Economists point out that this obviously won't be like Franklin Roosevelt's Depression-era program that allowed virtually anyone with the strength to wield a shovel to join a construction crew or move to a work camp.

CNN: Will infrastructure stimulus create jobs?

Mathieu Bonello was sin-binned for an intentional knock-down but Northampton could not make any more inroads before the break - Geraghty shinned another three-point attempt as the half-time whistle was greeted by an eerie silence at Franklin's Garden.

BBC: Northampton 18-14 Castres