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Not enough Brumbies, 3 Tahs and Kurtley.

That old chestnut. Gets wheeled out prior to the first test every year. I don't think this is the same squad we will be playing the ABs with.

No I meant the chairman of the NZRU. I actually really didn’t expect much this time TBH, the last one was farcical (Eddie’s one).

Has he done that?

Wouldn’t their names being announced be the actual naming? Edit - ok, I see what you are saying. I don’t think they wanted a ticker tape parade for this squad, it’s all out there and he has covered the controversial picks subsequently.

I like this idea as well. I assume you are suggesting to make it 20 rounds plus finals? Getting the Saffers on board could be harder but as you say it solves one of their main issues.

Which wasn't really by choice. I don't want to go into that, but players miss whole seasons through injury and then get selected. At least he was in training the whole time.

How so? Kurtley has 95 test caps, Jock has 4. I think on that criteria alone he wouldn't even qualify as a dirt tracker. I'll be surprised if he is in the match day 23 but he played some pretty solid games for the Force so I'm not surprised to see him in the squad.

They'll be about to embark on the EOYT, the squad will be smaller and you'd think places filled with a number of offshore players, as well as retiring ones. Your point is valid, but even in the case of the Reds who have 13/36 players picked, they would have academy players they want to bring...

Every team gets a bye currently, 11 teams negates the need to schedule them, and also possibly the stupid mandatory rest protocol for test players. Edit: I just realized my own error in that it would only solve those problems if they actually played each other twice. Which has led me to think...

They would care less about that one for sure, but if you're a rugby player then playing for your country would be pretty high on the agenda. Like all jobs you make do with the best available offer until you can negotiate something better, the other franchises would offer them something if they...

I'd say a lot of it is the Rebels players giving the bird to RA, which is entirely understandable. OTOH they clearly don't give a fuck about wearing the gold jersey so let them go. Alternatively they think they're that good that they'll be picked from overseas, let them go in that case too.

Wright and Kellaway are locked in for 2 of the back 3 positions you would think. The third one could be any of Pietsch, Daugunu, Lancaster or Beale. I could see a world where Beale is 14 and Kellaway is 11, with Wright at 15 but that could be a bit fullback heavy. I think it will be Pietsch...

Good point - Qld. I didn't think twice when I put him there but if Tupou is NZ then he should be England.

Not sure if anyone has done this but the franchise breakdown is interesting: Reds - 13 Brumbies - 9 Rebels - 8 Force - 5 Waratahs - 3 From an origin perspective: Qld - 17* NSW - 16 Vic - 3 NZ - 2 *I gave Harry Wilson to Qld

I think it's pertinent to compare the likely starting 23 with that of the RWC if you want to compare squads. The other 15 players in the squad are there so he can have a look at them and work out what gaps he needs to fill from offshore/injured players between now and the Lions tour

I'm a bit confused about how they have decided which club to use. Lolesio and Ikitau are both Queenslanders but they have listed the Vikings as their club, whereas Wilson is as Queensland as they come but they have his club as Gunnedah - I know that's technically correct but there doesn't seem...

Given the number of centres in the squad I think Daugunu is in there as a wing option.

I think he’d be ok in a support role, he’s clearly looking for a career in coaching, has ticked a few boxes at club level, and he’s a home grown Tah. Certainly wouldn’t want him to be HC yet though.

Do you mean he's on holidays or he's moved back? He could only get selected if he signs with a Super franchise I'd say.