Lawes hailed as 'world class' as he pens new Northampton deal

Williams is fighting it out with Ben White for 3rd slot behind JGP and Mitchell.

Morgan is up against JVDF, Earl, Curry, Curry, Willis for 4 flanker slots. Morgan is a fantastic player but a huge call to leave any of those boys at home given how much Wales struggled at the breakdown against England. He's by no means solely responsible for that but it will be fresh in the minds of the selectors. Given the amount of hybrid players emerging and the inclination for a 6-2 split, they may be able to find room for a 5th flanker in the squad. In which case may be Ben Curry who misses out or Willis might be excluded given we have such depth in the players who have chosen to play for clubs this side of the channel.

Lake and Faletau are good enough but I'd be surprised if Faletau gets picked over Conan and Lake would be up against Cowan-Dickie which I can't see happening. Blair Murray is probably 4th in the 15 pecking order behind Kinghorn, Heenan, Marcus Smith. He may be a better 15 than Smith but Smith brings versatility so would be ahead of him. Since Smith may go on tour as a 10/15 hybrid, they would already have 3 fullbacks in the squad so Murray won't make it, good player though.

Nicky Smith and Dafydd Jenkins clutching at straws.

If I had to put money on either side, it wouldn’t be for the RFU record making a decision like that. Tough one though.

I’m not sure that angle would come out much in Aus anyway (not much hits the news).

It’s very simple and you obviously know this, they do what’s best for the athlete. Galthie is just doing his part in making sure they don’t break, you know, like a team effort.

Just as LNRs teams are.

Bottom lines? The players don’t get a lot of rest as their season is so long, yes, but Galthie can select any player he wants in an International window. You just have to ask yourself does Galthie want to select that player or ensure they are rested? You just need to stop being obtuse, and some French white knight guy, what you say is simply untrue.

Why not just word it properly?

The ANZAC myth has been used by sports teams for years. Some to a greater degree e.g. the old Rugby League ANZAC test, some other sports will make passing reference in the advertising or commentary etc.

I don’t think the ANZACs (looking down from heaven) see themselves as sacred cows. I think they would rather see a game of rugby in their honour. What better time to hold a Bledisloe cup match?

ANZAC day is about both remembering the ANZAC’s sacrifice, and their descendants celebrating the freedom we have because of that sacrifice. If a Bledisloe ANZAC test was done in a tasteful way. I see no issue with it.

I don’t think rugby league deserved to host an ANZAC test as rugby league organisations encouraged their players not to go to WWI (Australia didn’t conscript for WWI).

btw, a side effect of a short competition getting treated differently? Obviously those involved no other way for the most part, but not just compared against aussie sides, I don’t think you get it anywhere near this bad anywhere else in the world.

But that digress’s from my angle. Whether you want to call it excuses or what, I don’t think the Ireland camp would sitting court side at Nicks NBA games or watching the Yankees hit home runs, the much lamented building up to that game is easily the biggest factor in the result.

But if it was? You are happy to turn one of the countries most sacred days into a money grab? If you are, was that an easy decision, and do you think it would be for most of your friends/family too?

Because I understand selling out a bit, but I think they’re too shy to sell out this much.

Agree with you that the all black brand is worth more than apparently valued by INEOS. Would hope that NZR get a much better deal going forward.

Would like to see the sponsors brand removed from the jersey as well.