Les Pumas giflent les Wallabies

But instead, the tour matches, and, in particular, vs. Super teams. If the Wallabies are not available for those games, I think it could get ugly quickly, and then, if those matches are not competitive, it calls into question future full tours of Oz.

RA is already attempting to find/create a team to replace the Rebels fixture. So it will be a great tour on the beer front for the Lions fan, but maybe not so much for the quality of the rugby.

However, NZ rugby could not compete with the Euro's that Aki was offered and the potential income stream if he then qualified to play for Ireland via residency.

Thankfully, WR addressed this by extending the residency period from 3 to 5 years and thus disincentivizing certain unions from having so-called "project players" to address gaps in their depth.

Yes, I did not that. I wouldn't blame the development of those players, they've probably never done tap moves, it would be the coach on the field with them at the time that is surely responsible for pulling them up and not making the whole pack do two laps around the field to learn not to do it again?

For risk of sounding monotonous I'll share the idea I think would be great to bring the game together (much in how the setting up of an new African v Europe rugby league would). Wouldn't it be great if the BIL got on board in helping all Australian rugby players return to Australia for the month leading up to the series? Overseas players could join their State and for some fixtures against say the best JRLO teams (4x4 leading up to the test series?) and the crunch match against the Lions. Imagine having 30, or 40, maybe 50? top international quality players injected into the local game would look like, and how it would build hype and exposure for world viewers (who are saying La Rochelle fans watching Will Skelton turn out for the Waratahs again). Would cost millions of dollars but who cares, a great long term investment.

I always seem to remember that IRE have a 100% record against the all conquering boks at RWC. And we famously have never won a knockout match in our unions history.

What does it all mean?

SBW

Nonu

Conrad Smith

Fekitoa

Crotty

Ellison

Aki would've been competing with Fekitoa, Crotty and Ellison. Crotty was a standout at the time so I don't think he would've beaten him to the team, and Fekitoa was amazing. Aki was not developed enough even at Super Rugby level and would've only had a very small number of opportunities based on that list of players.

He was not in charge during the RWC, so I don't know why you brought that up.

Super Rugby is a lot closer to test level than many would like to believe, especially in clashes between the top 4.

This reply is either NH or Bokke bias, so I will not be warranting a further response to this one mate. I don't talk to morons.

Hint - that's not a rhetorical question.