Quote: pyeman "Just because you don't agree with something doesn't mean its an 'excuse' could call the points you have made 'excuses' with just as much validity calling someone else's opinions bull s*it just because they disagree with your own makes you look pathetic.
If you think that someone will put there body on the line for a made up gimmick as much as they would for the country that your opinion, for me it sums up everything that is wrong with leagues fans attitude to the international game, if players dont view internationals as the pinnacle of the game and put more effort into internationals then we may as well quit international league altogether and just become a club sport. The whole point of international sport is that players should be giving there most committed performances when they play for there country. The exiles may be bothered abut this game and may want to be part of history but that's a different kettle of fish to the pride of representing your country.
The players are more likely to get 'injured' before this game because it doesn't mean anything and clubs are less likely to want to risk there players for a gimmick than an international, if you tell a player to not play for a gimmick he will accept it, you tell a player not to play for his country and he will leave the club when his contract is up as no player wants there club to stand in the way of there international career. Whats more the clubs were only affected before by players on england duty (or for cats france duty) now they are losing there best english and overseas players, for something less important.
Anyway you have got your wish and this game is going to be played, probably for a few years at least, and you can choose to go and watch it, i choose not to and will save my money for going to watch cas and 4 nations games all of which actually count for something.'"