Talk rugby

[chuck]

machin!

Talk rugby! Talk about it as much as you can. I'm living in NZ - so it's one of the things we talk about a touch too much.

We're all a little worried down here that most all of our current All Blacks are going to be playing in the Northern Hemisphere club competitions by the end of the year - and we'll have no-one left to play test rugby.

Players are only eligible for selection for the All Blacks, if they play their rugby in NZ.

Currently Dan Carter and Nick Evans are both off contract at the end of 2008 - and they're more than likely to be heading off to Europe. The lure of the Euro and the pound are huge - and the amount of money that the clubs are throwing around are insane. No chance of keeping players in NZ - as we don't have the economy to support them.

Here's a list of players currently playing in Europe - who could potentially be All Blacks if they were playing in NZ.

Clarke Dermody (London Irish), Anton Oliver (Toulon), Carl Hayman (Newcastle), Chris Jack (Saracens), Paul Tito (Cardiff Blues), Andrew Blowers (Bristol), Marty Holah (Ospreys), Rush (Blues), Justin Marshall(c) (Ospreys), Glen Jackson (Saracens), Doug Howlett (Munster), Ricki Flutey (Wasps), Luke McAlister (Sale are playing him at 13), Rico Gear (Worcester), Walker (Gloucester).

Reserves: Sam McDonell (Newcastle), Scott Linklater (Bristol), Sorenson (Newcastle), Tiatia (Ospreys), Byron Kelleher (Toulouse), Aaron Mauger (Leicester), Regan King (Scarlets)

Then you've got players like Andrew Mehrtens, Carlos Spencer, Sam Tuitopo, Bruce Reihana, Kees Meeuws, Craig Dowd still plying their trade over there.

All rugby players in NZ are centrally contracted to the NZRFU. No private sponsorship or ownership of club or franchises. Those clubs listed above have big pocket owners - with a lot of cash.

Upshot of all this is basically - England - if they send a strong side down, will have a chance of beating the ABs in June.