Marcus Smith handed start at No 15 amid spate of Harlequins injuries

Agree on Tupaea, he is a lesser version of Tavatanawai. Less pace, less power, lesser boot, not as good at turnovers defensively… how does anyone think he is better. Baffling.

Ennor is too injury prone and has never taken opportunities. AJ Lam has a lot of promise, surely he should be getting taken over ALB as a 12/13 with upside option. And he can cover wing really well too.

Havili should be nowhere near it either. We have seen enough of the guy. His ceiling at test level is ok. Why keep picking that option when you have so many more with potential to be better than ok.

The rest of the article is also typical garbage, they only relevant information, being left till the end, is the payment of %25 million, that gives NZR a chance to come out ahead right? Hook up a sponsor in the next few months and it’s rolling on like nothing happened. Who didn’t expect it to play out like this? Lets hope they can get an even better deal now that the prosperity of the game is looking even better, both off the field and on the field.

And it simply never was a revenue issue. The AFL and NRL milk the ANZACs deaths and sacrifice for their own personal gain, they did not make their decisions based on “the rugby”, it’s all about taking over the day for the financial benefit. Why would NZR want to be a apart of that? We know RA would, but more than ever they are driven by the bottom line, and not the values that will be the factor in NZRs decision.

So you need to get outside you bubble Tim Horan and think about reality. First, did Australians need something to do on ANZAC day (assuming it was for the weekend celebration day proposal) or have they been brainwashed into disconnecting with their mates and connecting with the TV. What purpose does it provide other than financially essentially? Then ask yourself that same question for the communities out side of that, through Aus and then into NZ and around the pacific, world even.

We don’t need your shortshighted aussie brain calling out NZR thanks.

NZR also doesn’t want to destroy a good thing that is SRs revival amongst wider entertainment enjoyer base, and having a SR break/interruption was a big driver towards fans turning off previously. You’d have to wait at least a few years before they feel comfortable in disrupting that again. Actually having it at the beggining of 2027, World Cup year in Australia, might actually be the most sensible thing (though I actually really like Utiku’s idea). It would both drum up support and get the spotlight on rugby early in the season, helping anticipation/buildup for the big event, and more importantly, give the sides an extra game that year to get things right for a tilt at thge trophy.

As for Ioane at 13, it feels like he’s being indulged, or he’ll throw his toys and want out of his contract. At this point, personally I’d let him.

As for ALB. I doubt even hardcore fans can piece together any outstanding games in black, and for someone who’s been there almost a decade now, his only standout moments seem to be getting sin-binned for the umpteenth time. They may as well put his initials on the naughty chair at this point.

I’d be shocked if any player with more than 50 caps doesn’t make the AB squad, simply because they’re apparently undroppable. I doubt any of them even need to play Super Rugby to be selected.

And because of what you say, it would be far better if the Bledisloe was up for grabs in this one off test. Then is again up for grabs in the test series in August/September.