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<blockquote data-quote="cwans" data-source="post: 90608">Perhaps the answer is to have a major tournament between the world cups (much like the European cup for soccer), or having the world rankings actually meaning something every year (maybe a world championship, big money, one off game between teams ranked 1 and 2 each year?).Going back to proper tours (yes, with midweek games for blooding players) is most likely the only real answer - but this isn&#039;t very likely unless the number of domestic competition games are reduced in both hemispheres.[/b]</blockquote>GG, solid reply, I totally agree with you. We don&#039;t remember any matches anymore other than the final of the World Cups. Isn&#039;t that though an vindication of what harm World cups have done to rugby since its insertion into world rugby? Who can remember the last &#039;tour&#039; that any country toured thats comparable to Ashes series for cricket last year? The tour of Springboks to NZ? Tour of NZ back to South africa? We remember those. Lions tour. Rugby in its state at the moment is sadly misleading until you get to the world cup final every 4 years. That&#039;s 2 games (semi and final) that we will remember but then Nothing else. Memories of classic games are one thing, but it&#039;s the state of rugby that world cups have destroyed that is more worrying. Soccer international friendlies is prime example of what we could be looking forward to in the future if everything hinges on world cups. Sadly, that&#039;s where rugby&#039;s heading. We&#039;ll be playing friendlies. Imagine that.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE="cwans, post: 90608"] Perhaps the answer is to have a major tournament between the world cups (much like the European cup for soccer), or having the world rankings actually meaning something every year (maybe a world championship, big money, one off game between teams ranked 1 and 2 each year?). Going back to proper tours (yes, with midweek games for blooding players) is most likely the only real answer - but this isn't very likely unless the number of domestic competition games are reduced in both hemispheres. [/b][/quote] GG, solid reply, I totally agree with you. We don't remember any matches anymore other than the final of the World Cups. Isn't that though an vindication of what harm World cups have done to rugby since its insertion into world rugby? Who can remember the last 'tour' that any country toured thats comparable to Ashes series for cricket last year? The tour of Springboks to NZ? Tour of NZ back to South africa? We remember those. Lions tour. Rugby in its state at the moment is sadly misleading until you get to the world cup final every 4 years. That's 2 games (semi and final) that we will remember but then Nothing else. Memories of classic games are one thing, but it's the state of rugby that world cups have destroyed that is more worrying. Soccer international friendlies is prime example of what we could be looking forward to in the future if everything hinges on world cups. Sadly, that's where rugby's heading. We'll be playing friendlies. Imagine that. [/QUOTE]

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