'Icon of Crusaders rugby' Owen Franks returns to the red and black

Like I see another post mentioned Berdeu was mentioned at 10 where I’d imagine the poster likes the look of the player, where I was just going by my very rudimentary hierarchy and stat (what opta have of the stats hub and where Berdeu is fairly low) visibility.

If Toulouse or, and, Bordeaux are not in the final

It might be overly critical but with the current state of the Top 14 I can’t see it being anyone else J Marc.

You touch on a very pertinent question I have been asking myself though, what is going to happen to the players outside the Finals game day 23?

I’d imagine that the plane to NZ would already have left, so any of the really good players that can’t make the final selection for their club (but could have for France), will still be needed by their club to stay in France incase someone gets injured for the final. Do you know if that is right?

Yeah I feel that they will still apply the ‘premium’ rule to some players, they’ll need a leader though.

So you think he will try to look to the future rather than make the most competitive team possible?

That might make it a lot easier, it will be very interesting what Razor does in that same respect though J Marc! It’s sounding like it’s going to be the exact same group of tested All Blacks again.

That old chestnut has been found out in some Nick Bishop articles if you’re interested.

Currently the players Top 14 sides look to be rest/not using in demand players more than France. It’s all well and good and a huge improvement in player management I understand but it’s all because of the underlying problem of the length of the Top 14, not player minutes. They simply don’t get more than a months holiday and thats totally absurd. Crap, it might actually be they only get a months holiday if they don’t play in July, can’t quite remember.

And I’m not sure that exhausted “premium players” would do better that “fresh” young lads.

You really don’t understand the French dilemma at all do you. These ‘fresh’ players you speak are the ones that need the rest, not the “premium players”. They are simply not cared about because they are not the top 20 that are critical to France’s success.

Despite his very poor form, he holds the scrum up better than any others at THP. I think Alaalatoa isn't what he was, and Nonggor & Co aren't really up to scratch. Nor is Slipper at THP.

I think that they have to pick him, and he knows it.

It's probably not a popular opinion, and probably my opinion of McKellar as being an underwhelming coach.

I suspect a lift this week, and more when Joe gets involved, but nonetheless a disappointing situation!

Springer on the other hand has real pace that Fihaki lacks and has way more upside as a wing.

And it’s the 10s responsibility to do the goalkicking and convert a minimum of 75%. If Kamera can’t improve his goal kicking then drop him and select O’Connor who does kick his goals.