Fiji's Dubai Sevens ratings: The champs are here

It will be interesting to see how Ireland go this year in the 6N. The Nienaber defence revolution at Leinster is bound to be to the fore, with the dominance of that province in the make up of the team. However I would hope the legacy of the Lancaster era is still strong too. I'm not feeling too confident atm, with the AB game and the 2024 England 6N defeat too fresh in the memory.

Great clips from the JPR era. I see John Dawes involved there, and he was so often crucial with his ability to pass accurately under pressure. That is what is missing in the LAR game clips. A John Dawes type ability to pass well under pressure. I feel the teams that cause the rush defence problems will always be those that use out the back accurate passes to create space for the wide player, be he a Cheslin Kolbe or a big fast modern age forward,

My Huguenot roots are tingling. As well as my sports betting account.

Viva le Bleus

Or is this just a carbon copy game plan progressively being worked on as far as you can see.

No doubt SR used to make more money with the 3 partners, but of course it was also split 3 way. TBH I don't think its going to be much different (I think the new deal is still higher than before?). That last deal was bumper despite the comp being in decline, then SA left and the deal was probably worth even more for NZ? Can't recall how that played out I think Sky kept the agreemnt (fully). They'll be taking a big hit but it would be anything to do with the state of the game.

So when you say bleeding, you mean since around 2013/14 right? When SA'n and Aussie crowds finally stopped turning up to watch NZ smash them every week. So again, I was just stating your picture was wrong, and you've got the wrong causes, I don't disagree too much with the idea it's 'bleeding' though, id1ots were complaining about NZ sides getting a rough deal come final time for a loooong period and lots of other things that dragged the game down but on the field it just kept getting better and better. The problem is this nationalistic concept, that caught up on them (previously being the great driver for interest) and fans didn't care about the top four teams like every other sports competition in the world. They only cared about their local teams not winning.

No, SR wasnt optimal, which is what it was recommended to have just the SR Pacific comp instead. I'm not sure how much better things are now though. It needs time?

I know how I'd like to find equilibrium and it's much like what you propose. One big difference is I just don't think they need to cut SR. I would switch investment into an NPC/fully domestic scene + youth, like you, I'd just have like a much shorter SR season and I'd try and create a university scene rather than high school, that little extra age demographic matters a lot to investment/interest.

It's what the NRL can pay, and I think I heard it recently for someone in the spot light. I used it as a future figure more than anything though, the idea being these other leagues are only going to be more and more competitive, so much so they take away local talent before it can have a chance to develop. And once it goes they're unlikely to develop into the player they would have here. Not choosing a path that can compete will be a disaster imo. Thus the All Black decline.

I think don't think theres any reason your ideas can't work though, with maybe a added little flair here and there to drive some extra revenue. 20 is just a number to get a picture how many of top 60 might dissapear, it's nothing Id calculated. Think of it as an 'at any particular time' number.

In general I think people so quickly forget those that leave and all hope is placed on the next guy. Think that were talking top 4 or 5 in a position, there are a lot of positions that don't place much past the number 3. Look at Bell, theres no one he would be one of NZ top dozen hookers, numerous people would have left without getting a shot and the likes of Riccitelli or Eklund are obvious better. You've got first fives like Burke, Jordan, Falcon, Black, Plummer next year, Ioane Sopoaga, West who at any one time are going to be 3, 4, and 5 in NZ order. You've TKB, Smith, now Perenara, Weber, even Ruru is having a standout season and ALL would be better than the 3rd best local in Hotham or Christie. Now weve got last season statistical best full back leaving in Stevenson, he's joining Moorby and Rayasi, Bridge, and god knows who else who's having an awesome year that would break him into the All Blacks if it was in Super Rugby. Midfield is stacked when at home would be scratching around for guys like the Umaga-Jensen boys hoping they were fit to fill out 4 or 5th best 2nd5 and centers, when the likes of TJ Faiane, Nankiville, Seta, Aso, Fekitoa, Goodhue, Leicester, Ngani, even one of my fav Rob Thompson would be better than getting down to picks like Aumua, Ennor, McCleod, Tupea, and those that would have to come after them. We've got some of my fav loosies in Lachlan Boshier, Charlie Gamble, Whetu Douglas overseas, now Akira, never my talented players like.

I think your top 60 must have be a picture of the 36 man Crusaders squad plus a list of last years All Blacks! Obviously I've gone off track here as sure, these players leave a big whole but it's not one that NZ hasn't been able to fill in the past while maintaining quality SR sides (the periods when it was rocking), but there will be a time when loosing too many of those quality players has a much bigger impact than the already currently disillusioned SR fan can take.

Bottom line is Australia have far more talent and players that we do (statistically) and all that would need to have in the short term to fix your perceived problem with Super Rugby is trade some the best NZ players into the Aus sides. Simple, problem solved, competitive comp achieved.

cut off super rugby and stop the bleeding . put all the money back into the remaining competitions

Is too quick, many will see it as an opportunity to leave and that starts the very risky slope. You have to have a plan. Any change needs to be gradual and with a better future prospect, until then, voices like yours are only going to undermine any possible immediate success.

Yes, the Blues won because they had no Beauden last year. The year before he was a massive handbrake.

So who will play 10 is my question?

Haha nar BB actually had some vigor back last year after his Japan break. One of the few players to come back from Japan improved imo, will be interesting to see how well he days "being talked up"!

Could be the best SR season yet. Maybe 16' currently is?

And I've already clearly invalidated you perception of Super Rugby yet again but you'll never ever admit it.

If it was a redundant word then yes, I fully agree that it's half the game. But I then don't think it can be used to validate any other parts of your argument.

So in conclusion I think it shows you don't have a rounded view of what rugby is. Your interest is better suited to a game like League.

Many ways to solve these problems but creating an imbalance by excluding (or including in the case of equal split of teams) teams/regions is not the answer I don't think.

I think you'll find your opinion is best directed at that idea of just making the Champions Cup more elite.

While I can't argue your points and generally agree (rugby in europe is already lopside enough for the downsides yuo raise to not really matter), SAn sides results are nothing out of the norm to indicate a need for change. Nearly all games are drastically lopsided in this comp over the last few years. A top 4 English side just lost by 80 points.

Just no money left from paying Gatland to get a good international womens coach.

Has Wales finally found a spine ?

SA used the disguised winger strat well this year with some very good mobile offloaders being left alone to run down the flanks, wonder if they're get tested this year. The All Blacks used a fairly aggressive rush.