Fourth AI

[Puja]

Classic RFU. They've decided to introduce a 4th test this autumn for money-making purposes, despite it being usual to have only 3 in a BIL year. Not a great starting point, but I understand bills need to be paid

However, what they haven't taken into account is that the new EPS agreement, which they negotiated themselves on literally signed just a few short months ago, specifically states 4 weeks of players release for the AIs in a BIL year, as opposed to 5 weeks in a normal year. So, in order to get their extra test in, England have now lost the extra week of training and the warm weather camp that they usually have, as well as meaning the England players will now be playing on the Sunday before the game with the opportunity for last-minute injuries.

Stuck Betweenposts is apparently livid, and not just because it's cost him the opportunity to get an autumn suntan.

To make things worse, it's the draw for the RWC at the end of this year and we need to be in the top 6 of the world rankings to be top seeded and be sure of not having to have South Africa or New Zealand in our group. We are currently 6th. Our opposition for our additional game that we'll have no training before? Oh, it's Australia, one of our major competitors for that last spot, who will be coming off having had 5 months together to build cohesion! Hooray!

Puja

[Mellsblue]

An extra £5-10m in the coffers and one less week of box kicking practice. Sweeney is a canny old fox.

[Oakboy]

MB, I could not follow that so did not comment originally on a thread that needs airtime.

The RFU just seems unable to communicate and make good judgement calls right down the heirarchal structure.

[Banquo]

I thought this was a new IT threat from North Korea