That story about Ireland should be seen by everyone as a huge blinking warning light. On the one hand you can look at their explanation and say it is understandable, but if that is the true story is says that international rugby is unsustainable in its current guise. It says that even the biggest event in the world, the gameās cash cow, cannot generate enough money to cover the costs of the teams competing in it.
Professionalism has been good in lots of ways, but it seems they have professionalized beyond the point the game can pay for.
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Caught the last 15 of Ireland vs Australia. Looked a great game.
I must dial into mire Australian rugby. The commentary is hillariously awesome.
Yeah, it was startling. Well-attended, and for Ireland not an expensive place in travel terms, the RWC should be funding most of the federations. If it isnāt, there is a massive problem.
Similar story, but worse in the significant dimension of the upper tiers lining their own pockets while the game slides into crisis. The pro club game has been in crisis, but England seemed solid. Now about 40 million less solid.
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Discussing stuff at work with regards to Welsh rugby and one person was of the opinion to simply scrap the regions and return to club rugby. Dragons lost again last night. When do you just admit it isnāt working?
Not sure myself but iām also thinking that Argentina has been producing steadily improving sides over the last few years without their clubs being in any major competition. They accept their best players play elsewhere.
But the issue is also one of exposure. Kids today do not get the same exposure to the game.
And still we wait for the WRU reviewā¦
I was meant to be going to the Northampton v Castres game today. Trains are fucked. Not ideal but because Iām not on a train Iāll be able to watch the Liverpool game. Oh wait.
First Saturday Iāve had off all year. Fucking shit this.
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Canada is free of Kingsley Jones.
I think it is the right step, but he wasnāt the fundamental problem
Yeah, youāve mentioned the issues previously, but this video suggests he was a very big chunk of the problem. Itās pretty bad when your best players refuse to play for you. Not sure iāve ever seen a dismantling like this before
I donāt think the top players were refusing to play just because of Kingsley Jones. Rugby Canada has had real internal troubles for years. Our Womenās 7s were one of the best in the world, and the program has completely collapsed due to an internal dispute.
However, I am not much of a student of the game, and I found Canadaās attack in particular very predictable, while the defence was very static. Both of those point to what the coach is trying to do.
6 nations started.
Not too great but not awful either.
Always a joy to watch one of the best players ever
Wales unfortunate to draw France to start, because this French side now seems firmly aware that despite the world seeing them as one of the elite teams of the era, one 6N title is not a great deal of accomplishment.
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How far back are you defining āthe eraā? Theyāve had a pretty decent Ireland team to get past for the past couple of years!
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I dunno, the Galthie era? Maybe a year before that in 2018? Trying to think when France entered the āwho is the best team in the world?ā conversationā¦and yes, Ireland is a major factor in that relative underperformance versus reputation.
Maybe in the Dupont era they should have won more. But heās 28 so few years still to go. Also some brilliant youngsters coming through.
Canāt see us getting the hattrick this year.
(refuse to call it a three-peat 
)
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Its their development thatās brilliant i agree. Duponte pulling strings but everyone feeding off it and reading it so well.
Wales the complete opposite.
Outside the first 5 minutes I still cant see what Gatland is trying to do. The lack of quality is one thing but tactically with the ball in hand we are equally poor. Heās been in post over 12 months.
Itās a real shame where Wales are at. I know from being there for a bit how much you love your rugby. And the 6N needs a strong Wales
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