What's more, he published a policy statement (it was pasted on the wall in the metro Planning Section office) giving clear backing to covertism. It said that all overtists were saboteurs and monarchists in the pay of France - well, it didn't actually say that: the relevant sentence ran: 'Is it a coincidence that at this very moment the Paris metro is being expanded in accord with so-called overtist principles?'

The timing and diagramming staff, too, were on duty for up to 21 hours devising 80 engine, 60 guards' and 25 carriage working diagrams.

Fly-half Aaron Cruden hyper-extended his knee horribly in contact and was carried off the pitch, forcing Graham Henry to bring on Donald - a man who was fishing for whitebait a fortnight ago before injuries to Dan Carter and Colin Slade triggered his emergency call-up.

That is not so tragic as it is to know that there are childhoodless children by the thousand all around us, he replied quickly.