Southland-product Sean Withy honing his openside craft with Highlanders

Two seasons, two squads, it’s the some thing. Don’t know what prose means, but I’m referring to southern hemisphere season and northern hemisphere season of course.

If say the Cheetahs are backed to enter SR as offered, and the concept of two ‘squads’ was really formed by Rassie where Cheetahs players, perhaps others for Kiwi and Aussie SR sides, and Japanese based SA’s became the core of South Africa’s Rugby Championship while the URC and European based players had their offseason just like their team mates/domestic rivals, it would certainly increase the chance of Mark Tele’a getting a green jersey when he becomes eligible.

Sorry, I didn’t think I’d need to spell it out so plainly or I would have done it from the beginning. More to the point, I too think it is a worthy idea to contemplate, but we look at the facts, it didn’t go too well before the RWC (a split team went to NZ and lost), and they haven’t done it, hence my suggestion for the needed incentive to tip the balance. I guys up north think differently don’t ya? lol

A funeral procession, headed by the local priest, was in progress to the chapel.The team should have fallen silent, got off the lorry, and paid their respects. They did not, carrying on through the village in full voice. I cold fury the local priest is said to have cried out “Damnation be upon every one of you ! As long as you all shall live, Mayo will never win another All Ireland “ And indeed in the 74 years since that day, Mayo have reached 11 finals, and lost every time ! The last man from the cursed team died in 1921, at 95 years of age, so Mayo may soon win again.

I wonder is Qld. also a cursed side ? I recall an article you wrote several years ago, Nick. George Smith had come to play for Qld. after retiring from International rugby, and fresh from a very successful stint at Wasps. Qld. we all thought, would reign supreme. They did not. Apart from the one good year under Brad Thorne, they do seem to me, with my Irish blood, and having lived in Africa where the curse is still alive and kicking, to be under a curse.

Doesn’t get caught at that level but the proof is in the pudding, I don’t even think he’s a first choice Leinster player when it all comes down to the nice talk you hear about him. I think you way over estimate the quality of competitions up there, these are pretty much the same critiques I had of his play for the Hurricanes when he really should be a class performer winning games for them by now. Well, as you would want a first string AB to be, look at Lowe for the perfect example of class and he hardly does anything wrong. He even had more input that Barrett when they were both playing SR.

Based on the 2025 draw format, there is no advantage or disadvantage. Every team plays 7 home matches & 7 away matches, with 2 byes.

However, there is a serious travel disadvantage for the Drua, who are away from Fiji for half the SRP season. There are also minor travel differences between the NZL/AUS franchises but nothing that could be characterized as “heavily favours” the NZ teams.

Plus, grouping franchise wins & losses into AUS/NZL is meaningless. The Chiefs loss to the Tahs was cheered all the way by Crusaders fans. It matters not to us that the Highlanders & Chiefs lost in Australia.

I maintain he’d be the worlds best 23, we just need to find a 12 that can unlock the AB backline.

Which was mostly at 15, I’m actually a bit surprised at his consistency their, only the one season tried at 10. What was he at school is my thought, because I haven’t really seen a higher level or standard/selection beckoning as a fullback. A 10? Hope both can remain injury free and I really liked the idea of seeing both in the midfield, and not just because I think he hasn’t been able to make the most of his talent so far, playing 15.

I agree though, he’d earnt that right, but as I’ve just eluded to above, he definitely doesn’t know where the line is and can make his agenda whatever he wants it to be (well he can’t, because he’s been made to tow the line now, but he thought he could).

Again, I agree with you. Don’t let criticism’s get in the road of the basic face value of this situation. Dalton got injured which kept him out for the rest of the season, using Cane as the number 2 over Blackadder and to a lesser extent, Jacobson, was absolutely the right call on multiple fronts, but do the results also speak for themselves? What did you take out the Italy game, straight up, face value (if you watched/remember)?

It’s good to ridicule any angle this author trumpets though, fully behind that!