IN CASE YOU WERE ASLEEP...

CONTINUED

pipeline and that he hadn’t yet made his mind up which way he’d go if and when the Blues came knocking.

■ The Under 20s began a review of where it all went wrong for them at the Junior World Championship.

■ They were well beaten by South Africa. Twice. And to be honest, it was men against boys.

■ Except if it really had been men against boys then that might explain why they didn’t do so well.

■ And someone should have stopped the South Africans from picking men. As that would have been cheating.

■ Robbie Fruean made a very welcome return to Super Rugby action with the Chiefs after yet more heart surgery.

■ Sadly, no sign yet of Ben Afeaki who is still struggling with concussion after clashing heads with Brodie Retallick at the start of the season.

■ Hang on a minute - why did Barrett think that an offer from the Blues was in the pipeline?

■ Was that just a hunch?

■ Had Barrett visited a mystic...’ I see the colour Blue and a new beginning... and the number 10...’

■ Or had Kirwan rung him up...’ Look champ, keep this under your hat, but in a few weeks, I’ll be making you an offer to join the Blues. Just got a few issues with the cash flow at the mo... poured a bit much into Benji’s pocket so the board are having a whip round to see what they can raise. Mum’s the word until then, though.’

■ Or was he simply winding up the Hurricanes to ensure they were a bit quicker at paying him what he’s worth?

■ When the Blues came calling in 2013, the Hurricanes took an age to make a counter offer - well a counter offer of similar value.

■ England returned home with more questions than answers after their 3- 0 series defeat to the All Blacks.

■ Do they have the player they want at second- five?

■ Can they play pass and catch rugby at a high enough tempo?

■ Was Mike Brown just tired or has he lost his magic?

■ And just how big were Billy Vunipola’s shorts?