Oli Mathis headlines NZ U20's starting side to take on Georgia in Italy

Yes, I edited my message to correct information that I missed. And…? I should’ve left that incorrect?

France is giving the leftovers to SA and NZ…?

France hasn’t got the same domestic league, nor the same calendar, and especially not the same business model. It does not revolve around the national team.

So if you prioritize the national team, then invite countries who fit your need! Why never inviting Scotland for instance, the 5th nation 2 years ago? Isn’t it

Or sending a B/C team to play Fiji? Or playing in the USA for money? Isn’t that disrespecful, isn’t that sending the leftovers? Isn’t that a betrayal of the spirit?

NZ can send a development team to France, that’s not a problem! I bet the stadium will be full, happy to welcome the All Blacks and cheer for the legendary haka.

One simple solution would be swapping and alternating every year the tours, when France arrives at the end of the ABs season in NZ with its strongest squad. But as for now, not one Bishop’s supporter has even tackled the idea.

All in all, that went really far. There are way more pressing matters in the world than games of rugby and who plays them.

It's nice to see what you and AlanP are finally admitting what is real, that France puts all its focus on its own domestic interests and gives Southern hemisphere rugby the leftovers. You finally admit that the way French Rugby is structured France's strongest squad, its 6N squad, will not play in the southern hemisphere. That is exactly what Bishop’s article is about, that the French rugby's claim that the leading French players have "played too much" to tour NZ is a fraud designed to explain away the fact this is purely a development tour for France, and therefore a betrayal of the spirit, if not the letter, of the international tours agreement. Someone really should let Bishop know his most extreme critics are finally admitting he is right. He will be very pleased.

It's worth emphasizing just how isolated France is in this. Every 6N team manages their players in a way that they allows them to tour the Southern Hemisphere with the strongest squad they have. Except France. Every 6N team, England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, even Italy, live up to the spirit as well as the letter of the tours agreement. Except France. Ireland have delivered massively over the three years, winning three tests and narrowly losing two in their five tests in NZ and SA. Those were genuinely great series. Even the England series in NZ last year was excellent, crude but close with the English pouring everything into getting a win. The contrast between the efforts made by Ireland and England as against France is extreme. France instead sits back in its splendid isolation, sends NZ its third best, and lies that it is the best it can do. You have to wonder what Blanco and Sella and Berbizier and Rives, the greats of French rugby, men who gave their guts for France, in NZ as much as anywhere, think of French rugby's contempt for NZ rugby. And of the barrage of lies that have accompanied it.

It’s just rugby. You’re not a player. You’re just a fan. It won’t change your life.

You are not disrespected because a team of guys you don’t know won’t travel 20 hours to play ball with other guys you don’t know.

The French teams have won the last 5 ECPR cups, coping way better than the others after Covid, and it helps the general health of French rugby, as well as a better national team than during the 2010s. But no, the national team isn’t the priority in France for many other good reasons.

Anyway I hope the Aussies can give them some opposition. So far it looks like the Lions are at half throttle.

Love Owen’s attitude. Sort of like the no compromising attitude of Martin Johnstone. Brilliant!

Jeez it’s getting worse and worse. Beria 27 games, Barlot 28, Auradou 29, Duguid 28, Segonds 32, Tixeront 31, Fischer 30… I’ll stop there.

There is only player in the starting XV who meets the two criteria, and that is Gabin Villiere.