NZ to send Weakened Squad

[Dipper]

After the hooha of England's tour of shame in 98 when we sent an terribly weakened side to SA,NZ & Australia & got suitably stuffed the All Blacks are set to leave out a number of first choice players on their tour of Euorpe this autumn.

I can't entirely blame them really it's just such a shame that any games between northern/southern hemisphere teams now seem so loaded in favour of the home team mainly due to the fact that the guests are knackered after a hard long season.The only time we get a fair reflection of the relative strengths of the each other is during the WC which at once every 4 years isn't enough for my liking.

I'd love us to be able to go down south when the players are fresh & strong, send ou best side & see how we cope & I'd like them to be able to do the same to us.

 

[Player]

You can throw a blanket over the top 30 players in New Zealand.

If the current All Black team achieves greatness, it will from our broad depth, and not a few elite 'world-class' players.

All Black selection will be interesting, the invincible Canterbury (14 starting ABs) got absolutely bitchslapped by the unfashionable Waikato (one AB 'impact player') a few weeks ago.

If we can upset them again in the finals (and that's a big if) then by rights Mitchell will be forced to change the guards anyway.