Portuguese World Cup hero comes out of retirement to join struggling French club

I don't see any benefit to NZ rugby with all these players representing the islands and other countries but actually living here and taking up spots in our professional NPC and super sides.

The Moana side seems to be being paid for by the NZ taxpayer, money that could be going into NZ rugby.

Rugby's hugely expensive to fund and NZ rugby needs to get back to number one to win back sponsors, it won't do so giving everyone else a lot of it's best players.

Fiji is a viable rugby nation with it's sides talent overwhelmingly coming from Fiji, Tonga and Samoa should have to do the same.

I fully understand this idea that NZ should support the islands but I'm not seeing the benefits for NZ just more player drain.

The real problem though is the top NZ talent being poached by England, Wales, France, Japan, Scotland, Ireland. That's genuinely disgraceful.

You’re making no sense CO. Trying to jump on the wrong example?

I’m also with Mil’s on the other, there are some very good Kiwis playing for the Aussie sides even now, who would be great to poach back. Kalani Thomas, Gamble, Murray reminds me very much of Shaun Stevenson. All these guys, and others, have the potential to explode and warrant a AB jersey.

I got the sense she was just using it as a way to show that ABs are underperforming or not stepping up compared to the prospects, which is nothing to do with NZ v Aus.

I’m not sure her comparison made sense, and obviously Wilson suggested the likely reason for it this early in the season. Certainly Taylah still seemed to be championing NZ over Aus so not like she was saying they’re quantifiably better imo.

I would also like to see the stats for Anton L-B against Daugunu. I’m not a great fan of Iaone at centre but its pretty hard to shine if the team around you is struggling. Likewise, I’d like to see Tamaite Williams performance stats vs Bell.