Top 14 club-by-club 2020/21 season preview: La Rochelle

A quick check of the Reds/Crusaders match statistics shows your first comment is nonsense. Hence I thought, either joking or sarcasm.

Then your 2nd comment jumps into the world of conspiracy theory, despite HHT clearly alluding to the stupidity of Taylah using team variables (the draw) versus an individual match-up. Again I thought, joking or sarcasm?

Hardly rocket science mate.

My point was that none are Dupont’s class or experience at this point in their careers.

Wasn’t it the Irish who were patting themselves on the back at the RWC after their pool victory over South Africa telling them they will see them again in the Finals overlooking their QF vs the All Blacks?

If you are going to lecture NZ on respect then don’t live in a glass house, Red.

Again, you’re making no sense. It seems like you really are trying to make an example of the wrong situation because of the NH poaching problem. I suggest you listen to what I’m telling you and not just gloss over the facts to suite your argument.

I thought Kalani was superb. Is he Wallaby capped/locked already and can NZR snaffle him lol Tate has been dropping a bit of form so perhaps another game out will do him good. I definitely feel like he’s still the type to run on short bursts of form (as apposed to the ‘permanent’ type) so saving the best for last could be a real angle if he was serious.

I think Kiss has improved on his approach from the first two season, or it at least took the team a while to adapt. Enjoy their play this year.

Sarcasm? I think the view that the fixture list was doctored might have started off as peoples sarcasm, is that what you mean?

Once you remove the scheduling issue - it becomes purely about player welfare and that’s the French unions issue to deal with. The whole idea of becoming the best team is moot if you cede all your national power to a club competition.

In reality it's best players are always going to be picked for the Allblacks as they're eligible kiwis. That's never going to change so the best thing to do is stop the pretence and make the team just another NZ super franchise that isn't ethnically based to allow talent equal access to professional contracts regardless of their ethnicity.

Commentaries claiming players from this team need to be ignored by the Allblacks selectors are of course advocating for the ridiculous situation that NZ becomes the only rugby country that overlooks players born and living in that country with that countries citizenship.

France had over 50 players play test rugby in 2024 so there will be no shortage of capped players to choose from as France has 3 test quality players at every forward position and in the midfield and outside backs.

It is only 9 and 10 where France may lack test quality depth. Antione Dupont, who is the only French player who is clearly the best at his position, is unavailable to tour regardless.

Galthie would love nothing better than to head south with a full squad at his disposal but the issue here is the French league set up, it’s duration and the contractual power of the club owners, via the LNR. They have the final say on player availability and since they also fund the clubs and player wages, it’s their call to make. Again, this won’t be news to NZR.

So really, if there are questions to be answered here, they need to be pointed as much at NZR as anyone else.