Alex Sanderson convinced Sale winger will be world-class

Sam was the man when chiefs were champions . But after head knock after head knock and injuries . he would never capture championship chiefs form . Had one blinder against the Irish in the quarters last year , but that's about it . He also played consistent rugby this year and wasn't getting bullied . Then it made me think , how good would he have been if we just left him to be Sam Cane , no pressure to be captain , no pressure to be the next Mccaw , But just Sam Cane .

They also made K Read captain in 2016-2019 . But after 2014 , he was on the decline . Akira was making noise in the rugby scene but he never got a proper look in . Something about his attitude wasn't good enough . But what was done to help Akira's attitude ? . absolutely nothing . Between 2016 - 2023 we've had good players that could have been great with time and development . Pita gus , Laumape , Vaea Fifita , Boshier , Elliot dixon and the list goes on .

The only people to blame for this mess are the NZRU and the coaches . Because their player management and tactics are trash . The dual play maker system never worked and playing players out of position hasn't worked either . Now there's this narrative that the world has caught up . But I honestly don't believe that at all , Because I saw the worst All Blacks team I've ever seen lose by 1 point in the world cup final . To a team that people are claiming is the greatest rugby team ever assembled .

Now it's 2024 and we have one of the most talented coaches New Zealand has ever witnessed . And all he wants is to be able to pick his best team from any where in the world . Some are for and some are against his wishes . Apparently it will hurt super rugby , But let's be honest . who is watching super rugby ? . Unless it's a rivalry game or it's the final's . who actually cares ? . The price of a ticket doesn't fit in the budget as it is . And who pays for a subscription . It only take's a 5 min search to find a free stream for any sport in the world .

So what is the real issue ? . keeping the talent pool of the pacific ?. So Samoa , Tonga , and Fiji don't get stronger like in rugby league . Because I believe if the NZRU put the money back into the grass roots . Focus on family values and create core memories for all the kids growing up in our system This will inspire genuine loyalty . I saw Naufahu choose the kiwis over tonga and saw him crying as our national anthem played . Money doesn't buy passion and loyalty . So let who ever comes come . And let who ever goes go , But when the coach gives the call we will see who really wants to play for the All Blacks .

Yes super rugby may suffer . But without South Africa and with Australia still behind . The competition already isn't what it use to be . So letting players go overseas to get experience isn't a bad thing . Im not sure what the future holds . But I know if things don't change the results for the All Blacks wont change . Mistakes will be made , But it can't get worst than Hanson and Foster . Whatever happens I hope to see the All Blacks winning again and not just winning , but winning dominantly . Like the good old days .

Life is to short to not take risks ...

Hopefully that will improve this year with the reduction to 4 teams but I'm not holding my breath.

I noticed he's not played this year and wondered if that was the case. Again, sorry to nerd out, but it would all depend on the regularity of Nepo's 50 caps, the percentage of games played, and minutes share (so comprable only to other props), as to how high his ranking went, and then the same for Newell and Tosi combined so see how much they can lower his share. Nothing changes that quickly, in the space of year.

As I say though, I don't yet have an automatic way to put in the algorithm that Newell and Tosi are simply playing much better footy than he ever did. Despite as for your opinion of course. The thing is with this sort of concept, your point is not relevant.

The idea is to find a much more visible and automatic reward system for a players loyalty and sacrifice, with only a very base qualifier needed by something like, caps. Performance levels would be exrtemely hard to implement.

Just another failure in my IT abilities.

Even when you change your nom de plume your comments never vary making it childs play to identify you.

What is it with people who live in Queensland. You repeat yourself just like Walter. Must be something in the water.

Do you do it so it appears if someone supports your increasingly manic comments.

BB was also a shadow of his former self in those days, he has really played much better for Razor (even though Razor gets knocked for not selecting DMac) and is prepared to get himself knocked out again.

Definitely Foster would have had a settled pre-determined makeup, but that can equally be as a hindrance. But I also have to qualify that although it looked like Razor had a much better group of form players to use, I think he and his team need to get some credit for the immediate changes I saw in the game plan that allowed Dmac to light it up and throw face passes to people running a gap or lobs to those beating their man on the outside before they even caught it.

Razor was definitely gifted a center pairing that he didn't have to lose games trying to find either, inc better outsides. While I can definitely critize Razor for selecting Blackadder I'm not sure I can do the same to Foster for selecting Bridge. I've just been looking at Fosters first years rankings again and they plummeted (though might be due to lack of games played) at the time, with less losses than RAzor.

But I just thought it was notable that after just few months with a proven coaching directing the team pretty much all the areas that people pointed out which must have grave deficiencies at the levels below, have been fixed or gone in the face of Northern Hemisphere competition.