So what do we see from the NH?
Scotland may be their best ever (according to Dave), but that means little as they're still not troubling any of the top 4. Mildly competitive at best.
France looks to have found consistency and should send their strongest side to NZ and they may score a series win.
Ireland seems to be sliding off the peak at a rapid rate.
England is looking solid and competent, but can they take another step up?
Wales nowhere.
Italy still mostly whipping boys.
"England is looking solid and competent, but can they take another step up?"
It for sure looks like they can.
They started looking good in NZ and, for me, they look to be getting better.
It was a couple of moments that saw them not win the 6N this year. I like their pack. They have some great carriers, big hitters and are very organised in how they compete for the ball.
I hope NZ knock the living piss out of France.
https://www.thepress.co.nz/sport/360614848/how-frances-top-14-final-could-decimate-touring-squad-face-all-blacks
ANALYSIS: It is common knowledge that France will send a weakened squad to New Zealand for three tests against the All Blacks in July, but it is probably not yet appreciated just how much weaker the French could be.
Les Bleus coach Fabien Galthie signalled as far back as last June that he wouldn’t be taking a full-strength squad, with media reports at the time suggesting that he would wrap a group of 20 top players in laine de coton - cotton wool.
The timing of that pronouncement probably caught New Zealand Rugby more by surprise than the substance, with the French following a similar policy for their most recent south hemisphere tours, to Australia and Argentina.
However, that original report could actually turn out to be a best-case scenario, given further French details on the strategy and, most importantly, the state of play in the Top 14 competition in France.
The Top 14 final is due to take place on June 28 in Paris, local time, just one week before the All Blacks play France in Dunedin.
If, as is possible, the final is between Toulouse and Bordeaux, it would decimate Les Bleus’ touring squad, because the French have already indicated that no one who plays in the Top 14 final will go to New Zealand.
To put it into context, that would mean that not one backline player who played in the demolition of Ireland in Dublin last weekend will face the All Blacks in July - and that includes replacement halfback Maxime Lucu.
It would also rule out the possibility of All Blacks fans getting to watch the brilliant Louis Bielle-Biarrey, the Bordeaux winger who is arguably the most exciting outside back in world rugby at present.
Neither Bielle-Biarrey nor Lucu were named in Galthie’s initial protected list of 20 players, but they still are unlikely to tour if their Bordeaux side advances to the decider.
At present, the French national side is dominated by players from Bordeaux and Toulouse.
Aside from the entire Toulouse-Bordeaux backline in Dublin last weekend, a further eight Toulouse forwards were part of the matchday 23
Unsurprisingly, Toulouse and Bordeaux are on track to contest the Top 14 final - as they did last year - with the clubs currently sitting at No 1 and No 2 in the Top 14 standings.
There is nothing to say that France still won’t be able to send a decent squad.
Judging by the squad they sent to Argentina last year, Galthie did select some (but not all) test players from the beaten Top 14 semifinalists.
The fact they drew the series 1-1 with Los Pumas also strengthens the argument that French depth is so impressive at the moment they can justify resting their top-liners.
But no one should be under any illusions that the French are simply prioritising their domestic competition in July, betting (probably safely) that World Rugby lacks the stomach for a fight against one of the game’s two biggest rugby economies.
Super Rugby Pacific finishes two weeks before the first All Blacks-France test in Dunedin, and even that window provides Scott Robertson and his coaches with a limited amount of preparation time.
But the later finish of the Top 14 season is why the French will be so undermanned in New Zealand. One week makes all the difference, especially when you have to travel to the other side of the world to take on a hungry All Blacks side.
All the better. Let them send a weakened squad and get 150 points put on them in 3 games.
Congrats Les Bleus, they deserve the win….looking the strongest, besides England.
But the big question will be how they fare vs SH teams?? One thing the last WC showed us is that the NH still lack the hard edge to beat the Boks or the AB, when it really matters…
There coach who already looks visually impaired, should stop making excuses and send the strongest possible French squad to New Zealand.
The 6 nations Comp means sweet blow all, if they they can’t beat the big SH boys….
So give it your best shot brilletjies…
All the better. Let them send a weakened squad and get 150 points put on them in 3 games.
I would have preferred a proper contest but yes, if they send a weak squad I hope they get humiliated.
Italy may not have gotten many results, but they've scored some of the best tries of the tournament.
Italy is improving and coming to SA will be good for them also.
They play a exiting Brand of Rugby.
