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Rugby Union
International Test Matches
June Internationals: New Zealand - France, 2nd test
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<blockquote data-quote="smartcooky" data-source="post: 577718" data-attributes="member: 20605"><p>I don't think it devalues international rugby in an overall sense, but it DOES devalue tour matches, and international rugby played between the the world cups (not including RC and 6N of course) .</p><p></p><p> Before the RWC came along, EVERY nation sent their best possible squad on tour, and put their best possible team on the park for the test matches, while using the midweek matches against provincial/club/county/regional teams for player development. The host nation and their provincial teams would always put the best possible team on the park to meet the visitors.</p><p></p><p>Now, hand on heart, you can't tell me that happens now. Most years, the NH teams that tour South are missing top players. On the rare occasions that there are midweek matches, the home team rarely if ever puts their top team on the park. The Blues team that played France was selected from the wider training squad. For most of them, that was the only game they are likely to play all season. Same applied to the Lions tour; the Aussie Super Rugby teams they play are second. sometimes third string sides. Other examples in recent years have been All Blacks v Munster, Australia v Ospreys and South Africa v Leicester Tigers.</p><p></p><p>All of this is because all the nations are building and planning for the next Rugby World Cup!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="smartcooky, post: 577718, member: 20605"] I don't think it devalues international rugby in an overall sense, but it DOES devalue tour matches, and international rugby played between the the world cups (not including RC and 6N of course) . Before the RWC came along, EVERY nation sent their best possible squad on tour, and put their best possible team on the park for the test matches, while using the midweek matches against provincial/club/county/regional teams for player development. The host nation and their provincial teams would always put the best possible team on the park to meet the visitors. Now, hand on heart, you can't tell me that happens now. Most years, the NH teams that tour South are missing top players. On the rare occasions that there are midweek matches, the home team rarely if ever puts their top team on the park. The Blues team that played France was selected from the wider training squad. For most of them, that was the only game they are likely to play all season. Same applied to the Lions tour; the Aussie Super Rugby teams they play are second. sometimes third string sides. Other examples in recent years have been All Blacks v Munster, Australia v Ospreys and South Africa v Leicester Tigers. All of this is because all the nations are building and planning for the next Rugby World Cup! [/QUOTE]
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International Test Matches
June Internationals: New Zealand - France, 2nd test
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