Quote: DaveO "This game cannot be justified as helping International RL. It's one game and is not an International. If we were serious about strengthen in the International game we would help develop the French side by playing them with perhaps a slightly weaker English side and if fans were in uproar against that then they really do not have the interests of the International game at heart. We would just have to put up with it not being a particularly inspiring fixture right now as we tried to help the French. England doesn't need any help.
England are already an International force in the game. Yes we struggle at the moment but we can compete and a one off game mid season is not going to make much if any difference to how well England play. So from my point of view given this has IMO zilch to do with developing the International game I want no Wigan player anywhere near.'"
How would playing a weakened England team against a poor quality French team help us beat the Aussies and Kiwis and the end of the season?? Ridiculous suggestion! The French, along with every other developing RL nation has to help themselves surely. You are almost suggesting a handicap system where a team is picked based on the quality of opposition. So Wigan could help Crusaders develop by picking a weaker strength team to play against them and letting them think they are better than what they actually are could they?