Le derby des Landes se jouera à Bayonne

I dunno what McAlister and Slater have done better than Ricky but they're nowhere near as good as Riccitelli has been. Slater's even been playing in the back row for Taranaki.

Iose has a huge amount of speed and x-factor. Has Haig been better than him? I don't think so at all.

And Sangster is a big body that has been smashing into rucks, leading well at lineouts and getting around the park very well for the Canes and Steamers.

Certainly they don't appear to play every game during the available windows (non international or continental), but is that because of injury? Is there a week allowance coming back or departing?

Super Rugby players can have more minutes in a season that these 'top 20' players (yes we don't need to remind everyone theres another 500 odd minutes of continental they play, about the same as an NPC season).

Possibly that's the median deficit - obviously Lamaitre was talking bigger numbers. Or perhaps you're misinformed. Who knows.

But it's obvious that any industry consistently racking up deficits isn't sustainable unless owners are willing to subsidise their businesses out of their own money.

Just like in theory some expedition in the Amazon jungle might find a unicorn.

In the meantime the counties with centrally controlled leagues will just have to console themselves with all the major trophies.

Jordan was always going to look fantastic against the tenth best side. I was impressed when he powered into contact and busted through for his try.

However we are all waiting for Jordan to show he's capable of currently winning us decisive matches in cauldron, physically heavy games. He finished a brilliant break by Richie against Ireland but he needs to be the creator.

He's getting a dream run at the moment as the selectors pick guys considerably smaller than he is in the Allblacks squad to challenge him for the fullback position and even a reserve Crusader in the NZ fifteen that's done nothing and will be nothing.

Zarn Sullivan is a huge oversight at the moment and Payton Spencer will arrive on the scene shortly, both bigger men.

Jordan needs to be consistently available for selection and break open the top defences himself like Christian Cullen and if he cannot then we need a fullback who can.

World cup cycles and injuries won't be kind to Jordan. He will be 30 at the next world cup and realistically won't last through to 34 at this level with the alternatives we have and new blood.

Ofc the ppl on here that make me laugh real hard are those that go for it big time, can’t hack it when they find themselves on the receiving end and disappear in a tantrum of blocking! 😂