Brad Weber the latest All Black set to leave NZ

But you have to respect the fact that in most cases, the clubs are primary employers of the players, not the Unions. That loyalty has to be factored in.

The single biggest solution is agreement over a global seasons with more sensible blocks of club/international footy.

The only losers are really the Brumbies when you consider all the additions up front made by the other three teams...

“If the game is run properly as a professional game, you do not need 57 old farts running rugby”.

And that has been the case for far too long, both in lawmaking and administration of the game.

England had the opportunity to contract all their big players in 1995 but sat on their hands and did b-- all. They opened Pandora's Box by doing nothing.

The fat had to be trimmed somewhere, so I stopped at reg season domstic leagues as a fair indicator - which it is.

I feel the rest of your comment is coming from a 'club' angle in the debate. Ireland succeed by limiting the minutes played by their top players in domestic comps. France have been relatively unsuccessful for years because their top players overplayed in the league. England are getting closer to the Irish ideal because of the misfortune of losing clubs and league games with them...

But I agree that growing markets need more rather than less club footy. Take Georgia or Portugal. They are not going to get vastly increased national playing time, so their players need exposure at the level below.

I simply love how the number 5 team in the world’s fans are talking up their chances. Home ground advantage. That’s it.

If I’m wrong, upset defeats. So I’ll remain very conservative about England’s chances.

But I hope the ABs are going to pump England. Soften them up for SA as we finish them off.

The return of Cam Roigard and the settling in of the team since the beginning of the season, I think NZ are different animal to the one England faced in New Zealand.