KEY POINTS:
When All Black assistant coach Steve Hansen suggested there was a link between the poor performances of some British international rugby teams and the huge influx of New Zealand and other foreign players, he was mocked - accused of resorting to desperate tactics to try to ward off
foreign raiders from pinching star All Blacks.
It's not so easy to mock him now. On any given weekend, about 50 per cent of the players who start for their clubs in the Premiership are not eligible for England. In France the figure is about 45 per cent.
France's World Cup quarter-final victory was thought to be a convincing rebuff to any argument that the French national side has fallen into steady decline. The same was true for England, who reached the final.
But the World Cup should really be seen for what it is - a tournament that exerts its own pressures and very often rewards those previously unsuccessful in the approaching years.
England won the World Cup in 2003, lost a stack of games in the intervening four years and then somehow bludgeoned their way to the final of the 2007 World Cup. France were much the same. Their performance graph was smoother but still spiked in 2003 and 2007 at the World Cup.
Quite how poor France and England have been outside World Cups in the last five years is worthy of detailed examination. Since defeating the All Blacks in June 2003, England have taken six poundings from New Zealand prior to this morning's test.
In those games, the try count stands cumulatively at 23-8 in New Zealand's favour. The last five tests between the All Blacks and France - excluding the World Cup - have seen the former win all five, scoring 28 tries to three in the process.
In those five tests, the All Blacks ran up record scores both home and away while their 41-20 defeat of England in 2006 was a then record loss at Twickenham for the home side.
Could it really be dismissed as a coincidence that, as the form of England and France has slowly declined, the numbers of foreign imports into their respective professional leagues has slowly increased?
Dick Best, the former England and assistant Lions coach says an even bigger concern is: "The number of foreigners who start each week in the key decision-making positions."
Last weekend when England were being hammered by South Africa, there were two Premiership games played at the same time. Northampton drew with Bath and Leicester defeated Harlequins. Playing first five for Northampton was Carlos Spencer, while Bath had South Africa's Butch James at No 10.
The match report from the Sunday Times, said: "The contrast between Spencer and James at fly-half was one of the more fascinating contests."
In the other game, Nick Evans was at first five for the Quins, Derrick Hougaard, the former Springbok against him for the Tigers, with Aaron Mauger supporting him at second five and Scott Hamilton making a big impression at fullback.
If there had been a full programme of games, the pattern would have been repeated. At Worcester, Sam Tuitupou has scored four tries in nine games and, if he's not causing the damage, then it will be Rico Gear or Chris Latham.
At Sale, Luke McAlister and Welsh halfback Dwayne Peel are the two key playmakers. Saracens use former Bay of Plenty and Chiefs first five Glen Jackson at first five, Neil Brew and Andrew Blowers make a lot happen for Bristol and at London Irish, former Waratah Peter Hewat and Seilala Mapasua are critical figures.
This foreign recruitment has greatly boosted the commercial appeal of club football in Europe. The fans love it, broadcasters love it and the quality of rugby has risen.
But the invasion has reached debilitating levels for the national teams of both England and France. Danny Cipriani's rapid elevation to the England team is not only about his ability. It is partly because he is one of the few English-qualified first fives to hold down a regular starting spot with his club.
Imagine a scenario where Dan Carter was the only All Black-eligible first five starting regularly for a Super 14 franchise. That's what's happening in England. In France last year, there was one weekend where not a single prop who started in the Top 14 was qualified to play for France.
Asked before the Twickenham clash whether he felt England had the players at their disposal to become a heavyweight again, All Black coach Graham Henry said: "There's a million players in England and 140,000 in New Zealand so I guess there are a few players out there.
"I guess it is getting the opportunity to play at a good level and when you continue to bring all these New Zealanders over here and fill up the Premiership with them and the English guys don't get a chance then the international side is going to suffer."
Unfortunately, Best can't see how things are going to change. England are short of quality locks at the moment and every club in the land will be ready to break the bank to sign Ali Williams.
Best doesn't believe that enough is being done to provide pathways for homegrown players.
"We need a coordinated approach to talent identification, to make sure that if there is a potential superstar in deepest, darkest Birmingham, he doesn't slip through the system."
