Bill Ellis Podcast - Episode 5 - How the All Blacks' RWC squad shapes up against biggest rivals

I reckon there’s another very important reason why NZ wouldn’t want to change eligibility rules.

I believe the AB squad had 6 players who were not born in New Zealand. Thats quite a large number. Rivals the likes of Ireland, France, England, Scotland. Only Australia, I believe, had more than you (8).

Another country struggling with supplying enough players to the system. SA and ARG - 100% homegrown.

The argument has always been that these foreign born players playing for the ABs and NZ provincial teams are products of New Zealand schools and New Zealand rugby.

Opening your eligibility rules and I reckon you’ll lose a big part of that pipeline of youngsters from the pacific to Europe and Japan who’ll leave soon after turning pro. After being developed by your systems. For better money and exposure. Especially if they get overlooked by NZR over a season or two.

And why not if they can play Top 14 or premiership rugby and still, maybe, be selected for NZ.

Keeping your adopted citizens loyal to you is obviously quite useful. Especially after all the effort in finding them and developing them. In fact, fcuk them - how dare they have ambitions of being well paid sportsmen. Thou shalt honour the jersey of their adoptive nation who will not be a stepping stone to the benefit of the French, Irish and English.

Lecture me about moral bankruptcy.

The age of 27 is meaningless.

Doug Howlet did not slow down at age 27, he signed a contract with Munster and was no longer eligible for AB selection

Jeff Wilson did not slow down at age 27, he left rugby to play cricket.

Jonah Lomu kidneys tragically gave out on him due to illness.

Chritian Cullen had a series of knee injuries.

Julian Savea and Joe Rokocoko ate themselves out of a jersey with significant weight gains.

Moving porter is a little bit of robbing Peter to pay Paul, Ireland’s cupboard is pretty bare on both sides of the scrum and Cian Healy sure ain’t lasting 80 any more.

First, the scrum is woeful if Bell and Thor don’t play. AAA and Nongoor in particular are poor. Talea may be good but is not good enough. Schmidt should select Sio, Ainsley and Latu as the bench front row. All playing well in Europe. He should also be doing better with Pone and perhaps getting him over to France to work on his scrummaging. Pone is our best running prop but poor coaching has killed him. Needs better coaching OS provided eg Skelton and Meafou. Secondly, 9 and 10 combo. McDermott is a confidence player and is terrible on a bad day. He takes several steps before passing which kills the speed of ball and results in turnovers. Better off with Kerr Barlow who is playing well with La Rochelle and making McDermott work on his skills. Edmed probably does need a run too. Thirdly, centre and fullback. Perese is our best defender at centre and should be in the squad. The outside back defence is poor without Joe and needs to be shored up. Wright is also a confidence player and has poor defence. When he is off like he was last week better to replace him with someone like Reece Hodge who has a great boot and good D. Fourthly, lack of ball runners who break tackles outside of Bobby V and Skelton. Wilson is not up to international standard and dosent break tackles nor does McReight. Replace him with Gleeson and Leota on the bench if fit. Would also be better playing Pone than Nongoor as Pone at least has a good running game. Latu also makes ground. Amatesero is also a better player than Williams. Frost has been the standout fine. Finally, player rotation. Schmidt is grinding key players like Bell and Bobby V into dust. He needs to give them breaks by utilising OS players more and developing youngsters. The loss of Meafou to France and the guy who captained Scotland exemplifies the poor coaching and development in Aus.

It appears the Wallaby players have lost faith in Schmidt already. Again, exactly as I predicted.

Once Aussies can see a kiwi is a fraud, all faith just goes out the door. It happened with Deans, it happened with Rennie and it's now happened with Schmidt. Players don't like being screwed around and they know when the selections and tactics suck.

We are going to get done like a dinner during the Lions tour, just like it was when Deans was coach and Schmidt will get sacked with his forty pieces of silver. He's a mercenary.

And congratulations on an honest assessment. Some in the Australian media have become sickeningly obsequious.

What is the point of losing with a kiwi coach when you can lose with a Welsh coach but still have some dignity ?

Do get over it.

Ireland have something to prove after losing to the ABs and scraping past Argy don't they? I'd be tempted to move Andrew Porter back to #3 for the 6N if Tadhg isn't fit, and if he wants to do it...