Harry Byrne extends stay at Bristol

Like you I think most of those puzzles they will try to cover with the six, but a mix of Sitit/Ardie/Dalton can cover some too (DP especially has the rucks covered, I wouldn’t start Sititi).

My argument is solely about Richie choosing to go and that fans need to realise he’s not the second coming of Carter and shouldn’t be treated like it…he has 60 tests under his belt and people say he was treated poorly and messed around which is rubbish. He was an OK All Black starting to show signs of becoming a very good one.

That would give Mo’unga the one full International season, plus the incoming tour and shortened Rugby Championship in World Cup year. I would think that would just the right time to hit his straps again.

Moana have a player trade with Kobe for a Japanese hooker? Have to think they are the look the more likely SR team to have a chance of snagging Frizell and Mo’unga in 2027 too if those guys want to compete at the RWC.

Lomax: “Wilco and Thomas, hold my beer 🍺”

Wilco and Thomas together: “You’re going to go win that scrum all by yourself”

As far as potential I don’t think you could have got better this year for a rookie first five. For me it is enough that they would have won that game by playing him in the correct position, along with Harkin (not that I saw any reason for him to be a fullback at the start of the year, other than to allow Love to play 1st5 of course, which wasn’t their reasoning for it).

As far as potential, Love would be my backup All Black 10, and we’d quickly know whether he was AB material.

What lost the Canes that game was their inability to adapt and move focus to a new first five. It was poor selection error and tactical waste getting no steals from the loosies.