'I didn't feel any symptoms': Vakatawa explains shock retirement

First on your scrum issue. When the "coordinated push" (bajada for the heathens) was introduced, many teams tried to compete with SIC (the primary club using it), by going "mano-a-mano" in fronting as low as possible. It was a disaster. SIC continued to dominate scrummaging by coordination, not brute strength, and their scrummaging prowess affected the way they played. The scrum became a weapon. It wasn't for a few years that teams figured out that forcing SIC to form higher and not engage in lower, was a better tactic. The rugby union also passed laws where the hooker could not use the head to "hook" the ball (yes, that is how low they formed), and forcing the front row to go higher defused some of the strength. But the coordinated push is basically the same thing that all teams do now, with some slight nuances. The hooker doesn't hook, etc. Maybe other teams should force to go higher and not compete lower...

On Wales, I was lucky to see JPR in 1968 when he first toured, to Argentina. Interestingly, those games are still (still?) available on YouTube to watch. The intro is done very close to where I sat as a 10 year old, but I couldn't find myself. I then saw Wales again in '78, in Twickenham, under a torrential downpour, behind the posts, surrounded by drunk and wet delightful Welsh fans who wanted me to drink with them.

The famous Lions/AB game shows quite a few examples of what you are mentioning here, Nick.

Anyway, I forgot what else I was going to say. I'm so tired. I'll get back.

England HAVE to beat Italy and Wales as a bare minimum. Beating one of the others will help but the fact is that they are not favourites to beat any of the other three countries. Personally, I want Borthwick to have enough time to implement the changes he's trying to put in motion. I think the short time he gets with the players is basically rfu inflicted sabotage.

Scotland need to put away England, Wales and Italy. If they want to show improvement then beating Ireland or France will have the fans smiling. No one is going to take the Scottish team lightly

Ireland have a bit to prove after a quiet November. They may get away with losing to France, but a loss to anyone else will have people discussing whether Ireland are on the wane. Harsh? Given people's propensity to kick a loser when they are down on social media my cynical side expects it sadly.

France came out of the autumn tests on top but can they win on the road? They are obvious favourites, so the pressure is on them to deliver.

Women's game is a shining light (sevens and 15s), however, with its growth in Top tier nations comes with lots of financial and now fan support (look at PWR in England), the women are following the old pattern that the men did in 90s and 2000s with many of the top players playing out of country. That will not ensure a strong domestic development program.

One area that seems to be ignored is the Grassroots development. Based in British Columbia, our grassroots numbers are only just now recovering from COVID and growth at the base is slow and not helped that many school-based systems are disappearing. A number of BC clubs are supporting growth thru robust youth programs, however, many are stuck in the old days when players came to them without little or no community involvement from the club. We cannot afford that pattern anymore. If clubs do not take on a more active role the development of athletes throughout the pathway programs, we are destined to continue the slide. If a club does not male and female pathways from minis to senior, you have ask WHY NOT? Game will not grow unless they begin that transition. In my club we have male and female pathways from minis to senior along with feeding our local university with players as they graduate - resulting in450-500 registered athletes. If we can do it, why do so many clubs in BC only produce senior teams (many with imports from abroad) with limited youth programs?

Seems simple, build the base and upper levels will be better supported (athletes, resources, funds, opportunities for sponsorship). It just takes focus, effort and prioritization.

The simple fact is that the days of NZ being an impenetrable fortress are looooong gone. And I think All Blacks fans know this. Which is why there is such anxiety about the Eden Park game. The record represents the last vestiges of the All Blacks' world domination and losing that would be pretty devastating to NZ. It's the sort of psychological blow Rassie Erasmus lives for.

The All Blacks have it all to lose at Eden Park and the pressure will be immense. Given how the ABs have choked against the Boks in recent games I quite fancy SA's chances.

I predict 2-0 to NZ with st least one comfortable win

Whether it was Mehrtens, Carter, or Mounga, every single one of the Crusaders Super Rugby championships were driven by a test quality 10.