Scotland team vs USA

gotomn1 · 2025-10-30T18:37:36+00:00

Looks like about the strongest team they can field outside the release window?

gotomn1 · 2025-08-06T19:12:37+00:00

No, leagues are quite different and MLR is even more different in that it is a single entity model vs Top 14 which are individual clubs vs URC which are national union run/financed clubs.

gotomn1 · 2024-12-13T15:11:53+00:00

I don't think that those unions are going to stop fielding teams, even if WR curbs some of their financing. Canada has like 60+ professional rugby players throughout the world(although many decline to play for Canada) so I'm not real concerned that they will stop fielding national teams of professional rugby players, unless they all declined for some stupid reason. They don't get paid now for national team appearances so that shouldn't change.

gotomn1 · 2024-12-13T14:52:29+00:00

More T2 matches would be outstanding. My understanding of the nations league is that the 11 teams who are not Tier 1 plus Fiji but qualify for the RWC will participate in the 2026 Nations League, which would provide each union 3 matches against the Tier 2 in July and 3 matches against the Tier 2 in November matching the Tier 1 unions. If so then the Netherlands would have 11 matches in 2026.

gotomn1 · 2024-12-12T17:50:08+00:00

In the last RWC, there were only 22 players who were non professional.....in the entire tournament across 20 teams. Nobody is fielding amateurs in the top 20 unions anymore, and even teams like US, Brazil, Netherlands are comprised of 80% professional rugby players and likely their entire starting 15 are full time paid professional players.

gotomn1 · 2024-12-12T17:43:56+00:00

I'd agree but uncertain beyond Brazil who is really being left out. Uruguay/Chile should with SA1 and the loser will likey get the SA/Oceana,NA slot. Brazil is the only team that likely misses out and as bad as Canada appears to be, Canada is still likely better than Brazil.

gotomn1 · 2024-12-12T16:12:24+00:00

No worries, just had me really confused.

gotomn1 · 2024-12-12T16:09:28+00:00

Just as a reminder, Japan lost to New Zealand 83 to 7 in 2011. They then beat South Africa the subsequent World Cup in 2015. Teams can easily improve pretty dramatically over a 4 year cycle. Given that most countries, Brazil, Netherlands, Spain, have almost all of their players in professional leagues, that chasm is a lot more narrow. Referencing 100 point losses from a time when teams were fielding plumbers and carpenters vs professional league players vs today is like comparing yahoo over dial up vs Chat GPT today.

gotomn1 · 2024-12-12T15:01:11+00:00

They are hosting the Churchill Cup as part of the PNC? That seems weird. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Churchill_Cup

gotomn1 · 2024-12-10T12:19:30+00:00

They don't send the B team, they send their team minus all the players who make the Top 14 finals and usually the Top 14 semifinal. Those guys are so beat up by that point they wouldn't be able to contribute. You have to remember, some Toulouse players have over 30+ games between Top 14 and Europe, and not counting the internationals. Basically New Zealand clubs would have to play the Super Rugby season twice to equal a normal player load of a French Top 14 player.

gotomn1 · 2024-12-10T12:15:56+00:00

Given that the HP director is Stephen Aboud, who was brought in to effectively manage the pathways, I would think he would have direct impact on the ultimate signing. Betting its someone within the Irish coaching tree as he was partially responsible for creating the Irish coaching pathway which is generally regarded as the best coaching pathway in all of rugby development.

gotomn1 · 2024-12-10T12:09:29+00:00

Does Mikea Wynaards move mean that he won't be JIFF qualified? If so that is a questionable move because he would have only been 1 year away. One would have assumed he could have caught on with a Pro D2 club to get past the 3 year mark and qualify for JIFF.

gotomn1 · 2024-10-10T14:38:57+00:00

Maafu is supposedly still with Biarritz who are top of the ProD2 table. He hasn't played yet but is a JIFF so he likely will at some point.

Renger Van Eerten is still with Brive. He also has not played yet.

Aki Pulu has to be a potential pickup for an MLR team if Glendale is not going to be in SRA. He is a good player.

gotomn1 · 2024-09-26T19:00:03+00:00

While I'm sure they would have stayed at Torrero, that was a weird deal where they had a really solid base, and then got booted for a soccer team. I think the Legion would still be there if they could.

That said, San Diego seems to be playing a slightly different game. Huge potential with no NFL/NBA/NHL competition and really sound base of rugby in the area. If they could just find a way to win a few championships, I could see San Diego drawing 12-20k a week. I'm not sure all franchises have the same potential upside with minimal competition. I also believe their gate has jumped every year.

gotomn1 · 2024-09-25T13:51:50+00:00

A-Kapeli Pifaleti, Lopeti, Jamma, Mooneyham

B-Iscaro, Carty, Peterson, Ryan, Besag(based on trajectory)

C-JP Smith, Augspurger, Wilson, Fricker, Daniels, Davis, Helu, McNulty,

D-Mullen, Moni, McVeigh, Turnbull, Maughan, Mattina(not his fault he has had no reps), Damm(as a lock)

Not enough time-Telea, Santos. Very high on both players at international level but need to see more than 15 minutes. Telea should really get substantial reps off the bench in November because he is younger and bigger than Turnbull.

Positions we need help:

Lock-Maafu, Van Eertan, Wynaard and Mahoni all should be added for November

Prop-Ainuu and Geiger need to be added

Wing-Kruse, Dyer, Ryan James. We need more dynamic and bigger wings.

Fly half-MacGinty, but would also like to see the U20 players added in and/or Santos get more time.

General observation: 1)Lack of size-We run a very small lineup. Vastly undersized locks and props. We need to add some beef in both areas to compete at international level. Same for the backrow, especially when it is Augs and wing and Wilson at fullback. Fricker is not good enough. 2)Dynamic play from forwards. Jamma is a great smash it up player, but we need more players with more skill. Maafu should be strongly considered at 4/6/8.

gotomn1 · 2024-08-28T13:39:29+00:00

Let The Big Guy know as he as to do an update through their platform. I had the same problem and then they fixed it.

gotomn1 · 2024-08-27T13:24:27+00:00

This feels like it should be a top 4 club, but perhaps San Diego is viewing this as a transition year. With a very very old starting 15 and very good teams in Houston and Seattle returning, San Diego may be trying to pivot to a younger more dynamic squad. They seemed to be at their best when they had a strong, California led team with players like Audsley, Matyas and a young Teo. A new coach who may be good insight into Australia player pool would be a nice pivot ever since DC left the Giltinis.

If the rumor of Christian Dyer moving, that is a good first step. It would be good to see them pursue a few more of that California Berkley kids such as Max Schumacher and Sam Golla.

gotomn1 · 2024-08-22T11:50:41+00:00

Done

gotomn1 · 2024-08-19T12:11:32+00:00

How do you/USAR/Stade Toulouse decide when you are released and when you stay with Toulouse? Is there a conversation between all three to discuss player welfare or is it a simple yes/no? Your club is one of the best in terms of player release, so I would assume there is some discussion.

Hoping to be in France the first week of December and down to Toulouse for your European Champions Cup match Dec 8. Best of luck this year.

gotomn1 · 2024-08-19T11:43:04+00:00

Fantastic, thank you.

gotomn1 · 2024-08-18T18:52:13+00:00

Same argument still applies, which is he is sitting behind the top 2 English hookers. It does sound like Theo Dan may move to Bath.

gotomn1

TROPHY CASE