Ireland hand first starts to Tracy and Treadwell

It would be impossible to guess what the criteria for selection were if you compared a typical France 6N squad and the first Test squad in NZ together, without knowing anything in advance.

So when you say ‘we know nothing’ you are about right and it is very hard for us to guess what the real criteria are…

What we can say is over 90% of both have played in 25+ games during the season and the seasonal workload for the ‘B’ team was just as great as it has been for those involved in the 6N, and for UBB and Toulosue in the final…

The real problem is that ‘Rested’ means nothing when a player gets to 30+ games in a season, The impacts are already there in the body and mind and cannot be eradicated by a break. The fatigue is mental and physical and only a prolonged off-season truly helps.

I will try to explain this in another piece later this week.

The linked paper is telling that there has been a late addendum (early June) to previous negociations from Sep. 2024 (When Galthié said that he will not select his “premium players” for this tour).

Then, they are listing some conditions for selection:

a) players not used or little used during the six nations (potential 400’ of playing time).

about your concern, that’s true for all of them: Le Garrec (50’ in 3 games), Fickou (80’ in 1 game) and Seconds (0’ in 0 game).

b) players should not have clocked a too large playing time during the season. This is very vague and could be measured beside other metrics like age, position, resting time, performance data, number of games, etc. All of your picks are rested back players (their last game was 7 June). They also added to their playing total 2 more games already (England A and first NZ).

But the criticaly important limit is obviously in the last point:

c) players selection will be subject to an agreement reached with their club and negociations for those players will start early June… And about that, we certainly know nothing except that those released were agreed by their employer.

Ford is good at winning rugby matches. Marcus isn’t, and clearly only got taken by the Lions because he can cover 15.

Ford has a new contract to stay with Sale eh ?

Can you just imagine him playing in France .

If anyone would want him that is .

If Owen struggled with his grit and determination then little george would be useless.

Having a big boot doesn’t cut it in france . Not wanting to tackle doesn’t either .

He is good I agree but only up to a point. Good when his forwards are on top .

Struggles in big games when the opposition is in his face .

He might be Borthwicks favourite but nevertheless is 4th choice 10 behind Fin, Marcus and Owen when they come back from the lions .

FACT .