Talking about the games afterwards with Lynn Howells, our director of rugby, and Justin Bishop, our assistant coach, both of whom have extensive international experience, the general view was that the Home Nations sides travel to the Southern Hemisphere with a totally different attitude to when they play them at home. They don’t travel with an expectation of victory, no matter how much they try to hype things up.

England were totally outclassed, apart for the first quarter, and they could well have lost by more – most English supporters are, I am sure, looking forward to the second test this weekend with trepidation.

Wales, although again beaten by the Springboks, at least restored their pride and the score could have been much closer but for a couple of doubtful refereeing decisions late on. Ireland could have beaten Australia but they seem to have forgotten how to win.

Congratulations at least to Scotland who managed to beat Argentina in their second test after being beaten in the first. The whole day’s watching was worth watching if only for just one moment of sheer magic with the unbelievable try score by Wales winger Shane Williams.

You will struggle to see a better individual try than this effort. It’s a great pity for England that winger Dave Strettle could not have scored when he was given a far easier opportunity in the first few minutes of their game against the All Blacks.

Our players are now into week three of their pre-season and the thing that is impressing our coaching staff is the speed of the backs with new signings Ollie Goss and Chris Hallam looking very quick.

“The King of Tonga” Ngalu Ta’u, our giant prop, returned from his annual holiday in his homeland having obviously indulged somewhat.

Aled Walters, our new fitness and conditioning coach, rubbed his hands with glee when he saw Ngalu because here was a real challenge.

True to himself, Ngalu has buckled down and is now pushing himself as far as his injured knee will let him.

Ngalu told us that Toma Toke and Hudson Tong’uiha, our two Tongan internationals, had both played against the Maori All Blacks in the opening game of this season’s Pacific Rim Tournament and had acquitted themselves well.

And so on the Experimental Law Variations to be trialled next season.

Teams will no longer be able to pass or play the ball back into their own 22 and then kick directly to touch in order to gain ground. This is one of the few changes that seems to have gained universal approval and should lead to more counter-attacking. At the very least it will lead to more open play even if the defending side resorts to the long kick and chase.

The development work on our stadium improvements continues with the foundation area still being levelled preparatory to the laying of the concrete base for the new West Stand. It certainly is a huge footprint running almost from end to end.