u/Putrid-Impact8999

Sorry for the clickbait headline, I wanted to get as much interaction as possible.

French fan here, firstly I must say that I really enjoyed the game on the weekend and your team looked awesome for a first game under Rennie. It was a joy seeing the All Black backline look a bit like what I grew up watching and the breakdown physicality was great to watch.

Obviously you would've all seen the alphabet talk of which French side it was and I have been involved in this given I follow the Top 14 a lot. What I didn't recognise was that New Zealand have got this unbelievable depth that is ineligible due to the current selection criteria in place by NZR. Obviously I knew there were many players around the world and I follow the ones in the Top 14 closely but I did not know it was to this extent.

I was told by a passionate fan that the All Blacks were missing 7 players who would definitely make the 23 and a further 13 players who are ineligible who would definitely make the 34 man squad ahead of the current lot. I've also been told that NZ are playing with a C team essentially when the All Blacks are playing, given who cannot be picked.

Here is the breakdown below that was sent to me:

List of players that were injured for this match that are starters or in the 23.

Player
Tupou Vaa'i
Fabian Holland
Patrick Tuipulotu
Leicester Fainga'anuku
Scott Barrett
Tamaiti Williams
Emoni Narawa

List of players that are overseas and ineligible that would make the squad.

Player	Current Club	League
Richie Mo'unga	Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo	Japan League One
Shannon Frizell	Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo	Japan League One
Brodie Retallick	Kobelco Kobe Steelers	Japan League One
Shaun Stevenson	Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay	Japan League One
Sam Cane	Tokyo Sungoliath (Suntory)	Japan League One
Mark Tele'a	Toyota Verblitz	Japan League One
Aaron Smith	Toyota Verblitz	Japan League One
Jamison Gibson-Park	Leinster	URC
Alex Nankivell	Munster	URC
Josh McKay	Glasgow Warriors	URC
Harry Plummer	Clermont	Top 14
Hoskins Sotutu	Newcastle Red Bulls	Premiership
Devan Flanders	..	Japan League One

List of players that are overseas playing in TOP leagues in Europe and Japan, and that are ineligible and wouldn't make the current squad. These are another 30+ overseas that are playing in top clubs and leagues around the world, where some would be pushing for fringe or outer squad spots if eligible, while others were extremely talented future All Blacks that have been taken early and now ineligible.

Player	Current Club	League
Dalton Papalii	Castres Olympique	Top 14
Samipeni Finau	Yokohama Canon Eagles	Japan League One
Pete Samu	Bordeaux-Bègles	Top 14
Bundee Aki	Connacht	URC
Ben Tameifuna	Bordeaux-Bègles	Top 14
Pita Ahki	Toulouse	Top 14
Tawera Kerr-Barlow	Stade Français	Top 14
Sevu Reece	Perpignan	Top 14
Luke Whitelock	Pau	Top 14
Rieko Ioane	Leinster	URC
Riley Higgins	Edinburgh	URC
Blair Murray	Scarlets	URC
Cullen Grace	Scarlets	URC
George Moala	Clermont	Top 14
TJ Perenara	BlackRams Tokyo	Japan League One
Ihaia West	La Rochelle	Top 14
Malakai Fekitoa	Benetton	URC
Steven Luatua	Bristol Bears	Premiership
Pouri Rakete-Stones	Newcastle Red Bulls	Premiership
Fergus Burke	Saracens	Premiership
Charles Piutau	Shizuoka Blue Revs	Japan League One
Seta Tamanivalu	Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo	Japan League One
Solomone Kata	Leicester Tigers	Premiership
Wes Goosen	Edinburgh	URC
Vaea Fifita	Scarlets	URC
Tumua Manu	Pau	Top 14
Quintin Strange	Urayasu D-Rocks	Japan League One
Josh Goodhue	BlackRams Tokyo	Japan League One
Jackson Hemopo	Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars	Japan League One
Jacob Pierce	Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo	Japan League One
Marino Mikaele-Tu'u	Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars	Japan League One
Josh Dickson	Toyota Verblitz	Japan League One
Isaiah Punivai	Tokyo Sungoliath	Japan League One
Vince Aso	Saitama Wild Knights	Japan League One
Lachlan Boshier	Saitama Wild Knights	Japan League One

I have 3 questions for all of you.

1. Is this true? Particularly in terms of the 13 names in the list above.

2a. If NZ were able to select from anywhere would it elevate the level of the team so much given it's currently a C team?

2b. Do you think the All Blacks would have won the last two World Cups if the criteria did not exist? Hypothetical scenario of course.

3. Should all the other nations be scared when/if the eligibility laws are eventually changed?

Would love to know all of your thoughts!

Official squad will be announced after this preparation period which lasts from June 23. Not everyone called will be part of the final group.

