong ruck disruption team.

Also with JAS, what are the pros to him playing in the centres that we are missing? He clearly needs to be on the field, but why does JS think the balance is better with him there not on the wing?

Yep good opportunity for osme of those Leinster boys to redress the ledger tomorrow!

The LSL experiment #6 is well and truly outdated but he deserves a spot in any 6/2 bench behind Skelton. as a second row. But Tom Hooper could certainly start ahead of Harry W.

Schmidt is a good technician but woeful selector.

TYou may be right about that!

Loto should be in at blindside with Bobby V at 8 with Wilson dropped. Wilson also a good servant but doesn’t bust tackles and has poor ball handling. Probably also put Samu on the bench given donaldsons versatility.

Amatosero is a better long term prospect than Williams and should be on the bench.

Gamble has shown he’s better than McReight in both of his games against the Lions. Drop McReight and start Tizano with Gamble off the bench.

A much better balanced and more powerful team than Schmidt has selected.

And then the cycle will repeat and they’ll have to start again to have them ready by 2031.

No one else tried so how far away are we?

Tamaiti/EDG/Ofa/ - Ross/Bower?

Taylor/ST/Aumua - Moananu?

Lomax/Newell/Tosi/ - ???

Barrett/Paddy/Vaai - Lord?

Holland/Darry - Walker-Leaware/Beehre/Shalfoon?

Frizzel/Finau/Parker - Flanders/Howden/Haig?

Sititi/Sotutu/CLW/Jacobsen - ???

Ardie/Kirifi/DP/Lakai/Christie - Withy/Lasaqa?

Roigard/Ratima/Hotham/Fakatava - Preston

Dmac/Mo’unga/Reihana/Love - Barrett?

Clarke/Leroy/Caleb - Kryen??

Jordie/Jim/ALB/Tupaea/Lam - Higgins/Taele?

Rieko/Proctor/Lester - Ennor/PUJ/Poihipi?

Narawa/Reece - ??

Jordan/JRK/Perofeta/Harkin - ??

I’m obviously excluding a lot of young talented players in form, unless theyre just too good of course, but I’d only see a few bolters from the U20s. Maybe Pledger and Vaenuku have the talent to come through in two years.

I really like the idea of seeing some of these 4th and 5th guys in black, some wouldn’t even miss for the top side. I don’t see this group dropping out of contention/form in this time frame, and should easily be able to fill out the rest, but Razor will want at least some hands on stuff with them so will be a mission like you say.

Of course I’m guessing that Razors 4-4-4 allows for double ups by the likes of Rieko and Ardie etc.