Quote ="gutterfax"As con tricks go, they're pretty damn good. Do they use that Dynamo fella to make it look like they play internationals in full stadiums? Of the 8 Squads of the Quarter-finalists at RWC 2011, 96% of the players represented the country of their birth.
I honestly believe that The RLWC is flawed...it should be a Tri-Nations comp, with the second tier nations playing in a separate competition featuring development squads from the big 3 (certain number of age restrictions). Slowly, you will see the development of counties such as Italy, USA etc becoming more competitive.
Samoa v Tonga earlier this year was a great game, but would have done little for the development of the sport in those countries because 29 of the 34 players on show were Australian.
Still, I reckon Fiji will make the semi finals....they only need to win 2 games to make it.....the 2nd placed team out of group B will have had 3 very hard hit outs...all Fiji need to do is beat Ireland....they will then meet Australia in the semi-final....let's hope for better than 52-0 this time around.'"
How dare you cheapen the national jersey that I have paid hard earned money to watch and passionately support for over a decade!
I want to see Wales mix it with the best, the pride I see from guys like Benny Flower represent his homeland at Wembley, against the English and on big occasions is worth more than any scoreline. That wouldn't be the same when my country are deemed second tier by default.
Whilst I agree things may change development wise for smaller and newer nations, I think the World Cup is fine.
I thoroughly enjoyed Briers taking the out of the Aussies in 2000 and us shock them into life in the 4 Nations.
