It's all about the money.

I think it is good for the game myself, the international game is far more wide reaching and therefore more likely to grow the fanbase globally.

Players do need less time playing but that is a seperate issue. I think that is only the guys who play Prem and Top14 that need a significant reduction in game time. Some sort of limit needs to come in for individuals in these leagues, it's much easier to provide rest for players when the union can dictate everything in NZ, SA, Aus, Sco, Wal & Ire.

It is a complex matter with no easy fix.

Even when the Union controls everything, it is still money driven nonsense for most part. Only Ireland came to the 6N with a fit squad of players. Scotland have embarked on a tour with B Team that will tell us the square root of not very much.

Growing the game worldwide is a great idea, but I don't think many yanks will switch away from NFL or saccer after watching a series of reset scrums between Wales B and South Africa C last night.

Beyond that, nice to see you Demus.

Nice to see you too Show
Yeah, it was a terrible game yesterday I agree. It is a shame after the Ireland NZ game that they played over there (which was a great spectacle).
Genuinely have no idea who Scotland are playing aside from the Argentina match that they were advertising during the match.

I do think England and France suffer more than the other nations and to be fair France is worse than our league for flogging players. I saw stats showing the Irish counterparts had pretty much all played less than half the game time of English. It's tough to find a solution for players, clubs and the national side but we need one.

The Irish have found it. Play your players properly. The money men won't like it, but it might even be why they keeping bringing in fresh young players.

Something needs to happen, and we could all learn from the IRFU

Scotland are also letting Canada and YooEssAy, I think.

In Dublin next week at the annual disabled tag festival. Hoping to meet up with SARS if he can make it.

That's a model we can't follow unfortunately.

Scotland and Wales could but not England or France. I think the answer lies in a deal between the clubs that limits how many games somebody in the EPS can play severely (for their respective clubs) in return for compensation. Again, much easier said.

Where is the players union in all this? I don't think I've heard any call for any limit to the number of games, the gap between games, minimum rest for the summer etc.

I guess the players themselves don't want to play less. As I said, very tricky situation to solve.

Binny certainly does - even though he doesn't play much any more. I think if truth be told, many more than him would say so too.

I have a third hand source in the Sarries camp, and that is definitely the view there. Never made public, because money rules there probably more than anywhere else, but Vunipola speaking out is big step. Let's hope other players don't hang him out to dry before realising it could be them, and it's too late.

Anyway, to more important stuff. Arranged to meet up with SARS on Saturday. We will have the best feelgood you could possibly have watching rugby.

https://woodenspoon.org.uk/event/special-needs-tag-rugby-blitz/

Hope you two have a great time!

Players won't speak out because it's not a particularly good career move to imply you would rather not play that often for any club that may be interested in offering you a contract. I'd do the same, keep quiet and hope that common sense finds a solution.

SA defence non existent

England defence non existent

amateur rugby from both teams to be fair. Most of those tries are so bad to see from a defensive point of view. Good for viewers to score plenty of scores but both teams are absolutely miles away from winning the WC.

see plenty*

What a first half. This is what test rugby is all about.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

comment by Fasheezy (U14359)
posted 1 second ago
What a first half. This is what test rugby is all about.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Great entertainment but quality wise it's shocking. That Elliot Daly mistake was laughable

This second half is awful from England so far. I'm afraid to say I wonder if Jones may have run his course.

Poor kick from Daly again

Could've gone either way. Great game

feckin ell

Wallabies have now a physical forward pack and can see them getting better as their backline is the best in world with the AB.

Wallabies have now a physical forward pack and can see them getting better as their backline is the best in world with the AB.
-----------
very dangerous at the back now, with pocock back now as well they will only get better

So far we have learned.

1. Proud Edward's army isn't all it's cracked up to be.
2. Scotland are enigmatic
3. The Welsh Welsh can beat the foreign Welsh.
4. The first choice Irish team is pretty good.

How much of this is new knowledge and how much of it was known to us after the 6N?

Well I'm glad someone has been enjoying our slump. That said, in a hypothetical scenario, I'd say if we lost to the USA it would be worse than our current run of 5 test defeats.

The officials have been an utter disgrace in the NZ/France series. In all 3 games there are big calls against the French.

Unbelievable bias towards NZ