What do you make of all these 'warm-up' games?

I don't quite understand them. All parties will deny it but players are being injured in the lead-up to the World Cup because countries are trying to make money.

Oh it's lovely to see Cardiff, Twickenham, Brisbane or Dublin stadia filled by fans eager to watch teams, in theory, get ready to play. But the reality is that these are professional players who are ready to get on the pitch no matter when.

And as they lead up to a big event they don't need beaten up every Saturday.

And although the relevant countries have been pocketing some cash in a year where there are no autumn Tests - Wales and England must have been in collusion to get big crowds - I wonder at the balance between getting some game-hardening time on the pitch as against the likelihood of injury.