So much has happened ahead of this weekend's game at Twickenham between England and Samoa. The Samoa Rugby Union (SRU) claimed it was bankrupt, World Rugby denied this was accurate, England's players were urged to donate a percentage of their match fee to the opposition while the Rugby Football Union (RFU) agreed to make a goodwill payment to their visitors.
I understand the issues facing the Samoan players and I certainly feel for them with so much chaos surrounding the game. All top level international rugby players should be rewarded handsomely, including those on a team that regularly pushes Tier 1 nations close -- just ask Scotland.
A vast sum of money is sent back to Samoa monthly from players competing in all corners of the world, across both Southern and Northern Hemispheres. The island depends heavily on these sportsmen and a number of them earn sizeable incomes from their clubs. They are national heroes and rightly so.
But, in my opinion players should not be dragged into this conversation. I don't see that it is anything to do with them or, perhaps more importantly, something that they can have a long-term effect on.
That is the issue here. Samoa needs to find a long-term solution to the problems that it and other unions face. Asking players to offer up some of their match fees doesn't set a good example, nor does it create a viable way forward.
Some of the England players will have club mates pulling on the Samoan jersey this weekend. Based on the fact that their teams pay them well, should those players be offering up their fees -- which are sizeable at over £20,000 per game -- to the opposition?
For me, it doesn't feel the right thing to do and it certainly doesn't sit well that in a professional game the players are having to get involved. They've got enough on their plate already. Leave the politics to those who are paid to deal with that sort of thing -- let the players concentrate on playing and putting on a show that they can be proud of.
The RFU have, however, agreed to make a goodwill gesture of £75,000. I think that's fantastic, especially as it is something they didn't need to do, but the sum shouldn't have anything to do with the total gate receipt. I know Twickenham generates a huge amount of money on each match day but there is a monstrous grassroots and professional game in England that needs supporting. That's where the gate receipts should be going.
No other union has donated so there is no onus on England to do so. Just because England has the ability to create the sums that it does should not mean that those are donated away each time the national team plays against a side that can't do that or struggles to fund their home game. That is a problem, but it is one for World Rugby not the RFU.
Moving forward it has been suggested that percentages of gate receipts should go to visiting unions. If this is something that works then everyone should be doing the same, but maybe Tier 1 nations should have to play in the Pacific Islands once every certain number of years too? All of this, again, is a problem for World Rugby. That's their role.
For now, let's get on with what should be a great Test match, a chance to see some of England's finest against some of the most talented and skilful players in the game. Roll on Saturday.