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It's puzzling they don't use Jordie more as a second pivot; he's got the skillset of a half decent 10. If they used him more as a second playmaker, his continued selection would make more sense. But the current tactics just don't use his talents effectively at all.

hardly an endorsement!

that way each league would have equal rights to representation, but in periods of time where English teams are doing poorly, they would get fewer teams. by making qualification more dependent on performance in europe the previous year it would also disincentivise teams from sending weaked teams.

if this method had been used this year the teams would have been:

Toulouse

Bordeaux

Stade Francais

la Rochelle

Glasgow

Bulls

Munster

Leinster

Northampton

Bath

Sale

Saracens

Sharks

Gloucester

Benetton

Clermont

Harlequins

Exeter

Stormers

Lyon

that would give the URC 7 teams, the Top 14 6, and the Premiership 7. Perhaps that isn't a spread that people would like, but it would reward teams like Quins and Exeter for prioritising european competition. Are they better than the french teams who would be sidelined to make way for them? maybe not, but given those clubs prioritise the Top 14 anyway including them in the champions cup doesn't improve its overall standard.

Perhaps people forget that last year *6* English teams made the last 16, and 2 made the semis. Maybe none of them stood a massive chance of winning, but they improved the standard of rugby throughout the course of the competition.

What a bizarre concept if you ask me. Shouldn’t it be “probation period”.

Much like you or I would do - we’d very much try and keep the new bosses happy during our probation period. 7/10 year one, solid enough to get HR off the backs.

How smart of the leadership of New Zealand Rugby.

Coaches like Rassie, Farrell, Galthie, Townsend, Contemponi, Schmidt, Gatland, Borthwick have forgotten things Razor still needs to learn at International level.

Anyone who thinks it’s the same jobs as coaching domestic/club team is on mushrooms with JW.

Razor will work out in the long run. But it might still be a bit of a rough ride. And learning curve.

I’m predicting two losses to SA at home for the ABS next year. That should set the record straight I reckon. And I think it will be good for NZ to lose both. You don’t want to peak in 2025 guys. I promise you. It’s generally not done you well rolling into the World Cup as favourites.

Don’t forget - Australia will be like a home game in 2027 for the boks.

Blows my mind that anyone would have thought it would be easy.

Almost arrogant. Insulting. Anyone who thought he’d waltz in and make it look like a breeze is a Poophol.

Would you like to fly across the pacific in an A380 knowing that your pilot has never flown an A380 before?

Rassie inherited the 7th best team in the world in 2017/18.

I agree 2025 will be a year of more experimenting. He just needed to get through his probation - and a 7/10 rating was good enough.

This didn’t need an article to explain what is a very simple thing in professional sports in the 21st century.

SR only has 12 teams.

The ABs aren't missing Richie at the moment?

I think people are obsessed about a few kg here and a few cm here. On the margins like that it doesn't make a difference I don't think. You only have to be tall ENOUGH, and big ENOUGH. Given the ABs forwards were dominant against so many packs this year, both at set piece and around the park, they are all clearly both.

The Welsh teams leaving the URC to merge into a new Premiership is the most likely mooted change (maybe 25% chance in next few years), but the break up of URC itself seems unlikely.

Especially in Ireland, the matches against South African teams are popular, and seen as good for irish development and making URC more exciting.