Smith to step down as All Blacks assistant

From the EPCR perspective, I do think that the format/schedule issues can be fixed if there's a strong enough desire to remove some of the logistical challenges clubs are facing with these long and frequent trips across the hemispheres.

From the SA player workload perspective however, I'm not sure how players can participate safely and competitively at both the club and international levels. Perhaps - and as Rassie appears to be developing, SA develop a super squad with sufficient player numbers and rotation to allow players to compete across the full 12-month calendar.

Bottom line though, is the geographical isolation is always going to restrict SA's ability to having the best of both worlds.

They don't have enough talent to have a top tier domestic league of their own, and it won't support the union financially. Best case you could hope for would be the five extant franchises (including Cheetahs) and perhaps a team from Namimbia. Gives you a 6 team league, that's not enough. Plus again, it's just not financially sustainable either.

At the same time, it's not really great for them to be involved in either the European or the Pacific rugby set up. That said, as bad as the travel is, at least Europe makes more sense from a time zone perspective. I still think it's the least bad option. Also has done wonders for the URC.

I don't think though, that it makes very much sense to have 4 teams from the URC excluded from European qualification. Not to mention, being able to compete in the Champions Cup was a big draw for the South African clubs anyway.

So yeah, I don't really see a change that makes more sense than the less than ideal situation that already exists.

The headroom for growth is tremendous IF the people involved can work out a way to schedule the calendar such that each of the different comp priorities are managed and the compromises that will almost certainly be required are evenly shared. After all, it’s not like rugby couldn’t use some additional commercial gain!

The alternative option would leave every club, competition and union worse off, but logistics can be flexible and adaptable with the requisite level of detailed planning, time zones not so much…

Jamie, how about making an updated public apology paired with putting your hand up for the RC coaching job? Get the public on your side, show that you've grown, and show that you're mature enough to lead our NSMT. We know you're skilled and experienced enough, but you know that's not the issue here.

You say you've put your hand up and apologized, but the last time you apologized to the rugby community was when you tweeted "I'm sorry if I've offended anyone", which is the most obvious non-apology in the English language.

I wouldn't bet on them being outside the top 8 again, but unless this is breakout season for one of their young 10s it's hard to see them challenging the Blues, Chiefs, and Brumbies.

Tight tussle with similarly encumbered Hurricanes for 4th spot.

Rebels players reallocated among the remaining 4 teams will help this a bit, but with 2 of the remaining Aussie teams really struggling this year I don't think they will realise their full potential until they cut the Force too.

They still start slow, even in their RC wins. Would be genuinely top tier if they got going from the start.

I’d like to know what constitutes a 208 week ban though?

Must the eyeball be dislodged? Hanging by a vein?

I love watching Bristol but their approach will only get them so far I think. Exeter played like this when they first got promoted to the prem and had intermittent success, it wasn't until they wised up and played a more balanced game that they became a consistently top side.

I really want Bristol to continue playing this brand of rugby and I don't mind them running it from under their posts but I don't think they need to do it every single time. They need to be just a little bit more selective about when and where on the pitch they play. Every game they put themselves under so much needless pressure by turning the ball over under their posts trying to do kamikaze moves when it's not required. By all means run it from your goal line if there is a chance for a counter attack, we all want to see Bristol running in 100m tries from under their posts but I think until they learn when to do it and when to be pragmatic, they are unlikely to win the premiership.

Defense has been a real positive from Bristol, they've shown a lot of improvement there... And I will say that I think this kamikaze strategy they employ is a very good one for a struggling side and could be employed by Newcastle. It's seems to have turned around Gloucester's fortunes. The big advantage is even if you don't have the biggest and best players, what you have is cohesion. This is why Scotland keep battering England. England have better individuals but they look muddled as a team, trying to play a mixed strategy under coaches who lack charisma, the team has no identity. Scotland come out and give it full throttle from 1-15 even if they struggle against the top sides, sides like England and Wales who lack that identity drown under the relentless will and synergy of the Scots. If Newcastle did the same they could really surprise some people, I know the weather is bad up there but it hasn't bothered the Scots. Bristol can learn from Scotland too, Pat is on to something when he says the following but Scotland don't play test matches like headless chickens. They still play with the same level of clarity and ambition Bristol do but they are much better at picking their moments. They needed to go back to this mad game to get their cohesion back after a couple of seasons struggling but I hope they get a bit wiser from matches like Leinster and La Rochelle.

“If there’s clarity on what you’re trying to do as a team you can win anything.”