Hurricanes coach explains snubbing of top France-eligible lock prospect

Jordie Barrett arrived at a Hurricanes team which already had a All Black midfield pairing, but which had lost star outside backs (well they weren't really but Woodward and Marshall won a SR trophy that year). So started his "jack of all trades" journey at fullback, after playing most of his youth at 12.

Rieko also had to share his center duties at the Blues with George Moala and SBW, so, expecially with a man of his pace, it's not surprising he still got to play on the wing, and at All Black level those were rotating pretty regularly, and so that's were he found stardom without much more than his pace to carry him (hence his massive form slump that saw him dropped and Hansen/Foster take far too long to reinstate him once he found his mojo again).

With a better system in place these talented players will be able to play for one of numerous other teams in their favoured position, possibly even in other Super Rugby teams, like Australia's (once their standards improve).

Whether the is going to remain (or raise as the case may be) at All Black standard is another entirely different and pressing discussion.

Also this comparing SA with NZ when 1 side is retaining all their stars and the other side has had some major changes isnt a apples with apples comparison. Imagine comparing a F1 racing team where 1 team was 100% settled and the other was brand new....Just not a comparison worth doing as it proves nothing other than the blatently obvious.

1 - I don't think Pollard or Russell are bad. They are great.

2 - Marcus Smith wasn't capped by the lions. He played one game against a club side and was judged to be nowhere near good enough for the tests.

3 - you are obsessed with who gets selected for the lions because you don't actually understand rugby enough to form your own opinions about players. I guess you just ignore the 98 caps Ford has won for england because that doesn't help your narrative.

4 - you are obsessed with highlights reels because you don't understand rugby enough to know what is going on tactically.