Owen Farrell left out as Saracens name team to take on Northampton

There's a concerted focus on holding possession once the Wallabies enter the opposition half, and the quality of the ball-carrying up through the middle is creating those 22 entries - which are now being converted into points..

And those are just the immediate big boys. If Hoskins is given an 8 role next year along with Ardie and Sititi then some of those boys next in line might be thinking they can become the light and nimble sort of 6 that Sititi showed could be useful by switching over, think Flanders, Grace, etc. Jammed up everywhere imo, but definitely up for grabs too!

I assume by a lot you mean the same amount of money? 700k euro (or maybe pound as on times website) was average wage quoted. Can't see why it wouldn't be enough. Thought this could be done in this neck of the woods and this idea is taking it to the biggest cities/bidders in the world no doubt so the match day/weekend revenue is going to be through the roof if they sell out venues like the 7s does.

It's just that thing again were it needs to start off with a hiss and a roar, can't see it happening by 2026. France has over 200 foreign players alone you'd think would be happy to do the same thing they do in France, just in more varied cities, and for a much shorter period of time. Going to have to see a lot of players taking up 1-2 year extensions/contracts before we know something is building up.

The point being it shows teams whether or not they have the metal, so even if you have examples of full strength sides losing every game, they still know the kind of bar they need to meet (NZ being in this case just a team that is nearly always up around that bar needed to win). France sends a side missing key components? It's very easy for them to believe they are still good enough when they aren't, or their best players not to release they need to try and acheive getting better..

I reckon the other europeans country's teams really enjoy having a classic French club visit for Cup pool games etc?

It's not "and they are the most successful..", it's "because they are the most successful..", but I digress, I agree with your point, I just wonder that if because the other two comps/teams likely want more filler games (a pre knockout pool stage), and LNR's might be getting to the stage where they don't, skipping that part might be a fair common ground to meet (so not above having your cake etc).

The real shakeup could be this new world league though. None of the French mercenaries are going to say, 'yes, please I want to be working for 10 or 11 months of every year' to the LNR teams trying to keep their coachs and players from joining the rebel league.

Nar that's actually a good idea, I thought they already had some representation but in the Champions Cup would be better. This is such a flexible and easy way to make change that it doesn't need to be permeant. I'd imagine other teams would be happier with a shorter/smaller pool phase (without the French drawcards?) though, I just know that teams like the Cheetahs would be hanging out for a few extra competitive games.

Massive test match potential from that England U20 squad. Be a damn shame if we don't get to see it in the white shirt at test level because they can make a better living playing rugby somewhere else, or worse still, playing for someone else!