Right… I get it… I think!

But doesn’t this rule depend on the amount of area available round the actual pitch. For example at Headingley there’s about 3" between the pitch and the advertising boards while at the Stoop there’s about 25'?

Yup, lots of dead ball at Headingley to go with the dead heads on the pitch.

He's looked good, as has Ashton, Foden is an exciting player too..

Hape is something of a departure for england for whom centres have typically been big lumps with no hands, the fact Tindall still gets a look in is shocking. They have actually scored some attractive tries over the last couple of weeks.

And you can (or certainly) could throw the ball to yourself.

Scotland S Africa had plenty of dull moments too.

England's game would have been better had the Irish Ref sorted out the scrums earlier by sending one of the Samoan front rowers to the sin bin for 10 minutes.

The game has been speeded up to allow it compete with the NRL in the southern hemisphere.
As I've posted before I think Sky's aim eventually is a unified game to compete internationally for tv audiences with soccer.

The only proviso is that its got to travel in a straight line (90 degrees to the touchline) and five metres into the field of play.

As long as the ball travels 5m infield.

Why do you have to do that but can throw it in backwards to a team mate provided it travels 5m into the field of play?

The ball always has to travel 5m into play whether that be at a set lineout or a quick lineout. The difference is that a set lineout has to be taken from the exact point the ball went into touch and must be thrown straight. A quick lineout can be taken from any point on or behind where the ball went into touch. Also a quick lineout can be passed in the usual manner (flat or backwards) but not forward.

Translation:Borefest.

I think if Johnson can keep the England team playing the same kind of attacking structure and intent as shown over the last couple of weeks they will be well worth watching especially with the likes of Foden ,Cueto ,Youngs and Flood who all enjoy and thrive on open attacking Rugby selected.

Until we get injuries to Flood & then we have to go back to Johnny Wilkinson!!

Enjoyed most of this afternoon watching 2 Union games on ESPN HD.

Leeds Carnegie are on next Sunday, losing away to Harlequins

I will always remember the Wigan versus Bath challenge matches.

There is undoubtedly a skill involved in Rugby Union forward play but as a spectacle give me RL, Superleague and especially NRL anytime.

That said I can see the growing danger to our game's future existence if RU continues to improve in its apparent growing ability to entertain with exciting running rugby. Still... We are not in the depths of Winter yet with all the accompanying mud inducing boring kick fests.

Summer rugby anyone ?