Watch: Double blow - Aaron Cruden botches cross-field kick before tearing hamstring

Marx: 33

Mbonambi: 37

Malherbe: 36

Thomas Du Toit: 32

Etzebeth: 36

PSDT: 35

Kolisi: 36

Kwagga Smith: 34

Koch: 37

Nyakane: 38

Nche: 32

Undoubtedly, there’ll be some excellent replacements. But, RWC winning excellence?

The backline was borderline dysfunctional on attack by the end of last year, unable to capitalise on even the most simple overlaps that most club teams would be able to exploit. It cost us a try in each of the tests vs SA in SA at the start of the season - A 6 on 2, and a 5 on 2 with half the width of the field available on both occasions, as well as a 6 on 3 going begging against France in Paris, where on of the 3 was a prop who had already given up and conceded a try would be scored, only for the attack to take the only option that could mess it up. Massive miscommunication between BB, ALB, and Reiko solely to blame.

Reiko does not seem to be on the same page as the rest of the backline on attack. And despite his size, speed, and strength, he doesn’t seem to give defenders too many headaches in 1 on 1 situations.

Many say he is in the team for his defence, which may be true. But Proctor can learn to be a better defender, I think Reiko has shown he is not going to become an attacking threat at 13, and even worse may even be a liability there.

It’s just not good enough to bleat ‘oh they never expected it to be interpreted that way!’ That’s a lack of due diligence and it doesn’t cut the mustard I’m afraid. Laws exist in fine print for a reason.

That’s also the reason why your narrative around ‘loopholes’ and ‘changing the law’ is frankly ludicrous. The law as it stands expresses every argument which created it. The 5-3 split never made it to the final cut and was edited out.

They are very diff cases to the youngsters I’ve highlighted in the piece, who are all at a much steeper point in their curve of development.

I don’t think Bundee, Lowe and JGP would have become AB squad regulars. JGP was behind TJP at the Canes when Leinster picked him up and it took him three seasons to become established as Leinster’s starter at 9. Lowe went through the same process - his D was poor when he first came over.

Likewise Mack Hansen could not get a start for the Brumbies but became an Ireland international within one season at Connacht. Prob a case of the host union misreading his potential.

If they have any doubts, sabbaticals and exchnage schemes are a good way forward, becasue the player remains tied to a contract at home.