'It's time we grew up': The jarring hypocrisy that proves All Blacks are getting key call all wrong

No I don't see any issue because prior to that successful NPC win by Taranaki, Jacomb wasn't really being tracked, by any SR coach last Oct-Nov. Every coach had already chosen and signed their No10 players by December and waited, until all positions had been filled, before announcing their respective squads. Team selections are no different whether its club, provincial, super rugby or test team selections - players miss out at the initial call but, through injury to others, they gain a late selection. Cruelly, it doesn't help either if you're part of a winning combination - Jacomb was virtually an unknown youngster playing in club rugby 2 years ago and got his first big shot, in last year's NPC. Now, through unfortunate circumstances for Trask, Jacomb gets another tilt at SR and will no doubt, have to go out and prove his worth when D-Mac and Ioane, get rested from games. I wish him well and all the best - he's 22yrs old and he can only improve with every opportunity - time is on his side.

The big difference is these players broke through into SR and set the place on fire. Vaii looked like he would be like BR in 2020 when he was pick the year after his u20s season but will only get his shot now the others have left. RM - u20s 2014, Saders 2016, ABs 2017 (he did have DC in the way) he also had WC winning 10s ahead of him. Last years NZ u20 10 was drooped because he was so poor. Starting 10s last round, Perofeta 27, DMac 28, Miller 21 (only in due to 30 year old Patchel being out), Lealifano 36, Hohepa. This is replicated most positions. Kemara dropped for the second week running won't be great for him either.

So you see no issue where a NPC winning 10 isn't picked up by any SR side and only gets a shot due to injury but are happy to bring in OS 10s who start for the team. As I said to Jacko. Average age of u20s is about 2 WC cycles behind the senior side. DuPont played in the u20s in 2016 along with Jordie Barrett and Strange (only now is the running for a call up). Shaun Stevenson another from that group. Everything is great I guess until its not. Of the 23 for the WC final that starting 15 were u20 around 2013/14 and the replacements 2014/2015. 9/23 had been under 20 10+ years ago with only 2 players making the 23 who played u20s since they last won in 2017 which were Williams and DeGroot. Lomax (2016) played u20s for Oz and Frizel (2014) played for Tonga. Smith and Whitelock were at the first u20s in 2008. In 2023 Williams was the only one to have played u20s in the previous 5 years but in 2015 with a much stronger squad Brodie, Beauden and Cane had all played u20s in the previous 5 years, in 2011 it was 4. Maybe Foster just wasn't pick young players or they just aren't there.

Yeah if Sam Cane doesn’t get a red NZ win.

Yes Laumape decided NZR didnt offer him enough so signed somewhere....No idea where he is......and then decided to whinge to social media that he cant be selected from OS. Something he was 100% aware of before he signed. Where Is he? Good question. Div 3 club rugby maybe? Canes money went to another Canes player and NZR top up money went to another AB possability. Maybe even another Canes player. They are producing some real talent.

Trask is injured (could be a season ending injury) and Jacomb was enlisted as his injury replacement. Jacomb actually missed SR selection and was only called upon, when Trask went down. Kemara was enlisted in the Saders academy but then injuries forced Rob Penney to start him. When the Chiefs sealed their No10 selections with D-Mac, Ioane and Trask, both Kemara and Reihana (both Chiefs school-boys) were signed by Saders Academy along with Noah Holtham (another Chiefs school-boy). Holtham has already played some SR matches because of the Saders horrific injury run. Young players are not finding it hard to get game time so, you are trying to light a fire where none exists. They are spending their time in the academy learning the systems and strategies of their new SR franchise. In time, they will be called upon to play but, there is no rush during this development phase. Also, game-time will be minimal if your chosen position is currently occupied, by an incumbent AB. As Jacko mentioned previously - if you want to compare national structures between France and NZ, then simply go to the competition that matters which structures are showing results i.e. RWC. For as long as France has been improving, when it comes to the comp that matters, France has been having a tough old time trying to walk away, with the meat-pies.

We were weak at lock when Thorn and Williams retired but Brodie who nobody had heard of came through. We were weak at 10 when Cruden left but Mo'unga who nobody had heard of came through. The sky isn't falling down.

Look at the players who replaced them compared to what replaces them now. Rumour (that's all it is for now) that Sam Whitelock might be coming back to NZ and be an AB. The fact he was still so important to NZ at the 23 WC says the lack of depth (perceived anyway) in the locks. The fact Scott ahed 30 is the only lock between Vaii 24 and BR 32 of test standard has to be a worry.

