There is certainly merit in these games during the window when our Wallabies players aren't available (i.e. Nov/Dec), but as a full strength pre season fixture the Reds would have been better off having a game against the Force rather than travel to Winterfell to play a club B team.
I disagree - going away on tour where you're spending day and night with your extended squad has intangible benefits that are difficult to measure.
With so many new joiners over the last 6 months, I can imagine touring and spending 2-3 weeks as a larger squad helps dramatically bring cohesion to the group compared to turning up to training then going back to your house. On tour you go sight-seeing, play golf and enjoy the company of each other.
For the younger squad members, I can see being surrounded by the first and last named Wallaby captains along with Fraser can help set the bar on what is expected of you outside of a training environment.
Depending on how the weather goes, it can also help improve resiliency. Nothing helps give you a grounding point than freezing, wet and shit conditions that's found in the UK. Compared the the dry tracks we have here.
