Les 5 chiffres à retenir de la cinquième journée de Top 14

This All Black squad has twelve players 25 and under and just eight in their 30s.

The most recent South Africa squad had just five under 26 and nineteen 30+. Yet I don’t recall much criticism of Rassie for that.

This despite their golden generation. And the next world cup is in the Southern Hemisphere where their best players have hardly played - about 25 minutes against South Africa for Du Pont. Sad when they should be peaking this cycle.

Possibly some rusted on club fans in the South are ok with that, but if they're going to get interest elsewhere they need to emulated their soccer counterparts and succeed internationally. You could see last year how much people wanted that World Cup.

These system lapses on defence are also mirrored on attack. Currently the team is over reliant on Damien McKenzie. In the last match Beauden was back to his best and committing himself, but he could still only pass the ball on to the most obvious target within 5 meters. It gave others the opportunity to create, but they were slow doing so and obviously even in training play revolves around Dmac. The attack looked very stale compared to their previous games. The coaches need to up their game big time.

Thankfully it is likely that Sam doesn't get much game time from now on out. The team is going to suffer immeasurably I feel as the coaches aren't going to have systems in place to cover all the work these stats highlight.

It would have been a much better idea to compare him and the aussies to similar roles/players from South Africa and Argentina. You cannot simply switch numbers around like you have done. Who does the most cleans for SA/Arg? I would think Kremer a better comparison, Pablo was Crusaders choice of 6, even when Blackadder was out (and in, where he played 7), or 8 when Ethan was used at 6. Canes value is also exponential on those stats, due the the proportion of them he would have in the team with them having less rucks to hit that Aus.

Ethan was so bad in the weekend he was tripping over his locks feet at the scrum. Both he and Plummer couldn't do anything right. Tasman lost the shield because they started with him. DP had a great run and showed he's still got that pace from the video. He did pick up a niggle though which might be of slight concern. I wouldn't have had Cane in my EOYT but I certainly wouldn't have had Blackadder in it either. Hopefully Clayton is another voice for the All Black coach setup that can tell them they just have to understand how Sotutu players and he could be a great asset their side.

It's been my firm belief since JR has been the forwards coach and the improvements he made during Fosters tenure, if he wanted that particular player he'd get them.

I watched Perpignan play Pau last Sat., in Perpignan, and both teams were under strength. Not sure if that was injury related or resting them. In Pau's case it was a game they would have expected to win. Luke Whitelock for one was missing, and Posolu Tualagi did not play for Perpignan.

Was a very interesting experience, 9700 seat stadium, fair number standing, so over 10,000in the ground, virtually a sellout game. Noise level was unreal, drum beating, crowd howling at every decision against their team, then turning it up for the Pau kicks at goal. Perpignan won at the death, by just staying in the fight, and grabbing a injury time chance. For sure though neither team will be in the finals come June. Of Australian interest, Jack Maddocks looked very secure at fullback for Pau.

Since then, Sititi's form in test rugby and Sotutu's in the NPC has proven him right. Hoskins has never impressed in the black jersey and to be honest England have Earl and Willis so they don't need him either.