Nasi Manu to captain Tonga in first match back from cancer battle

My comments above are also to juxtapose France and New Zealand’s gains from this tour which Nick insists benefited the ABs more whereas I see it completely the other way around. That in fact France has learned more through experimenting with more players in rotation, and that NZ under Razor has done less experimenting going into his second season.

In fact if you have seen any of my other comments you will note that I think that NZ will likely rain on SAs parade this year already by winning both their games at home against the boks.

NZ are, and will always be, a major threat to any of the rugby nations. Especially any team which happens to be on top. I just find NZ and Razor’s management of the ABs to be below par to what I’ve come to expect of them given their past.

And I don’t agree with Nick’s negativity towards France. Who I have also said will win the World Cup in 2027 (if South Africa doesn’t).

I think that’s fair comment, don’t you?

Based on past test performance (2022 and 2023) you could justify starting DeGroot and Lomax with Williams and Newell off the bench.

Either way, Taylor must start and I’d keep the Crusader props together.

Head on head I saw red to Adam Coleman as tackler for Irish while unconscious on a stretcher - concussions occur without twitching on the ground or the wobbly boot - I know I had maybe 20 from rugby

The officiating of last feet is non existent

The lack of effective wrap by Lions front rower & that decision had a close relationship with ordure in a toilet

A head on head tackle red for Coleman not even penalty lead to a try in a phase or 2

Powys v Evans lead to a £> 2 mill verdict against the ref personally special leveraged to Hiuse of Lords

Refs will stop reffing with no insurance then no game

About 5 years ago 4 or 5 French colts died from head hits in elite club games - that led to below sternum law - hamlets honoured in breach not observance

Last feet non existent - enforcement favour flowing rugby nor lions meat grinder forwards get momentum and puck & drive NZ Vowel noise

The UK Class Action could be very well be lost WRC will try every dirty trick in case they already used dial a neuros to argue the unarguable is law gossip

I reffed ref coached & assessed for ruffly 17 seasons

The application of laws is like a zig zag on speed

Line out laws not enforced scrums tight pulling loose down one side mirror on other side elbow pointing to ground stretch marks on jersey

Der moment the refs need to go Soec Savers

My bet unless they stop lack of intestinal fortitude game management

Yellow every time head contact or above sternum

Needs sterner GMGs material impact removed set piece caterpillar remove

Last feet to last feet + 1 m

When I reffed I kept them well apart - hated me till they got over yellow and they actually had fun & complemented me post game backs had room and pick and drive had momentum

As for intentional foul play like tackle in air auto red no replacement 100,000 fine player 250,000 club

Treble it for international 26 week suspension & it’s disappear over night

25 were scrum for dissent

Penalty all this rubbish shots at opponents after error

All the s.ite would disappear

The pathetic unsportsmanlike behaviour would lead to standards

Remember Les Boyd’s penalty re Brohman -if that is the way we treat foul play but while foul play with potential serious injury with a feather duster like we are the game is destined to no insurance following that no refs cause would you risk bankruptcy like Powys v Evans

Saying that Osborn has had a great season and is knocking at the door.

You see New Zealand as South Africa’s greatest threat to raining on your sunshine in 2027 so you denigrate them to reassure yourself the rain won’t come soon, just as Kiwis did in the 2010s.

Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts.

However, even my secondary school 10s know that if the opposition want to play with only one defender in the backfield, it’s like taking candy from a baby- kick to space, chase hard and regather, and if the lone defender does manage to get to the ball first then flood the breakdown and win the penalty!

It was shocking Ratima and McKenzie kicked so little, especially after the success of Jordan’s try. Baffling!

I like Lio-Willie a lot. He had a very good season with the Crusaders. But he was not an original squad selection for the France series and was injury cover until Sititi was ruled out.

Realistically CLW is the fourth choice 8 behind Sititi (injured), Lakai (injured), Jacobson (injured).

I don’t agree with ‘only Fischer’: Brennan proved he’s a great 4/7 utility player, and Galthié likes those very much (Woki or Flament). He’s 23, playing for Toulouse with high concurrence, so the prospect is good. I rate him higher than Auradou, who had a few games in the 6 Nations.

For Depoortère, he had a more silent season than the previous one - injured at the worst moment during the Autumn Tests series - but came back strong with a Champions Cup and a solid partnership with Moefana. What could save him would be to start playing as a 12 when Moefana isn’t there, bulking up and become the new Jauzion.

But he’s 22 and an incredible talent at 13. His height makes me think he had more potential than your fan favorite Costes or the utility player that is Gailleton.

As for Montagne or Mallez, with the lack of quality in props, they could find a spot!

Especially Mallez who’s got a good spot to get behind Baille at Toulouse. Neti isn’t the youngest and hasn’t an international level.

And again, as Ugo Mola said, you never play with your best team.

So 30-32 player is more of a 38-40, so you need back-ups.

France knows very well how useful they can be during RWCs.

It has always been the case. Club rugby dominates in Argentina. If you are very good and can turn pro, you go abroad.

I even had a French (paid) coach in the mid 70s in Argentina, when it was technically not allowed. “Ne joue pas avec le pied! Tu a un grand tête!” Plus other curse words…. Sorry my misspelling, I can converse better than write.

The following players are already world class (the best one or two players in their position in world rugby): 1 Tamatai Williams, 2 Cody Taylor, 7 Ardie Savea, 9 Cam Roigard, 12 Jordie Barrett, and 15 Will Jordan.

And the following young players could very well establish themselves as world class by the end of this year or next: 3 Fletcher Newell, 5 Fabian Holland, 6 Tupou Va’ai, 8 Wallace Sititi.

Additionally, Richie Mo’unga, despite being criticized in NZ by those resentful of his Super Rugby success with Crusaders, is widely regarded by the rest of world rugby as the best 10 in the world alongside Finn Russell.

Really just need to find a very good and consistent 13 and some wings with truly elite pace.

I really hope that:

-Ntamack will get his knee back. The surgery went well. He wasn’t the most elusive player in the world, but he was capable of amazing rushes like the one against NZ in 2021 or the Brennus-winning try in 2023.

-Jalibert will continue to improve his defense. He started working hard since March (after his defensive disaster against England) with a XIII specialist, and I’ve seen great moments, especially against Ntamack in the SF of the Champions Cup. It’s never too late. And it would be a great signal for Galthié.

-Hastoy will build up his partnership with Le Garrec, that La Rochelle will start a new phase with them and Niniashvili, Alldritt, Atonio, Boudehent, Jegou, Bosmorin, Bourgarit, Nowell, Wardi, Daunivucu, Kaddouri, Pacôme…

Hey Rugby Pass management, give me this guy's job and I'll write some non-depressing player ratings. The Lions tours are supposed to be a bit of fun, but this prat is symptomatic of how miserable the whole experience has been, so much bitterness jeez.

In 2024-25, he played 23 matches (all 23 starts at #13) and scored 7 tries.

In 2023-24, he played 17 matches (9 starts at #13, 5 starts at wing, 3 off the bench) and scored 9 tries (5 playing #13 and 4 at wing).

In total, Fainga’anuka played 40 matches, started 32 at #13, and scored 16 tries (12 tries playing #13).

32 matches starting at #13 in two seasons is more than enough to conclude Fainga’anuka has fully transitioned to a #13 and he still has the ability to score tries (1 every 3 matches is a very impressive strike rate for a #13).