Canes only have a budget of $5m and have no say over top ups from NZR. Laumape was clear to lay the blame at NZR not the Canes. Where did Laumapes money go, most likely not the Canes replacement for Laumape but to another player at another team.

What is "in" New Zealand. SBW had to play a game physically in NPC (even had to bring his contract forward 1 year) before he could be selected for the ABs after his NRL stint. Charles was in NZ and he and the club both want the year extension but NZR refused and deemed him as not playing in NZ as he had an OS contract. Matt Todd was pick to in an AB squad in 2018 while playing J1 between the 2018 and 2019 season. Karl Tuinukuafe was picked in 2022 even though he left during the test window to join Montpellier. Patrick T then was selected even though he had been in Japan. Leicester picked for the WC even though he had an OS contract. Leicester may play for his country of birth in 2026 or 2027 but he had different rules to Charles as what was "in" NZ. Shannon is the next test as will he be considered in NZ if he signs a SR contract that starts in 2025.

Does that not lead to the haves and the have nots. If ABs play less SR then its harder to compare SR players to them. I assume Christie will get more rest than the other 9s due to appearances so he is better rested at the end of the season. It does seem to work for now so I suppose why change it back to SR12 times.

When was the last time there were changes in the underage system from schools to SRP. For most of the European Nations they have made changes over the last 20 years to improve their system. Italy and Georgia have seen the best results but Scotland are heading the other way. SH had much better system in the early years of professionalism. How many u20s forwards are stating NPC games out of curiosity.

Munster could but not sure they would. They would need two teams to be able to more or less sell out. They then run the risk of having a bad start to the season and missing out on Champions Cup which would be atleast €1m just disappeared overnight. It would be a massive risk and for what, it would be played late August when all the Sader players are off in the NPC so may not even be allowed to play.

No Brendan its not about the ABs going overseas. If an AB goes overseas he is not an AB anymore so then a new AB is selected from NZ and the fans of that franchise then go and support thier new AB. Selecting players from OS means the ABs arnt in the SR comp and thats unacceptable. NZ has proof this works.

I dont care what you rate Mounga or what you rate Dmac. I have my opinion and the reality is that the stats back me up. Simply put with Mounga in the team the Abs performances have dropped. That can be a million things but also put very simply he was one or more of those million things. Dmac will now get his chance and you will hate that but I will love it. There are many who look at Mounga exactely the same way I do. Just because you dont, doesnt mean them and I arnt correct. Quite simply with Mounga in the ABs its been an unsuccessful time for the ABs. That says it ALL.

Brendan Laumape valued himself higher than NZR and the Canes valued him. He was nothing special. Good but never a great. NZR does its job perfectly. If he stays NZR pay what they believe he is worth and if he goes NZR pay someone else that coin.

The Leister Fainganukus of this world arnt a common thing in NZ rugby. Over the last 10 years we have lost LF and Piatau. Wingers who are pretty easy to replace. LF made a choice for him. I have no probs with that, but like Piatau he now fades into insignificance and is a 10 test AB if that. Nene Milner-Scudder took what many thought would have been Piataus spot in 2015. He scored a try in a winning WC final. He is a legend in NZ forever. Piatau who?

Brendan at this point the U20 results arnt doing much at all for the National sides success or no success. NZ hasnt won for years but still played the final and France have won the past 3 and got beaten in a 1/4. The other thing around the U20 WCs is that they are played infrequently. EG. They got played every year thru to Covid and only 1 since. Lastly you need to be careful around U20 player quality. Many U20 players are playing a very different game to the Seniors and that shows on the body types playing at U20 level. You mention a need for an U20s guy to replace the stars like A Smith but Smith has just finished a 12 year test Career. He won a U20 WC in 2008 before starting his test career in 2012. Since he debuted for the ABs there has been 9 or 10 U20WCs. You dont need to win U20 WCs to have world class players in every position and with 2 9s minimum per U20 squad thats probably 16 or so U20s that were never good enough to put Smith out of his job. Then along comes a Riogard at exactely the right time and he, along with Fakatava and Ratima plus a very young Hothem, are going to do the kob in the near future and for some 10 years to come. If another A Smith comes along he will push the incumbant.

Which is exactly why NZR and RA need to get involved with Japan on an Asia-Pacific comp that mirrors the Champions Cup, best of SR vs the best of L1.

Playing contracts are written for seasons of representation Brendan. If a player (presuming you refer to Cody Taylor) is not playing, he will still get paid because his contract states he's entitled, to get paid. Most if not all employment contracts throughout NZ, contain similar options - it's nothing new. And surely, Munster could send their team to NZ before the NH season kicks-off and being near the end of an SH season, similar to how the Saders toured ??