No Fickou and the big surprise is Loïs Guérois from Castres. Moses Alo-Emile predictably called.

Lucu will be captain according to reports and Jalibert is in.

Galthié has added some wingers after Arfeuil’s injury. Despérès also got injured against England.

https://www.ffr.fr/actualites/xv-de-france/la-liste-pour-le-nations-championship-2026

With the Nations Championship just round the corner and international matches starting this week, I wanted to start a discussion around the best performing players in this World Cup cycle. I've done a 23 but because there are so many good players around the world, I have also picked a 42 as I wanted to name more and it is the size of squad France work with to prepare for international matches. I have put more focus into what has happened across the last 12 months but I have not forgotten 2024. Also, this is just based on international matches so no club rugby form has been taken into account. Here goes!

1. Ox Nche - So consistent and an ever present for Rassie Erasmus in that front row. Elite scrummager.

2. Malcolm Marx - Won the starting job off Mbonambi and not looked back since. Performer in big games, his displays in the 2nd half of TRC then France and Ireland ensured he won the WPOTY award. Worth noting in 3 out of 5 of those tests, he played around 70 minutes which is a huge effort for a front rower.

3. Thomas du Toit - Amazing at scrum time and another one who has won the starting jersey in his position for South Africa. Versatile enough to play on both sides of the front row and is a huge part of that tight 5 which makes the Springboks so strong. He's not the last South African front rower to make the 23 but more on that later...

4. Eben Etzebeth - Gosh, this is just going to be just South Africans isn't it? No, I promise it isn't and there are plenty of nationalities upcoming. This selection is more to do with this whole cycle than recently as perhaps he has not been at his best last year. I found him particularly outstanding in 2024 and he's just a menace on the park. Whether it's charge downs or hard hits, he's always present in each test he plays. Opponents just need to wear Edgar Davids like glasses to protect themselves against him....

5. Tadgh Beirne - This guy is incredible. I'm sure he's one of Andy Farrell's first names on the teamsheet. I was listening to a podcast and the guy said he looks like the type who is tired in the 2nd minute but actually is still going in the 81st minute. Huge work rate and always pops up with important turnovers, when he plays well the Irish usually win. Massive in the victorious Lions series too.

6. François Cros - There is a noticeable hole when he is not there. Fabien Galthié's most trusted back row player and he's the glue that keeps the French forward pack together. Top performances in big matches, particularly against Ireland in 2025. He reminds me of a quote about a football player called Sergio Busquets. "You watch the game, you don't see Busquets. But if you watch Busquets, you'll see the whole game." I find Cros in the same way, in terms of loose forward play.

7. Pieter-Steph du Toit - Often playing 80 minutes, he is so consistent. An absolute monster and was even able to fill in as starting lock against the All Blacks in 2024. The physicality he brings typifies what the Springboks are all about and he is a leader without having the captaincy.

8. Ardie Savea - An ever present for the All Blacks, he also often plays 80 minutes. Comes up with big moments, most noticeably the jackal turnover against the Springboks late on to keep the Eden Park unbeaten streak alive. Comes up with tries and is a consistent attacking threat as a back rower.

9. Antoine Dupont - I must say I find the way he is judged to be completely different to others. When other 9s have a quiet game, not much is said but when it's him there is a huge overreaction. I believe this is because he has been called the best player in the world for a while. While injury and 7s ensured he hasn't played as much as the previous cycle, he's still shown his class on a consistent basis. Aside from the Scotland match, I find his performances very strong and his creativity is crucial for France. Put in the best display as a 9 in recent years against Italy in Rome last year, some might say well that's against the Italians but I don't see anyone else who has put in as good of a display as that against another tier 1 nation in his position. He has a unique talent where he can do special things even when he is behind a forward pack that is going backwards.

10. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu - A huge talent and someone who was trusted to start TRC in 2024 at 10 at such a young age. Such a threat and is a complete player already with his kicking game. His 37 point showing against Argentina was the best performance by a 10 in recent years. Able to go to 15 as well in matches if things aren't going quite as planned, which is where he scored that icing on the cake try against France last year.

11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey - Outstanding, his displays have been breathtaking. Not just his pace but his overall game has become fantastic and he is still only 23. Setting records all the time, his try scoring ratio is insane. He put in 2 displays which were both the best by a winger in recent years and I find it hard to split them. Against Ireland last year and England this year. His only below average display in the last 16 months at test level was against South Africa where he had a pass to Damian Penaud which was behind him early in the second half down the left after a break and then got a yellow card for a hand out intercept. It should've never got to that stage though as RG Snyman clearly double banked behind Ruan Nortjé to prevent access to the jumper from the lineout earlier.....

