"We considered over 30 designs and believe that the QSST is the only design that meets all the desired requirements including range, take-off and landing field length, take-off noise, emissions and sufficiently low sonic boom characteristics to enable supersonic flight over land, " he told CNN.

CNN: Bang goes the sonic boom

It took the gloss off a superb start by Quins, who led after just three minutes when debutant Chris Bailey released Gale with a superb pass and the stand-off raced half the length of the field to touch down.

BBC: Catalan Dragons 4-11 Harlequins RL

The All Blacks took an early 10-3 lead when lock Isaac Ross finished off a sweeping length-of-the-field move.

BBC: South Africa 31-19 New Zealand