George Skivington: 'Lewis Ludlow has wanted to take my head off'

Where are you getting this 15-30k number from? Who’s to say its not been just phone calls? Come on man, use your brain. At most they spent 5k in negotiation, which is chump change to an organistation like NZR.

It used to be that an electric 22 years old winger would announce himself for the ABs by scoring on debut in the July tests. Announce themselves on the big stage playing for their country. Nowadays if they’re scouted at 14 or 15 and developed elsewhere, you've no idea where they may end up.

Most young talent I see nowadays I have to Google them to get an idea of what international Jersey they might even wear.

The only thing that keeps the discussion on Ice is probably the boks. They don't go overseas for talent and their RWC record speaks for itself. On the flipside most of their talent plays club rugby outside of SA which is another can of worms.

Still, doesn't really matter if he succeeds or not, he's being paid 6 million AUD and will surely have a lot of fun.

Onece they are gone, they’re gone - no NZ, you cannot reclaim the guys you already offloaded as surplus to requirements! Ireland developed all three into Test-match players.

They maby be able to reclaim KT from Tonga but it all feels rather dodgy to me.

But the spectre of multi-qualified players is always there. Hoskins Sotutu could play for Fiji [father] or England [mother] quite legitimately, so what are your new criteria?

“The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”

I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.

“Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”

I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.

“The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”

I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!

If KT really only had a dream of representing the ABs, why on earth did he play for Tonga first? He could have avoided the stand-down period entirely by doing so…

As it stands, Tonga can no longer build a future backline around him and there’s no certainty he will make the ABs - which would be a waste of his talent.

The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.

Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.

The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!