12. Santiago Chocobares - The first Argentinian in the 23 and not the last. Rock solid in that midfield and particularly strong in wins against South Africa in 2024 as well as both wins against the All Blacks in this World Cup cycle. I find he always gets over the advantage line when he carries, is great defensively and part of a backline which is awesome to watch, particularly in the way they attack off scrums. He is a crucial part of that with his skillset and intelligence.

13. Tommaso Menoncello - An elite attacking threat, he has really announced his arrival on the international stage with very strong performances for a nation that is ranked 10th. Often plays every minute and he has the ability to make a difference with a special moment in a match. Incredible against England this year and if you switch off on him he will score even from deep, as evidenced by his tries in the aforementioned test and against France last year.

14. Cheslin Kolbe - Despite his age, he's still an undisputed starter in that Springbok back 3. Very intelligent and nimble, his ability in the air is also important as the game has turned that way with the new escort law. Comes up with key moments in huge test matches, none more so than the goodnight nurse intercept from Billy Proctor's pass in Wellington last year. A complete player, just don't have him drop kicking prior to the in goal drop out..............

15. Thomas Ramos - Firstly, his clutch goal kicking must be mentioned. Secured two very important wins against England with his work off the tee. However, just talking about that would do him a disservice. He is a crucial part of the French attack, being a secondary playmaker from 15 or even as the primary one at 10 where he slotted in during November 2024 in important victories over the All Blacks and Argentina after a poor 6N for the entire team in general. He is also fantastic at initiating counter attacks. Brings an added sense of security to the backfield and interestingly, France have won every single test match when he has started at 10.

16. Dan Sheehan - The try scoring hooker is the first member of my bench. Consistent in his performances, much like everyone I've picked. Undisputed starter for Andy Farrell, his work around the entire park makes him irreplaceable. Probably could work on his cleanout technique..

17. Jean-Baptiste Gros - Has the activity of a back rower, he has won the starting job for France after the 2024 Argentina tour with Cyrill Baille's struggles after injury. Although he's part of a scrum that can struggle, he is very rarely the one penalised.

18. Wilco Louw - What a player to come off the bench, having du Toit start then this man to come on at scrum time is a cheat code. If he's not winning scrum penalties, he's pushing opponents off their own ball and is an integral part of why South Africa's bench is so effective.

19. RG Snyman - For me, he's been the best impact player in the world in test matches. When he comes on, he changes the dynamic with his physicality, carrying and offloading. He doesn't start often but doesn't need to make a difference, although he's capable of playing many minutes like when he came on in the first 10 minutes against New Zealand last year in Wellington.

20. Charles Ollivon - Come back from injury again and reminded everyone that he's still world class. He's an attack minded and skillful forward who has great hands as a blindside flanker. However he's shown his versatility to play as a lock this year in the 6N and will cover 4/7/8 on my bench. He's actually won MOTM in two tests outside of his natural position when he was at 8 against Argentina in November 2024 and last year against Fiji when he was at 4.

21. Pablo Matera - One of Felipe Contepomi's trusted men, the centurion is always there to carry and tackle hard. Like Chocobares, he's immense in those wins against the top two ranked nations in the world and when he comes off the bench he's a difference maker like against Scotland last year. Showed off his complete skillset with a kick assist against Wales last year which was special.

22. Jamison Gibson-Park - Always present for Ireland and the tempo setter of everything they do. Instrumental in their 2024 6N tournament win and when he's not there, the level of the Irish team drops significantly in my opinion. Had the second best performance as a 9 in recent years against England this year where the English couldn't get anywhere near him as he put in a wonderful and complete display.

23. Damian Willemse - Able to cover so many positions in the backline and without a drop in performance as well. His display starting at 12 then moving to 15 against the All Blacks in Wellington was incredible and since then he's gone from strength to strength. Incredibly reliable under the high ball and like Ramos, brings composure to the rest of the team when he's on the field.

Ethan de Groot - With Tamaiti Williams not getting consistency with injuries, he has been an ever present for New Zealand. Strong at scrum time and does his work around the park well.

Julián Montoya - The Argentina captain sometimes plays the full game, which is practically unheard of at international level these days as a hooker. A leader and also comes up with game changing moments, like against Australia charging down Tane Edmed to score.

Tyrel Lomax - Right up there with the best in the world when healthy, unfortunately he wasn't so much last year but was great in 2024. The All Black scrum is at a different level when he's in form.

Will Stuart - Big reason why the Pom squad did well and also was solid off the bench in the Lions series. Very rare to say he had a bad game.

Maro Itoje - Some might look at his 6N matches this year and refute this selection but prior to that he was extremely good. An absolute menace like Etzebeth. Always there for England and has taken over the captaincy.

