World Cup seedings revisited

First topic message reminder :

Just had a bit of a light bulb moment thought I'd go to the boards for some  coroborry.

I don't want to start a spitting fight here, so please take this in the inquisitive vein its intended!

The Pool of Death is suddenly looking less deadly. A lot of Welsh posters here and elsewhere seem a bit dejected after appearing to lose two world class players in the warmup.

But, If a Wales team denuded of a bunch of front liners goes out of this pool limply,  then were the seedings actually valid?

Is the big Welsh problem a lack of a bit of depth?  Undoubted world beaters at full strength, but maybe the drop to the dirt trackers is a bit precipitous?

aucklandlaurie wrote:

Gwlad wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

Gwlad wrote:I think we should do the seedings based on how many PI players each team has imported.

Does NZ count as a PI?

I believe it does technically but I don't see Tonga, Fiji or Samoa importing many other 'PI' players

Really????????

What that NZ is a PI or that Tonga/Fiji and Samoa import players?

Both comments are ambiguous.

aucklandlaurie wrote:
Both comments are ambiguous.

And so is your response!

Ho about clarifying it instead?

Is NZ technically a PI

Ho wmany PI players do Samoa, Fiji and Tonga import?

To start with I think you will find New Zealand is in the Pacific Ocean, I am  reasonably confident that its not in the Atlantic.

The word "import" is to vague, as to just use the word on its own without explaining it can lead to a number of different interpretations/assumptions. just one would be if Kahn Fotualii wants to play for Samoa, is that a case of Samoa "importing" him? is it a case of new Zealand exporting him? or is it just a case of a New Zealand player with Samoan heritage that wants to play for Samoa? etc.

Exiled

Your objection is based on the current, albeit pervasive, situation whereby New Zealand are the strongest team in the World, although there is nothing to guarantee that that will always be the case.

The only teams that get an advantage are the four seeds. If you're not one of them, you're going to have to play one of them.

aucklandlaurie wrote:To start with I think you will find New Zealand is in the Pacific Ocean, I am  reasonably confident that its not in the Atlantic.

The word "import" is to vague, as to just use the word on its own without explaining it can lead to a number of different interpretations/assumptions. just one would be if Kahn Fotualii wants to play for Samoa, is that a case of Samoa "importing" him? is it a case of new Zealand exporting him? or is it just a case of a New Zealand player with Samoan heritage that wants to play for Samoa? etc.

I have to agree with you. It's surprising NZ doesn't have less NZ born players in the side. We have a much greater % of the population born overseas than the England. I suspect that most All Blacks, historically could have played for other nations on the basis of grandparents. Someone like Ali Williams could have played for Scotland (parents). Apparently he doesn't count as poaching, in the English Fan/media definition, as he isn't Polynesian or Melanesian. Similarly Phil Waugh could have played for NZ (grandmother) instead of Australia. Should Australia be accused of poaching. NZ would be if he played for NZ and grandmother from Samoa.

Lets keep it to real issues. Such as players being enticed to play overseas at a young age and being lost to their country of origin and the bolstering of national teams with "imported talent". I'm not sure focusing on NZ and the whether the diaspora of Polynesian population is ultimately helpful. Ultimately the idea of national teams is that the best players from a country to compete against each other. I can't help feeling the grandfather clause came about in the 19th century to allow colonials to return and play for the mother country as much as anything else. The real issue is players being mined by clubs and thereby moving nations. Schoolboy comps are are sometimes related to this (e.g. NRL) and in NZ are an issue separate to it (the NZ schoolboy rugby isn't directly related to clubs, but it is still an issue if kids move as 17 year olds to play rugby and get moved into the national system).

majesticimperialman wrote:The Pool of Death is suddenly looking less deadly.

You were right all along. That's scary.