World Rankings: How Ireland can become number one

It's just Japan and France (at this stage) that I can see loosing out (for the Pacific Island's gain). There's no reason why kids shouldn't accept a scholarship in Japan really though.

It wouldn't apply to your Rokocoko's or Sivivatu's examples though. I don't think WR's attempt there is every going to work, I can't see the NH clubs ever changing. I think the only way is for a local competition to be their bread and butter. I also think it is the way New Zealand rugby would like there own model to function as well, but theres just not enough money to even make the general SR wage the majority of their NZR contract, let alone give that sort of money to another nations players. I think it is possible to find a way for that to happen organically, but I'd mught rather suspect WR are going to need to do more direct funding into the local game, two teams, Moana and Drua, are not going to be enough ever give all those players the true choice between which country they want to play for. It's always why I never see WR allowing SA to join the 6N.

I'd rather have had him at center than not at all, and I think it could have been done naturally and with much better success than it was anyway, if there was just that neutral ground.

The other day I rattled off what must be a dozen quality names for the spot in New Zealand. Surely off all them one can go on like Nonu. It's just about unearthing the right one with such a limited rugby environment in NZ.

Great to see Dmac and Jordie go to some big clubs in Europe. Trask when to a big club in Japan. I think the idea has merit (thought I'd just prefer bigger investment in NZ's scene).

Great run of form. And all of it without a single world class player. Proper team effort.

Whipping boys at senior level, under 20s and their domestic club game is horrid. They are finished.

You obviously didn't spot the difference so I will spell it out to you. Despite the Premiership loosing out by only having a 4 team playoff, the next group of teams (say another four) having European qualification to play for (unsure if that is 5 or 6 spots now), so that keeps the last few weeks of rugby a) relevant b) a high level c) commercially viable, and d) fun for the fans.

I much prefer that concept (I guess because I've grown up with it in football) to still giving drastically unfortunate teams like the Warratahs or Crusaders to show they are actually good enough to be in players (Crusaders were a top 6 team even by points diff, and probably top 4 at eos with a proper side). It would have been a great boon if results had gone their way on the last day.

Tell me, what happened in the Premiership again?

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Because of their brilliant governance.

No doubt you only have to go back to your articles to see how involved and hyped everyone was around the end of regular season to know they were onto a winner Nick. I'm sharing what I recall of the vibe that was around, not my own personal opinions here.