It came as no surprise to anyone with even a passing interest in Premiership rugby union that Saracens might not be happy with the salary cap.
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What was a little unexpected was that the north London club were so vehement that they had support from as many as seven other clubs in the league.
If the response to last week’s statement is anything to go by then they are palpably on their own. And rightly so. At a time when the Premiership is as competitive as ever – bar the whipping boys from London Welsh – and attendances continue to soar, keeping up with the Joneses in France should not be the priority.
Sarries CEO Edward Griffiths insisted that his club’s bid to ‘scrap the cap’ was founded not only on a bid to level the playing field in Europe but also grow the game in England, improve the standard of the league and ultimately the national team.
It is hard to make a case to say that any of these perceived goals would be achieved merely by agreeing to allow clubs to pay players what they want.
Similar arguments were made when English football’s elite broke away from the establishment to form the Premier League.
Yet while salaries and revenue have rocketed in the new era, the number of clubs able to win the competition have narrowed and the quality of the country’s football team has stagnated at best.
Those sceptical that a similar outcome would occur in the 15-man game need only look across the channel, where the Top 14 is awash with stellar names yet France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has seen his talent pool shrink considerably.
Of course Saracens would be in favour of scrapping the cap, they are owned by a rich benefactor and can afford to lose millions and millions of pounds every season.
But their situation is not the norm in England, and should not be encouraged. If the cap were to go then it is very possible that domestically only Bath, another team with a wealthy owner, would be able to compete with them.
It would certainly be hard to envisage another side like Exeter rising to the top.
From a commercial standpoint, too, it would be a body blow for the Premiership, as an uncompetitive league is rarely a hit with either fans or sponsors.
Instead the clubs have already agreed to raise in the current cap for next season that will also allow teams to sign a second marquee player outside of the restrictions.
That move has already helped Harlequins sign Australian international James Horwill.
That the Wallaby looks set to be the only Antipodean plotting a course for the Premiership post-World Cup is what could have angered Saracens most.
They fear being left behind in Europe, but their fellow clubs are right to stand firm as they bid to safeguard what is the best and most competitive league on the continent.
Dylan Hartley’s England days must end
Defending Dylan Hartley has become so difficult that Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder did not even really try to bother following
his latest misdemeanour.
Having seen his hooker sent off after just 16 minutes against Leicester for an elbow, Mallinder simply acknowledged Hartley “plays to the edge” and, at 28, “won’t change”.
He is right on both counts, but while that might be good enough for the Saints boss, it really should not be.
Hartley is no stranger to trouble, and has been given numerous warnings due to his on-field behaviour – even being told he was in the “last chance saloon” by England coach Stuart Lancaster.
Yet, none of the tellings off, or indeed losing his place on the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour, appear to have sunk in with the forward.
It will be interesting to see what stance Lancaster and England take on the matter, but it is surely time to say enough is enough.
The New Zealand-born hooker has shown a consistent taste for controversy and an inability to learn from his mistakes.
Losing Hartley would be a blow but there is talent around in that position, even if Rob Webber failed to completely convince as his understudy over the autumn.
It was not long ago Tom Youngs was the man in possession of the No2 shirt. Maybe it would be better to give him a second chance rather than Hartley a fourth.
