'We were a bit shaky towards the end': Marcus Smith's England view

This policy encourages NZ players to play in Super Rugby until age 28-29 when their market value is at its highest and very likely to leave NZ anyway as NZR can no longer afford them unless they are core All Blacks.

Based on the way Jordan played this year at 15 I don't see him being part of the 2027 World Cup. His main attribute is his acceleration which unless he is a genetic freak like Cheslin Kolbe will desert him in the next year or so. Maybe his game will develop more but he is not currently someone who can switch in and out of a playmaker role like DMac. Knowing All Balcks coaches they will probably convert him to a midfielder!

And again, not sure why you think I'm an Afrikaner? Do you think all South Africans are Afrikaners?

This one is one of my favorites. It's an oldie - but a goodie:

Ireland 's worst air disaster occurred early this morning when a small two-seater Cessna plane crashed into a cemetery.

Irish search and rescue workers have recovered 2826 bodies so far.

Digging continues.

Competition structure clearly a problem in both countries.

IMO too little too late in both places.

Really, Australia should have 2 teams in SR or whatever comp they are in from 2026 onwards.

Call them North and South or whatever you like, but one team playing most of it's matches out of Brisbane/Queensland, and the other playing most of their matches out of Sydney/NSW.

Combined these two make up 80-90% of the players and supporters (and crowds)

Get real.

Add Western Australia (Force) to Queensland because they have some cultural similarities. Let 20% of games be played in Perth.

Down South, let the team play 20% of games in Canberra, despite the fact that crowds in Brumby-land are tiny.

If North and South don't suit, call the teams the Maroons and the Chardonnays, or if that doesn't suit, the Cane Toads and the Cockroaches.

Just do something to avoid a slow and agonising death

They've talked about Steve Tandy and maybe Danny Wilson, but they are both in contract to Scotland and Quins.

Having said that I think they could improve the quality of soem of Gatlands support coaches. He doesn't do any himself and of the current group, only Mike Forshaw looks like he knows what he's doing!

Adding two more SR franchises was suicide on the field, whatever pathways it may have created off it in other parts of Aussie.

That bit you did unto yourself. Since then you've hardly put up a fight in SR against the Kiwis.

Wales the same - we only went for the likes of Henry, Hansen and Gatland because we were not cutting it by ourselves. Jeez we lost by almost 100 points to the Boks before Ted arrived, next game we only lost by 8, then beat them the following year!

Go tell the current WBs that you they are 'not trying' for Joe Schmidt and you will end up in a heap on the floor, where you belong...😁

It is just beyond sad to see this proud rugby nation where they are now. I read of the calls for Warren Gatland to step down, and think " Who on God's earth can be found who will do any better ?" Gatland knows this, and I suspect that is why he is not for shifting.