Joe Schmidt turned down All Blacks

Do agree about teams like the NZ Maori and even Moana Pasifika. Outdated concepts. I can imagine the usual double-standards outcry if a ‘European heritage only’ side was set up in Super Rugby.

The sooner the NZR get their heads out of wherever they’re buried, the sooner the All Blacks will improve.

Given his conservatism last year, Razor will probably just go with Clarke and Reece. If any new player does make the squad, they’ll get given little game time unless a mass of injuries occur. I’d say Billy Proctor will be the next to leave given he’s stuck behind the worst 13 in NZ, and ALB as well.

blood and soil racial nationalism has no place in the 21st century, and rugby needs to get with the times

Just what the Highlanders didn’t need from Penney as this game, and most others, become must win games for their playoff spot.

My World Cup preview had Ireland and Scotland’s golden generation with their best chances, France and Italy's too inexperienced and Wales and England between generations.

England is starting to look good but you'd have to say that France have a lot of top players coming into their peak.

I'd have expected a better accumulation of caps since then though for their young 2023 players and I'm not sure that the ten month club season is conducive to their players being fit and firing for the big event.

Habana was a special wing. You don’t play 124 tests and score 67 tries for a top tier nation unless you’re something extraordinary.

KeycheinX (@) maiI .com

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einX

One of those interesting players, who could have played for any of the WB’s, AB’s, or Bok’s. And along with David Pocock, he was developed by the W. Force, after both were schooled in Brisbane. And both could have played for the Boks….just ponder on that one !

It was so sad to see him go off the rails, and waste some of his best years, lost to the WB’s. But the story does have this great ending. Thrown a lifeline by Sale Sharks in England, where he took his chances and worked hard, and was a good team player, by all accounts highly valued. Then coming back to the the state of his birth, and playing for the Qld. Reds. There is no doubt in my mind that he has been a big element in the Reds becoming a much better side during his time with them. And now what is probably the last chapter, playing for one of the great rugby teams, the Crusaders.

My view would be that James O’Connor would be a wonderful member of Joe Schmidt’s broader squad, preparing to take on the the B&I Lions. He just looks, from where we stand as observers, to be one of those players one loves to train and play with. He is so multi talented, and who knows, given the cruel hand of injuries, and the vagaries of form, James O’Connor my one last time run out onto the pitch to stand and sing “Advance Australia Fair”. I for one hope he does !