Why the stupid fucks sending a weakened squad - these contests don’t come around too often
There is too much of this watering down of sides both at club/provincial and test level - it needs to be stamped out or priorities need to be adjusted if too much rugby is the excuse
No doubt the French squad is being weakened by clubs dictating they want their players playing for them - this too needs to be stamped out. Clubs should never be allowed to dictate to national set ups regardless if clubs pay the salaries. If a club chooses to sign a test player or a player within the club becomes a test player then hard luck
Agree Dave.
Well, we nearly did it ! Just proven what we already knew…you can’t rely on the Scots ! ;)
England did better…just a bit of restructure.
Finn Smith brings reliability to the 10 which suits the general playmaker skills of England….And Marcus can focus more on his X Factor @ 15??
We improved but the balance of the team is still wrong.
Fin at 10 is a good fit, I think. Marcus is an odd one. I’m not sure where to fit him in,
Yes Dave I agree, damn irritating. This was looking to be one of the high points of the year. Rugby is really becoming so artificial. The reffing is about where tennis was before camera line calls.
And if I see that tit who reffed the Italian match making a TV box in the air one more time I might puke. And how the hell did that flying head butt from Mauvaka not get a red. He got off because there wasn’t a high degree of danger because he missed! FFS that is embarrassing.
They ref outcomes not intent….but it’s intent that has to change
We need less not more games, better contests and way less ref nannying.
Agreed Moz - we can’t have clubs dictating to national sides and we need club sides getting their priorities right when it comes to the different competitions they play in.
At least our provincial sides do not prevent players from representing the Boks but unfortunately that does apply to our players playing abroad
Lol not a chance in I'd be playing Finn ahead of Smith at 10.
Every time Smith plays at 10 he immediately sets about making things happen. If the team don't capitalise, it's not his fault. Unless he is supposed to make chances, score and then convert them.
What I do know is that Sacha and Smith are very similar players and we hate the idea of Sacha playing anywhere other than 10. As good and reliable as Pollard is...imagine Rassie playing Sacha at 15. We'd be livid.
England need to realise what they have on their hands and do whatever is necessary to get the best out of Smith. He needs to have the ball as often as possible.
All I know is that every time I have watched Smith at 10 recently, he has easily been the best player on the field. Why change that!!!???
Spot on Plum, Borthwick is an idiot for effectively discarding one of rugby’s best attacking minds at 10
Its rugby conservatism of the highest order - I expect nothing less from Borthwick
Seems like many people in England thinks that Marcus is just a showpony. Guess there's still a demographic that struggles to get past how a player looks, like our lot was with Percy.
Finn Smith is doing something right because as soon as he started at Pivot, ENG started winning games….
I think France were the most dominant team in the comp. However, bit of a stalemate as France, Ireland and England were all in the running to win. Considering that they each only lost one game. Unless you win all 5, you not really a champ and have to make do with bonus points. Everybody is going on about Irelands demise. They lost one game to France and got blown off the park and a very poor game against Italy. The dropped some games last year but they are far from over. Plus, they didn't have Ferrel coaching them. They had a new 10 still finding his feet.
The final round was really boring for me. I don't know why they couldn't make the France Ireland the final game of the comp. Instead, we saw the plucky Scotts play well at the beginning, only to fade.
What the 6 nations need is promotion and relegation. They have Romania, Georgia and even Portugal, but is all down to the old boys that keep their stake. Wales should be booted to the moon. What they have done to their rugby is a disgrace. How many games since their last win and it doesn't look like getting better.
It should be relegation for them. The 6 nations can have an A and B league which makes it so much easier. But to be honest, the smaller teams simply can't compete these days.
I was hoping Scotland would do better but they are struggling to put a decent forward pack together.
France copied the boks perfectly. Will be interesting to see what Rassie does. He might be a few moves ahead.
Fair comment about Ireland, I won't write them off but it does appear that the gap has closed. They weren't too convincing against Wales either and England also gave them a run. We'll see.
Farrell not being there as the coach was a huge mistake and clearly a poor call to let him concentrate on the Lions instead of coaching his team.
Ireland don’t have the depth we have and missing one of the best tightheads in the game in Furlong was big for them - Bealham is a poor man’s tighthead
The loss of Sexton pulling the strings was also evident. Crowley seemed to be the answer last year but for some unknown reason he was ditched as the pivot and the job was given to a kid who seems to have a gun with only one barrel loaded