France faces a huge uphill battle to be competitive in this and other test matches. The gruelling schedule faced by France's Super League based players is a key factor, and I listed the reasoning for this [url=http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showpost.php?p=6676646&postcount=42in a post on League Unlimited[/url. France's elite Rugby League players have all been worked into the ground since Catalan Dragons' admission to Super League.



The issue of foreign players in SL has far smaller ramifications than it is claimed to have. Super League only has marginally more foreign players than the NRL system (which has at least 92 overseas trained players in its ranks this year, this number os broken down by nationality in [url=http://viewtopic.php?p=15241745#p15241745wigan to eliminate all imports within 5 years[/url). Super League also has far fewer foreigners than most competitions in Rugby Union:



League - % of 1st team squad that was trained overseas

English Guinness Premiership 2008/2009 - 40% of clubs' elite squads were overseas trained.

Italian Super 10 2008/2009 - 40% of elite squads were overseas trained.

French Top 14 2008/2009 - 37% of elite squads were overseas trained.

Super League 2010 - 29.43% of elite squads were overseas trained.

Magners Celtic League (Wales/Ireland/Scotland) 2008/2009 - 20% of elite squads were overseas trained (Celtic League teams are all centrally funded/controlled by their respective national Unions, to some extent).



Now, England and France's Rugby Union national teams have all had significant success in the last decade (the Five Nations expanded to Six in 2000). France has won 5 times out of 10, including 3 Grand Slams. England has won three times, including one Grand Slam. Both have recorded victories against the Southern Hemisphere big three at home and more crucially, away. England has won a World Cup, made a final. France has made the last few semi finals. The point is, England and France Rugby's percentage of foreigners is significantly higher than Super League average, and higher than Catalans (currently 9 overseas trained players of 25, 36%).

well you need to open your eyes then cos what you've put there is a load of nonsense...

Just like the pointless drubbing of France



"but we need this game to see how far France have come"



The international game is a joke and it doesn't matter what you do it will always be a joke, i guarantee that in 30 years time nothing will have changed.



Flogging a dead horse.

and having a west of england team,east of england team,barbarians (union concept not ours) and a rest of europe team...will solve all our international woes...will it? icon_lol.gif" alt="icon_lol.gif" title="Laughing" />

and having a west of england team,east of england team,barbarians (union concept not ours) and a rest of europe team...will solve all our international woes...will it? icon_lol.gif" alt="icon_lol.gif" title="Laughing" />

Quote ="roughyedspud"and having a west of england team,east of england team,barbarians (union concept not ours) and a rest of europe team...will solve all our international woes...will it? icon_lol.gif" alt="icon_lol.gif" title="Laughing" />'" No, i'm on about watching even games worth watching, i care not a jot if we can put a team out that can compete with the Aussies

Quote ="roughyedspud"and having a west of england team,east of england team,barbarians (union concept not ours) and a rest of europe team...will solve all our international woes...will it? icon_lol.gif" alt="icon_lol.gif" title="Laughing" />'" No, i'm on about watching even games worth watching, i care not a jot if we can put a team out that can compete with the Aussies

FRANCE v ,wales,scotland,ireland and eng 'A'...would be worth watching and be very competitive game just what those nations need....these countries would still get to play against england..just not mid season



ENGLAND v Other nationalities would be worth watching,intense,competitve and the damn near closest thing england players will ever get to kind of battles australian player get during state of origin....hell half the players in the othernationalities team would still be playing origin and for the kangaroos if they still played down under!



in fact i've sold it to myself...if we are ever going to beat the aussies then we need a series against the 'Other nationalities" asap!!!