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Bayonne got relegated though, so there may be issues re: D2 wages and such. According to others, no chance of coming home, loves the South of France and has legitimate business interests there as well now. I've not gone out of my way to watch Bayonne games though, so I can't confirm form beyond...

Probably close to the best 23 despite not necessarily being the best 15. Probably missing Speight and Foley, along with whichever lock people prefer and Palu or McCalman over one of the flankers if people don't like Higgers or two opensides.

Hope shit is worked out for the Japanese side. Kriel was always going to re-sign with the Chiefs, but they need to get most of the others back IMO. The Japanese national side plus 6-8 foriegners would make them competitive, but with no news it is ominous.

That looks like more or less the best forward pack, just the 7 & 8 with questions over it. 13-15 more or less the best, 9-12 more unsure of. Bench will be interesting.

Yeah, but there's a buttload of players you could say the same for. In particular, both Dennis and Mumm. But McMahon, Higgers, McCalman, Phipps, White, Lilo, Speight etc. Haven't replicated their Super form at international level. To single out Jones is more than a bit unfair. Anyway, moot...

They won't play NI players out of respect to the IRFU, but otherwise the Great Britain team can select players from anywhere in Great Britain, England just gets to be the managing Union.

He was the form lock. Skelton the only real contender for that title. Mumm and Dennis both selected in the same capacity with lower levels of class and form. Anyway, so long as Douglas doesn't get selected, I'm happy with whatever Locks Chieka picks for the World Cup.

Regardless, we do need about 3 more players across that lock/6/8 area for next season. If 1 or 2 of them is best 23 material, it means we don't have to rely on Jeffries or Cummins standing up to be as or more competitive than last year, and if they still do, all the better, competition for...

Good manager for winning. Not so much for attractive rugby.

Ha. On a vaguely related note, did anything come of Northcotes interest in promotion?

Maybe Weeks can fill the gap between Kepu and Holmes before PAE comes back and Ala'alatoa is up to scratch, assuming those scenarios eventuate. Who knoes though. A question for post world cup.

That is the greatest thing I've ever seen. It needs to be played during every ad break during an All Blacks game from now till the end of time.

French Qualified, Spanish into the Final Qualifying tournament, European Repechage as above for final 3 places into the Qualifying Tournament.

$$$$$$$$$$

Whut? Everybody is entitled to play an A side or a Barbarians side, or even 3rd string sides. A lot just choose not to because of the expense involved. The Irish for example have both an A Squad (Wolfhounds) and a 3rd string side (Emerging Ireland). Emerging Ireland played in June against...

Maybe the Reds could release Simmons to Leinster in exchange. Or Neville and $100k.

The likelihood is that Mumm will go unless Arnold tears it up at international level. And selecting a 6 who can play lock is particularly pertinent given Chieka will be selecting a backrow with 2 players who prefer 7 at international level and 3 players that prefer 8, or vice versa.

Final leg of automatic European qualification occurs this weekend. France have more or less secured the qualification spot already, having won the Moscow and Lyon legs, looking to get a clean sweep in Exeter. Spain are well placed to claim the World Repechage spot, with 34 points to closest...

John Ulugia is the starting hooker for Clermont ATM. Think he's normally 2nd string but the first stringer was injured for a long period.

Everybody seems to be struggling with Locks and Scrum halfs. Everybody seems to need one or both.