NOBODY is irreplaceable in professional sport but Taulupe Faletau came pretty close for Newport Gwent Dragons.

The disappointment at the departure of the Wales and Lions number eight, one of the greats to have graced Rodney Parade, last summer was severe. It is still odd to see Bath next to his name in squad lists.

It was an exit that had been coming for some time – Faletau was never going to be a one-club man – but it left a void and the Dragons no longer possess a Test beast known throughout world rugby in their ranks.

Hallam Amos has picked up the baton to some extent, and thankfully has committed to at least another couple of years in Newport, but he is a player just making his way in international rugby.

Since Faletau has gone, no player on the Dragons books is worth breaking the bank for… but that isn’t to say exits cannot be damaging, with the situation surrounding Rynard Landman in sharp focus.

A large proportion of any squad comes out of contract at the end of the season and the work to thrash out fresh terms begins in the first half of the campaign.

There’s brinkmanship with agents knowing that clubs are keen to wrap up their business for key players while the clubs are aware that their talent enjoys certainty, keen to put pen to paper for their state of mind.

As cold as it sounds, professional clubs must do their costings and work out what a player is worth to them, rather like Ed Norton’s character in ‘Fight Club’ explaining how is employer, a car company, goes about product recall.

“Take the number of vehicles in the field, A. Multiply by the probable rate of failure, B. Multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don't do one”.

It sounds heartless but is entirely logical and rugby bosses have to weigh up their own equations at this time of year.

Supporters get attached to players – and so do coaches, who work closely with them week in, week out – but those calling the shots have to distance themselves and act with the head rather than the heart.

The mechanics of deals can be complicated with both parties understandably attempting to thrash out favourable terms. In an ideal world both leave the room happy after putting pen to paper.

The process is currently under way at Rodney Parade for a number of senior figures, one of whom is Landman.

The South African has undeniably been a hit since heading to Newport from the Cheetahs in the summer of 2014 and he has featured in 64 of 75 games, the sole blot on his copybook being a red card for catching Connacht fly-half Jack Carty with his elbow that led to him missing the European quarter-finals and semi-finals in 2015.

Landman, who has been troubled by a calf niggle this season, has provided exceptional value for money and is in a position of strength when it comes to a new deal courtesy because, after three years in Wales, he will no longer count as an overseas player next season.

That has led to interest from the Scarlets and Cardiff Blues but the Dragons must hold their nerve and trust that their costing formula is spot-on.

There will always be some wriggle room but they know what they think Player X is worth and with the budget they have at their disposal cannot enter into a bidding war like some hapless sap who gets carried away at an auction just to get on ‘Homes Under the Hammer’.

The Dragons have to have a contingency plan and to ensure the player knows they do not have them over a barrel while it’s also prudent of Player X to have some irons in the fire.

Fingers crossed Landman will put pen to paper to stay and it’s up to the Dragons to convince players that plans are in progress to move forward as a club.

We know there is a glut of potential with the likes of Amos, Tyler Morgan, Ollie Griffiths, Elliot Dee, Harri Keddie etcetera, but figures like Landman, Lewis Evans, Ed Jackson, Brok Harris, Adam Warren are key to helping the youth flourish.

The Dragons cannot afford to get their sums wrong and undervalue a player who goes on to thrive elsewhere a la Dan Evans at the Ospreys but they are confident that they have put a good package together in the case of Landman.

A player and his representatives can agree terms with as many teams as he likes but sign with just one.

The Dragons have to be steadfast in their belief the deal is a good one, if that’s the case and a player goes elsewhere then so be it but hopefully Landman will still be in Newport next year… attempting to earn the title of the region’s best lock back from Cory Hill.