250/500/600: million pounds that will be offered to the Home Unions in the form of a bonds issue against future revenue. The three figures vary according to which print media report you read. 320: the number of minutes in which Ulster have failed to score a try, not including injury time in their defence of the European Cup. It is a millstone which the champions must now take into their fifth game against London Wasps at Loftus Road in January. 25: the number of points that Neil Jenkins scored for Cardiff against Treviso in the European Cup this weekend, a feat that enabled him to become the first player to pass the 300 point mark in the competition.

11: Munster victories this season in competitive matches. No defeats.