Ben Earl closing in on return to action with Saracens

NZ tried to resist making replacements in the second test against the Boks this year, and fatigued players just ended up making uncharacteristic errors at the end of the match.

JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

However, in historical terms there is sometimes an exaggeration about how competitive the field is now compared to past eras. The decline of Australia has curiously coincided with the rise of Ireland with Ireland's structured attack being notably reminiscent to that of the great Wallaby teams of 25 years ago or so. England were also strong back then too, lest we forget.

France are currently as good as the French team in the 1980s, same with Argentina really, and South Africa merely holding the tradition of some great Springboks teams of the past.

Where does NZ fit in to all of this? Currently at No.3 in the world, but still ambitious...

Yes, the field is closing up.

As someone who has followed both Rugby League and Union for donkeys years, I concur both about Bellamy and All Blacks at 70%.

Of course, back in the day (and until recently) there were only a few international Rugby teams of true class.

The All Blacks and Springboks were top shelf with England, France and occasionally Wales and Australia as contenders.

Even though the All Blacks didn't play them much, Argentina, Italy and Fiji weren't anything, though Ireland and Scotland were regular NZ bunnies.

Occasionaly Romania, USA and Canada were ok, but again, NZ still tended to play only home nations teams + SA, France and Australia. They still got high win percentages. Their own comp was easily the best in the world.

Professionalism created Super Rugby with SA and Oz. A very high standard, until two too many Australian sides dragged the standard down, then the withdrawal of SA teams completed the rout.

All along, and unrelated, France and (especially) Ireland got better and Argentina and Italy got good-ish. Australia moved the other way.

I think 70% for NZ is top shelf now, and that's realistic.

I'm Australian, but I have no doubt that our poor performance on and off the Rugby Union field has hurt NZ a lot. So too has the attraction of Rugby League via Australia been damaging to the All Blacks.

Not their fault, our fault!

As I say, hopefully the urc leave well alone, for now at least!

I feel a bit sorry for Toetie, but no contest after Burger made himself available.

Even then, it significantly undermines the EPCR.