Numbers don’t lie, fans snub the regions

Just suppose, for argument’s sake, that Ireland win the World Cup next year and that Andy Farrell starts his new regime by rejoining forces with Stuart Lancaster, the former England head coach having resisted all temptation to retrace his steps to Twickenham and start all over again.

And just suppose that the RFU, having witnessed England pull up in Japan a long way short of expectation, thank Eddie Jones for his trouble and make Warren Gatland an offer he can’t refuse, all the more plausible if Wales make the most of a friendly World Cup draw by going all the way.