Joe Marler set to start in his final ever match of professional rugby

Sad for Fickou who was really in form, but maybe that will give him the opportunity to be part of the summer tour in NZ.

Happy New Year.

The Leinster changes are interesting for sure and almost certainly the result of scars from the maulings dished out by the French in CC finals. Interesting too though to see how they fare in the business end of the URC taking the Bok teams on at their own game. That certainly wasn’t the m.o. of the kiwi teams when they dominated the Boks, most of the time, in SR. The URC version of your Prem split probably leaves Glasgow sitting in a class of their own then, perhaps with Cardiff for company if they can sustain their level? Even then, Franco Smith has shown the benefit of developing hybrid skills, whichever camp a team is in, with the increase in Glasgows forward power and an impressive maul defence and attack that hadn’t existed before his arrival.

As for Ireland, they are beginning to demonstrate the extent to which they are going to struggle to sustain their position right at the peak of WR, and whilst they aren’t going to fall off any cliffs anytime soon, they ain’t going to be collecting too many grand slams and probably not even clear favourites to lift the 6N this year either. I don’t envy SE having to take the helm at a time of simultaneous transition in game plan and key players through the team, presuming of course that faz follows suit and tucks in behind Leinster…

I really hope Fergus has put himself in a position to show his full ability and game worth to Razor, and you never know, he could be the next person being hunted once Mo'unga returns

Actually, you are? Seriously?

Although Burke readily admits “I am driven by international rugby”, his final destination is still unknown. He could be one day replacing Finn Russell in the navy blue of Scotland, or challenging Marcus Smith for the right to wear a red rose on his chest, or cycling all the way home to the silver fern. It is all ‘Professor Plum in the billiards room with the lead pipe’ type guesswork, as things stand.

You yourself suggested it? Just theoretically? Look I hope Burke does well, but he's not really a player that has got a lot of attention, you've probably read/heard more him in this last few months than we have in his 4 years. Your own comments also suggest going overseas is a good idea to push ones case for national selection, especially for a team like NZ being so isolated. So i'll ask again, as no of your quotes obviously say one thing or the other, why don't you think he might be trying to advance his case like Leicester did?

Also, you can look at Leicesters statements in a similar fashion, where no doubt you are referring to his comments made while in NZ (still playing a big part of the WC campaign in his case). You should be no means have taken them for granted, and I'd suggest any other coach or management and he might not have returned (been wanted back).