Challenge Cup : Vannes l'a fait !

We should keep our best players here . But when they’re good enough , we should let them go . Let them get the big money , so the next crop will get a decent crack . Then when it comes to the All Blacks we have a real competition to see who should be wearing what jersey .

That way we have our best players in the All Blacks and we can invest in the next crop of talent . It’s a win win if you really think about it . The idea that we will lose it all with this approach is a lie .

At least 1937 shows it was possible to have dominant scrums and get the ball out of them. So did the Lions in 1974. So why not so much now?

But this is only an issue in the North, all the players of some kind of PI descent often play for the country which makes the most sense for them. You can think of any player you like, but they all have some kind of real attachment to their teams, while these Northern teams are treating it like some kind of club competition.

If you create enough clear attacking incentives from a dominant scrum they will override the desire to win pens, and we'll see more ball being used to attack!

Apart from that, we have Havili, Aumua, McLeod, and Ennor for the midfield, Jordan at 15 and Fihaki, Reece, McNicholl, Macca Springer to fight over the wings.

Forwards still stacked as usual, likely to be the best in the comp. Newell and Williams, both ABs props, and Bower an experienced ex-AB. Most inform hooker in the world right now with Codie Taylor, and Bell hopefully shows why he was selected in the ABs squad. Barrett and Strange providing experience and leadership in the second row, with Hannah, Cahill, and Shalfoon all fighting for the bench (I suspect Hannah might kick Strange out of his starting position though).

Loosies look great too. Lio-Willie, super underrated and honestly should be an All Black. Very similar player to Sititi. Blackadder, Christie, Grace, and Kellow are all incredibly hardworking, tough as nails Matt Todd-esque forwards.

Residency qualification (after 18 years old) is bad enough. Residency qualification (after 18) should only be for tier two nations. The only exception should be, genuine, family migration (not just the player on a scholarship) - before the player turns 18.

Test rugby is becoming too much like club rugby, that you can play for whoever you want to (or the richest team).