The state of International rugby union at the moment is a joke as sides don't want to show their hands too close to the World Cup. 

While Wales almost knocked over the Wallabies last weekend, the other internationals should be a walk in the park for the southern hemisphere's two form sides, New Zealand and South Africa.  These matches are awarded Test status, despite the under-strength northern hemisphere sides arriving. 

A full-strength France would struggle against Graham Henry's mighty All Blacks, yet a third-string side missing the top echelon of club players have been sent on a tour of duty.  Things will get worse as the poor Canadians will be smashed after already losing in the Churchill Cup on neutral ground to a New Zealand D side under the banner of the Maori All Blacks.

When will the nonsense end? It frustrates me how, because of a six-week tournament every four years, sides can justify playing sub-standard international rugby with players who in the past would never have worn national colours.  The World Cup is over-rated.  I am not saying this because the most dominant team outside of the World Cups hasn't won the trophy in 20 years and is my team. 

I am saying this because I want a return to competitive Test match footy.  I want to see more tours like the British Lions make every four years, and the way sides used to.  Sure the Lions were rubbish, but the concept of the tour still captivated a rugby-mad nation.  The game has been unable to embrace professionalism, and now players struggle with burnout and so are rested from international Tests.  What a load of rubbish! 

Test matches shouldn't be a walk-over between England B and South Africa or France C and the All Blacks , they should be a battle of attrition, a last-man standing affair.  Otherwise the fans will continue to stay away from the grounds like they are at the moment.  They want to see blood for their money, and if it means someone gets his scrotum ripped and playing on, so be it!