The news fresh out of New Zealand yesterday was the creation of a new concept called “All Blacks XV”. They will be, effectively, a national B team and will go on tour in the autumn. It is being regarded as a stepping stone to the A team, a chance for the players to grow and prove themselves. Indeed, it sounds so obviously a great opportunity to develop the international players of the future that you just wonder why we can’t get the concept working in the northern hemisphere any more. For now, though, England have a two-Test tour to Japan in the summer, which is about as close to an All Blacks XV-type opportunity as England will get.

Source: The Times March 09, 2020 17:03 UTC