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Why? Players are entitled to negotiate both for pay and conditions. Presumably that's what he's doing. Is that so unreasonable that you'd willingly lose a world XV contender?

It's got to be Jamie Joseph. Watching him and Dave Rennie vie for higher honours in years to come will be interesting.

I don't use any other fora, so can't speak to the effectiveness of a measure like that. Fair enough though. I wasn't here for the halcyon days, but I tend to agree with the above that the problem with threads isn't largely the origin, but the way that people are happy to abduct ANY topic and...

Don't worry about it mate, we'll share the glory.

Firstly, great perspective, thank you. Secondly, I don't think anyone really thinks it will ever be more than a niche sport - but a niche sport in North America would pull the same kind of numbers and interest as rugby union in Australia today. And more money probably, just by force of habit...

Brave Blossoms would be Japanese I assume. I like the idea of Canada getting involved - it's a weird situation there, women's rugby is quite big I think, but men's is barely present behind American football and ice hockey. They clearly like proper contact sports though. I also think any...

Wow - I timed that well to be completely and immediately wrong.

I'm really happy with it. The NZRU's financial position gives me sleepless nights, so this is a great step. I'm also thrilled that one of the biggest companies in the world is even interested in sponsoring a national rugby team, when their last sponsorship was of ManU. The jersey has a thing on...

After listening to the podcast interview with Greg Peters, particularly what he had to say about super expansion into North America (with value added by a really great long comment by an American bloke in the comments section below), I just wanted to throw up a thread to see what people thought...

From what I heard Adidas agreed to pay more to keep AIG off it. Certainly off the front, maybe sleeve is still an option though. Apparently Adidas has been really great and understanding about the NZRU's financial position.

George Smith was only 5'11" and he was a pretty effective lineout operator, wasn't he? Can't you train up hooper and just use him cleverly at the back, or something. USA Rugger, I'll have to take your word for the seeing over the scrum point.

They're certainly putting together one hell of a scrum. Hore, Woodcock, Thorn... Some other guys... J Mack is a loosehead too right? Who is their tighthead? Shame they missed out on Franks.

This isn't "great" as such, but I had a chuckle, and I think it sums up the past month for Australian rugby pretty well. I know the bloke who wrote it, so that's how I came to read it. http://warmingthepine.wordpress.com/2012/10/11/when-it-all-goes-to-shit-have-a-shower/

I think so'oialo was only ever really considered small because the alternative was sione lauaki. But having said that, and I'm a back so don't really know what I'm talking about, 8 can be defined by roles, rather than body-types. If you can manage a ball at the back of the scrum, make good...

Gee good haul - how'd you get him? Does SANZAR have an open mind towards further expansion of the RC? And if so, would the commercial realities still rule out the inclusion of a Pacific Island team (either individually, if Samoa can maintain current standards, or in combination)?

I remember he started there for a while in tests, then got destroyed in a Bledisloe and moved. He's older now though, so would be able to handle it better. I think the idea of Beale and JOC (James O'Connor) rotating between 10 and 15 is awesome. With two players that talented you could have a really innovative...

I think he means since pre-comp, rather than as the RC went on. Douglas definitely added to his pre-RC reputation.

That's really exciting. If Lilo can really kick on, and if Beale gets that top end pace back, I still think you're better off with him at 15. He's a very good 10 but a really wonderful fullback.

This is a really disappointing outcome from a good thread.

Maybe Sharpe only stayed because Deans managed him well. Obviously he had something to do with it, so perhaps he gets a tiny side of credit with his sirloin of criticism (Edit: I don't mean criticism just from you Charger, more generally).