Tupou Vaa'i - While Eddie Jones said he does his best work after the whistle, he also does some great work on it. Another menace, he is great at stealing opposition lineout ball with his explosive jumping ability. Injury took him out of the end of year tour last year and he was missed. Also did well at blindside in the French series where he scored in both tests he played, with the one in the second test being the best or second best team try in recent years. That one or Leroy Carter's against South Africa in Wellington.

Ruan Nortjé - Elite at lineout time and another Springbok forward who is so reliable, you can guarantee that he will be in the 23 in a big test for Rassie if he's healthy.

Siya Kolisi - Some doubted whether he'd be phased out as the next World Cup approaches but that doesn't look to be the case. Even though he rarely plays the full game, he's a key part of how good the Springboks are.

Caelen Doris - Another one who is always there for Ireland, leading by example. Injury robbed him from the Lions tour but has come back to show why he was the favourite to captain them in Australia.

Jasper Wiese - The definition of a true number 8, his return to the Springboks after his suspension changed their season. An absolute unit, he completes the South African third line perfectly.

Cobus Reinach - A fiery and competitive character who is usually involved in the squad for Rassie even if he doesn't start. Won the 9 jersey last year in the second half of TRC and kept it ever since. Scorer of the best individual try by a 9 in recent years, a superb solo effort against France last year.

Finn Russell - Scotland's talisman and is inspirational, leading by his actions on the field. Huge reason why the Scottish backline is elite. Very reliable off the tee too, unless it's to beat England at the death..........

Caleb Clarke - Great in the air which suits the current game and extremely strong, he's been the first choice left winger for the All Blacks when healthy. Particularly outstanding in the 2024 RC with 6 tries from only 4 games.

Jordie Barrett - Another player who is full of big moments. Great intercept try against South Africa in 2024 at Ellis Park and also produced two bits of quality to ensure the All Blacks didn't lose to France in Hamilton. Chased down Émilien Gailleton to save a try on one end then broke past Romain Taofifénua to assist Brodie McAlister on the other to individually provide a 10 point swing. He's absolutely rapid for his size, saving Cheslin Kolbe's try in Wellington last year is another example of this. Has been one of the first names on the teamsheet for Scott Robertson.

Len Ikitau - Like Menoncello he's part of a team that doesn't win often but you can never question his performance. Tough as nails, he's also extremely durable as evidenced by how many tests he has played in this World Cup cycle.

Huw Jones - Another part of the elite Scottish backline, his attacking and playmaking ability make him so good but also defensively he is strong. A first choice pick for Gregor Townsend and it's not just him who appreciates his abilities, with Andy Farrell also picking him to start for all 3 Lions test matches.

Tommy Freeman - Been moved to 13 lately and done well but has done his best work on the wing, including when he scored a try in every single 6N game last year. A complete player and has the physical characteristics to match.

Will Jordan - Whether it's scoring tries or assisting them, he's always there. Rapid and runs a line brilliantly, most notably when he scored against the Springboks at Eden Park. A great finisher, the way he reads space is awesome.

Huge Keenan - Very reliable for Andy Farrell and also great in the Lions series, like when he came up with that series win securing try at the death. He very rarely has a bad game for Ireland and is another one who gives security to the rest of the team with his backfield cover.

This has been a tough squad to pick and there are still so many names that I have not typed. In 3 areas of the team there were particularly tough choices. They were at lock, back row and in the centres. At lock I have left out players like Thibaud Flament, Guido Petti and Ollie Chessum. In the back row I have left out players like Fraser McReight, Wallace Sititi, Peter Lakai, Juan Martin González, Joaquín Oviedo, Rory Darge, Tom Curry, Ben Earl and Jac Morgan. In the centres I have left out Damien de Allende, Jessie Kriel, Sione Tuipulotu and Joseph-Akuso Sua'ali'i. Names in other positions that are unlucky not to make my 42 are Ellis Genge, Andrew Porter, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Cam Roigard, Tomás Albornoz, Max Jorgensen and Juan Cruz Mallía. I'm sure there will still be some names I haven't mentioned here.

I found it sad that I couldn't name any Fijians, as they don't play in enough tests against tier 1 nations and don't have a 6N/TRC to compete in. They have some world class players in my opinion such as Josua Tuisova and Jiuta Wainiqolo but that would need to take into consideration club performances too, which I will do another post once all the club finals are done. Hopefully there will be a few in the discussion for a team of the tournament, once the Nations Championship for this year is done.

Excited for all of your thoughts!

Amazing result. We were nervy and second best until the opening goal but after that took control. Time to finish the season with another win against Verona. This is a Champions League club.

Time to do the double over them and keep the winning streak going.

We never give up.

Must win, simple as that.

A match which makes us positive for these final 3 games!

Been a rollercoaster of a season and now we have our opportunity to close the gap with a win.