France haven't had a good showing at a world cup for a long time. They need to step up their game. I think Fiji will be fourth but there's usually a surprise package, which could be Italy if they get a good team together.

never said RL was on it's knees...I said International RL is not growing at an astonishing rate........but if you think a game in PNG selling out is a sign of massive growth, good for you.....the tickets were less than $5 a pop BTW.....

Fiji came fourth in the last WC and will be much stronger this time around.

In the forwards they could have all three Sims brothers, although both Tariq and Korbin might hold out for Australian selection.

They have Rick Stone as their coach and he has been working pretty hard at getting fringe players into Australian sides, with 3 players joining the Knights next season - two second rowers in the under 20s and a big prop named Simi Sawene who has played in the Newcastle local comp this year after converting from Union to be coached by Stone in reserve grade.

They have Hayne, Tuqiri, Millard, John Simon, Waqa, Kev and Wes Naiqama, Ratu Marika Koroibete, Ashton, Tariq and Korbin Sims, and I know Stone is trying to talk Petro into having a last run for Fiji next year.

1 Kev Naiqama
2 Ratu Marika Koroibete
3 Waqa
4 Wes Naiquama
5 Hayne
6 Millard
7 Simon
8 Ashton Sims
9 ????
10 Korbin Sims
11 Tariq Sims
12 Simi Sawene
13 ????

14 Petro

you can add Eloni Vunakace (Toulouse) to the list - he's a really good prop - too good for the LER but not quite SL level (yet)

Which based on an avg income in PNG (less than $1 a day) would equal what in the UK (90pound a day)? A lot more than a ticket to Twickers in real terms!
Int Rl is actually growing at a decent rate all things considered. Just because they are not getting 20k fans to the games doesn't mean that the Int scene isn't stronger at a grass roots and development level than ever. Int sport doesn't have to be about fully prof teams playing in front of sell out stadiums (otherwise you could say Hockey, Basketball, etc etc are dismal failures), there is probably only one sport that could lay claim to that anyway. It is about grass roots growth leading to more interest leading to an Int team competing in regular competitions at its level. In that respect int RL is actually flourishing. Where we are failing is in providing adequate funding from a centralised non vested body, providing extra support in terms of expert advice and staff when needed and in providing good strong Int calendars for teams to plan ahead.

Hayne will be in line for Oz selection, if he was in the Fijian team I doubt it will be on the Wing, In the Halves or Fullback is more likely.