The southern hemisphere’s premier club competition used to be the breeding ground for innovation and set trends as to how the international game would be played, according to Jones.

However, that is no longer the case with the competition’s status declining along with their influence on World Rugby.

The All Blacks dominated the international scene between 2011 and 2015 in particular; however, their authority in the Test scene has slipped more recently with several first defeats to the likes of Ireland and Argentina, while they’ve struggled against France and South Africa at times too.

–ChannelAfrica–