What a final wrap up for the Prem season. It was truly memorable for a number of reasons. The best four sides, evidently, two local derby semi-finals and a veritable pageantry atmosphere were everything that the marketing teams could have wished for in their wildest dreams. As an advertisement to potential buyers and investors, it was gold plated. It also helped to forget the tedium of other parts of the season, and the negativity created by the joint RFU/PRL decision to close off the league effectively for good, despite protests that this was an expansionary move.

Within that new framework, almost half of the Prem sides (perhaps Saracens excepted) are lagging badly behind the rest in terms of quality, witness some of the cricket scores we had to endure. That much became clear in the second half of the season and because there was also little to play for. The gap could widen unless the recently agreed salary floor has an instant impact. Judging from the list of new recruits at basement club Newcastle Falcons, this could take some time. Contrast all this with France where Bordeaux Bégles, the leading side in Europe, did not even make the playoffs. Having said all that, with a restructured European Cup and Club World Cup on the horizon, there is plenty of time to get this right to suit the commercial objectives.

Back to the action, I cannot speak too highly of the efforts of the four Prem coaching teams who drove their squads to new heights of performance and commitment. The remarkable recovery of the Chiefs inspired by Rob Baxter and the leadership of Henry Slade and Stephen Varney feels like the story of the season. Their style of play has improved immensely the performance of their less celebrated members of the squad which is a huge tribute to their coaches and in itself a cause to celebrate.

Leicester were hugely competitive throughout and Parling can justifiably build his position as a potential National coach. A newly fit George Martin will be a major loss as well as a huge threat to the Boks next month along with Chessum. The worry for them is more strategic with the obvious need for a capital injection.

Bath had a target on their back for most of the season and they missed Lee Blackett more than they will admit. Sadly his imagined parallel contribution to England has not yet played out – it is not too late, starting next month. Bath’s arrival back into the super élite of European rugby is no passing phase, though I wonder whether the halfback and fullback positions are starting to make Johann Van Graan ponder a little. I can think of a top Southern Hemisphere name who might become a target… anyone?!

Saving the best till last, Dowson and Vesty have talked more sense to the camera than any coaches in England this season, and clearly get the very best out of their squad. For example, in some people’s view, Tom Litchfield is ready for England and I confess that I haven’t seen enough. His pace and eye for the line could be influential and like all the Saints backs he can pass with accuracy and vision. Mind you, you can say that about Pollock who played like a centre at Twickenham. Dowson, Vesty and the senior players talked of relief and sending Furbank off in style, to distract from their rather sub par performance. Their standards are so high and I love that, they do not take the watching public for fools. I have no doubt that their next stop should be with England, and you wouldn’t need an anonymous panel to make that call. England coaching is all about selection and empowering our enviable pool of playing talent… 23 years and counting.

I can see six Saints in the starting line up for England on the High Veldt, although it may not matter if they are not given licence to play and that is key. The Prem will rightly point to the galaxy of talent in their midst and while the lack of game time may impact on the U20’s ( don’t start me), no such issues affect the senior Mens team. A repeat of club form in their National shirt will give them a great shot at a morale boosting win as the real countdown to Australia begins.

The wily Rassie Erasmus has already started the war of words, well it won’t be a war because there will be little competition. Talking up Pollock as an ‘exceptional talent’ and bracketing him with Kolisi and Feinberg-Mngomezulu will wind up everyone in South Africa as intended, with almost every player past and present putting himself up for selection just to cut him down to size. England will definitely need his attitude and more to fire the shot required to bring down the Springbok.

Hallers