Mostly because New Zealand and South Africa won't book you for a summer tour.Slick wrote: ↑Sun Feb 25, 2024 5:35 pmAhem, we have played more Tier 2 teams than any other Tier 1 team over the last decadesockwithaticket wrote: ↑Sun Feb 25, 2024 3:28 pm Given how few other nations seem interested in having an A team (Ireland and New Zealand are the only ones) these days, more tier 2 games definitely need to be sought out, but only if they're going to be full blooded affairs. More matches like this will simply be a waste of air fares and match fees.
Might be worth tapping up Canada and the US to see what can be done about reviving the Churchill Cup. It's not the only factor in their decline, but they definitely seemed a lot more competitive when they were regularly playing the Saxons and Wolfhounds.
Anyway, I was saying that New Zealand Maori, England A and Emerging Ireland (formerly the Saxons and Wolfounds) should be looking to get games against tier 2 if it's to actually be worth resurrection them, no need to try and turn it into a contest about whose senior side is doing more.