Racing 92's Dan Lancaster the target of former coach's would-be raid

Aren’t they able to ramp up the ticket prices for AB tests like Twikenham does?

You would still be welcome to tour NZ, Scotland have just played the Maori. It would be cool to have France take on Samoa here in Auckland too.

& there lies the disaster.

Like at every 1 of their choking RWCs… they didn’t show up.

If they had, the actual question, given they've beaten the AB every game since 2018 would be,

‘Will it be a blue wash?’

We will all never know.

Hence,

wake up World Rugby (!! Do your job!),

protect the international periods.

If you want to see what test rugby could become if World Rugby allows it to be treated the way the French typically do, look at all the B's showing up in test cricket due the India's big contracts & timing of IPL.

Don't invite back until its France A or nothing.

They set up their Top14 comp with full knowledge it conflicted with the known World Rugby international window BUT act like victims of saying they can't bring the top due to it. Really?... Top14 final finished 29 June, exactly a week ago, & a week after the SRP final. Bring the A team now?? Excuses?? Pathetic! Same French mentality that fails to commitment to winning but just keeps choking at each & every RWC.

French clubs have already gone through the phase of welfare management you’re suggesting will start now in England, but was it so far that there are now some allowments for concessions on such an occasion as a key tour?

The backline's down the other end of the spectrum, from 9 back ups to wings is all up in the air. Mainly because to many have been given too many chances to prove themselves for too long, ie while NZ other backline riches languish… or move to Japan, eg the 1 thing that has to be stopped, if it can, is NZ's most powerful centre, & exactly what ABs need, move to Japan, ie Peter Umaga-Jensen.

Add backline talent like Fakatava, D.McKenzie (permanently), Josh Jacomb, Tavatavanaw, Q.Tupaea, again Peter Umaga-Jensen, Billy Proctor, AJ Lam, Narawa, Tangitau, Naholo

This is the AB squad & team to win every future test, including the next RWC.

Order in preference /{1st pick}/ [ONJ=Once Not Injured ] / (back up)

1 {De Groot} [ONJ - Williams, Tu’ungafasi] Ollie Norris

2 { Taylor } Taukei’aho [ONJ - Aumua]

3 {Tosi} [ONJ - Lomax ] (Newell )

4,5 Locks {[ONJ - S.Barrett], Holland, Tuipulotu }, ( Vaa’i , Antonio Shalfoon, Isaia Walker-Leawere, [ONJ - Oliver Haig] )

6,7,8 Loose forwards { A.Savea, [ONJ - Lakai, Sititi], Finau, Kirifi } (Christian Lio-Willie, Vaa’i )

9 {Roigard } Ratima (Fakatava)

10 {D.McK} B.Barrett (Josh Jacomb)

12 {Tavatavanawai} Q.Tupaea (Billy Proctor)

13 { Peter Umaga-Jensen} Billy Proctor (AJ Lam)

11, 14 { W.Jordan, Narawa } [ONJ - Tangitau, Naholo] (Reece , C.Clarke)

15 {J.Barrett} B.Barrett (Love)

It’s a simply choice. They can make whichever outcome they want, happen. But we also need to help them, it’s very easy to forget the difficulties the language barrier creates.

He does trip over his own feet a lot though 🤷‍♂️

What does the RWC have to do with my comment about the Rugby Championship?

Since you brought it up - why do World Cup games attract double points? Why not apply the same points?

So I can’t believe you are correct when you say it brings in the money. I can understand though playing better nations than those in the 6N but which don’t have a profile (like how Argentina is still a hard rate in NZ even after years of high performance), don’t generate the same interest as Wales etc. You’re also not going to have a SA or a NZ touring every November, and Wallabies are no longer the benchmark.

I mean I wouldn’t doubt that the most obvious revenue factor is a 6N component, not trying to say that it isn’t, just that fans show that it needn’t be. November test should still generate a high amount of revenue. As a topic it is all redundant now as the November tests (and July) are going to have a competitive factor.

Hopefully the quality of nations continue to rise and you can have three blockbuster teams touring every year in the not too distant future. 10 or 11 games might be right around the perfect number for a minimum tier 1 test nation too. I’m sure you’re going to make the rest of your season fit around that (those aren’t 100% things at all).

So although WR have already implemented change, I do still agree with your opinion that things are pretty good as they are. I only see a little improvement needed before France can really step up to All Blacks or Springbok level. You might think that a joke and that you will always look up to these teams but as a nation you really can do/go one better.

I think WCs are harder to win than that (requires many factors other than being able to play the best winning rugby), and 5 matches that aren’t must win and are broken up is not a good test (especially compared what the All Blacks offered).

I’m fully aware that French International players participation into Top 14, European Cups & 6 Nations will hinder their preparation for a WC.

So I wasn’t saying suggesting that. Your competitions are fine, they just aren’t going to provide everything.

Interesting insight on the last campaign, and again, those components they’re adding are also practical and sensible attempts to improve their chances at a WC. So they question remains, why go to those lengths and throw it all away by not picking a better team to travel to New Zealand?

I’ve suggested in other topics they are really close to making it work, but also the data that’s been presented in this articles shows that even now they could have also made the tour to NZ work.

That is both in the view as presented here by NB and what other players were available, and in the long term planning that you say Galthie has undertaken, in not taking the opportunity to make it work even better (factors like the dates of these tests could have seen finalists available from test 1) for a tour like this.

TBH, I can understand if Galthie made a calculated decision to undervalue the tour. Many have had a bad opinion about the All Blacks ability/level under Foster, and even in test 1 he might have shown such an attitude to be correct still under Razor.

Agree on O'Connell. Very straight forward guy.