Carl Hayman made the right choice - now we wait to see if the New Zealand Rugby Union will eventually make the logical choice.
Hayman's decision to take a megabucks deal in France ahead of a megabucks deal in New Zealand has again raised the issue of whether the All Blacks should select players based overseas.
The NZRU maintains the All Black jersey must remain the domain of the home-based rugby player to avoid a mass exodus and subsequent devaluation of the domestic structure.
I happen to disagree, for the following reasons:
1. The exodus of New Zealand rugby players started a long time ago. Just as young doctors, bankers, accountants, truck drivers, shearers and miners seek opportunities overseas, so do young rugby stars. The All Black jersey, now dished out 14-15 times a year, will never be enough to keep everyone here.
2. The world's a smaller place now. It would be simple to keep track of All Blacks playing overseas, just like it is to follow our top cyclists, basketballers and league players, none of whom are prevented from representing their country just because they are based in other places.
3. In saying that, those based in New Zealand will still be more likely to make the All Blacks because the selectors will see so much more of them.
4. Devalue our domestic structure? Didn't that happen when the franchise-based Super competition was introduced? The All Blacks have barely any involvement in the national championship, yet it still turns out gems every year, like Ben Smith.
5. Some are clinging on to a romantic vision of the All Blacks, as if the squad is full of farmers and rugged blokes who leave notes on the kitchen table saying, "Gone to Wellington, Pam. Playing in the test on Saturday."
The world has changed, the game has changed and those days are gone. We might not all be happy about that, but we have to deal with it.
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that All Black squads will eventually include a handful of players based overseas. Big deal.
I'm not delighted Hayman has chosen to wallow in the cash provided by a soul-less club like Toulon, but if he is still the best tighthead prop we've got, then he should be in a black jersey next year.
• Otago needs a pick-us-all-up
It was a throw-away question, but it stuck in my head for a couple of days: Is Otago the worst sporting province in New Zealand?
That just sounds ridiculous. There is some super young talent in the region and plenty of elite performers in various codes.
But there is no doubt Otago is at a point where its marquee sportspeople are not performing. An overview:
Rugby team: Worst in New Zealand.
Basketball team: Worst in New Zealand.
Netball team: Based in Invercargill.
Rugby league team: Doesn't exist.
Cricket team: Decent, but under-performed this year compared to recent seasons.
Football team: Much improved, but still only fifth in an eight-team league.
Hockey teams: Worst in New Zealand.
Thank goodness for Adam Hall, the Paralympic gold medallist, and world rowing champion Hamish Bond. And Alison Shanks - though she is bitterly disappointed to have gone from world cycling champion to fourth - and the gifted Brendon McCullum.
Otherwise, Otago sport needs a pick-me up. Maybe, say, a Ranfurly Shield.
• Basking in Hawke Cup glory
"You love North Otago, don't you, Meiks?" the editor said to me in passing the other day.
Well, yes. Yes, I do. Is it the poster of the Old Golds on my office wall that gives it away? Or is it the crowing I have been doing since the North Otago cricket team won the Hawke Cup earlier this month?
A cynical colleague remarked that most people wouldn't know what the Hawke Cup was, and I felt like flattening him.
Winning minor association cricket's symbol of supremacy for the first time was a huge deal for that team and the North Otago community, and I love the fact that I have some (admittedly tenuous) ties to the squad.
Glynn Cameron and Duncan Drew were both in my year at Waitaki Boys' High School. In fact, Duncy and I were virtually inseparable in our formative years as we roamed the corridors of Waitaki Girls' High School, where our mothers taught.
And several times during the Hawke Cup challenge, I was exchanging emails with Russell Drew, Duncan's father, who was desperate for score updates.
I played tennis with the North Otago manager, Peter Cartwright. And I have vivid memories of watching pace bowler David Sewell, a year below me at Waitaki, terrorising a visiting First XI.
North Otago has won two national rugby titles (a Meads Cup and a Lochore Cup) and now a cricket trophy in the space of three years. That's fine work for a small district.
• Twin run machines
A couple of young cricketers - identical twin brothers, no less - are performing impressively in Central Otago.
Dylan and Blake Buttar-Scurr (12), of Cromwell College, opened the batting in a recent 30-over Milo Cup game against a Roxburgh/Millers Flat team and put on 242 for the first wicket.
Dylan retired on 100 but Blake was left stranded on 97 not out when he ran out of balls to face.
Father and coach Graeme Buttar says the twins, who also open the batting for Otago Country, have scored about 1100 runs between them this season. What makes that figure so impressive is the young batsmen have to retire when they reach 30 in club games.
The Buttar-Scurrs also take plenty of wickets, with Blake opening the bowling and Dylan tossing down some legspin.
• Some tall timber
A quick scan of the Junior Tall Blacks basketball roster reveals, well, some impressive tallness.
Leading the way is 2.16m centre Mark Overdevest, who hails from Waikato but has been training in Florida, while Jerome Tafa (Auckland) stands 2.06m and Nicholas Barrow (Counties) is 2.01m.
There are also two FANTASTIC names on the roster.
Hyrum Hippolite is a guard from Porirua, while Shaquille Hohipa-Wilson - born the year Shaquille O'Neal was the No 1 pick in the NBA draft - is a forward from North Harbour.
• Playing the name game
Any suggestions for a name for the New Zealand synchronised ice skating team that has been training in Dunedin and is off to the world championships?
The Black Skates?
The Black Blades?
