Welcome to the “Yeti Syndrome”, a vivid way of categorising the many things we seek in rugby but no longer expect to find – a New Zealand defeat at Eden Park, or a “Television Match Official” unaffected by verbal diarrhoea.
We could even use “yettiness” as a collective noun for the missing wonders of the union world: the 15-man game (as opposed to the 23-man version); the old-fashioned ruck; England props with everyday haircuts.

“Bomb squad” benches, game-plans built around scrum penalties, off-field “bunker” reviews: the age of machine rugby has been upon us for a while and shows no sign ...