You forgot to mention Matty Smith

Cas aside I don't think will or effort has been a major issue. As usual the issue is the unbelievable amount of disruption the team keeps having to face. The attack looks ok when we have something like a strong team out (which nowadays still means missing 5 or 6 players) and defensively we've not done too bad most weeks.

I can't sit here and complain too much with how things have gone. We could have an horrendous time of it in the coming weeks and I'd still like to think I'll sit here not too miffed. The circumstances with these injuries we're facing is unprecedented (certainly for us). It's been going on for three seasons now and shows no sign of easing.

We'll get lads like Tomkins, Bateman and Williams back (with any luck) before long but then those three plus a few others won't get a proper off season as they'll be at the World Cup. We'll probably have 4 or 5 in the England Squad (minimum), Escare and Navarette with the French, Gelling with Cook Islands, Leuluai possibly with NZ, Tierney with the Scots plus there's potential for others like Gildart (Italy) and Tautai to be called up. I'm glad that they will be but then we better prepare for just as bad a situation next season.

After seeing who you quoted I was going to post the same!