You obviously missed Mils Mulaina playing full back for the All Blacks vs France last weekend.
The All Blacks also have Corey Jayne (sp?) who is similar but has to play on the wing due to Mulaina..
Likewise James Connor for the Aussies.
Just because the northern hemisphere struggles in this regard doesn't mean the total demise of the running fullback.

believe it or not there are many clubs that have produced players that match Eastmonds raw talent and athleticism.

I won't even be a "homer". I'll suggest Sam Burgess surpasses eastmond in terms of talent and athleticism for a start. I know he doesn't play for Saints so can't possibly be a world beater but........

Eastmond isn't Robinson yet, not by a long chalk so its' still a long time since any Sl club, including the "mighty S", produced a player like Robinson.

What do you mean by that?

Eastmond has good acceleration and can break tackles. He's solid in defence.

So can rob burrow.

...and Burrow has emerged into a very talented half back, which is something Robinson didn't and remains to be seen for Eastmond.

The big knock on Burrow; he doesn't play for Saints.

and there endeth the lesson.

For the record, I rate Eastmond very highly, and I think he should have won young player of the year this year rather than one step Tomkins!

I've been saying for the last few weeks that Eastmond playing regularly at 7 next season could well be the Man of Steel 2010. Wonder what odds I'll get?

I dunno. Saints are gonna be terrible next season.

I sort of agree with you there, I get the point you are making. SL is not exactly awash with top young talent that are capable of performing against NZ & Auz.

Admittedly I didn't see the All Blacks at all. But then they've always been an exception and about the only Union Nation that consistantly plays watchable rugby. (The French occasionally show some flair and are therefore built up by the Union press but equally often they resort to a dull forward dominated game).

Is it James O'Conner for the Aussies? If so I believe he's a converted fly-half with the kicking game to match (Perhaps I should have said a fullback who is [ireliant[/i on his running game is a liability - it's always going to be a useful back up but the kicking game is the no1 requirement)

Incidentally, O'Conner only played League as a Kid

]

Without wishing to labour the point, you may wish to read this from the BBC's web site:

"reliant[/i on his running game is a liability - it's always going to be a useful back up but the kicking game is the no1 requirement)

Incidentally, O'Conner only played League as a Kid'"

This whole 'he doesn't play for Saints' line that opposition fans come out with is like a Peter Kay joke - it's tired and old.

Ok, Ok, I give up and yield to your superior googling technique.

I must be one of the few on here who looks forward to the onset of the Super 14 (15,16?) in the new year, when I'll be able to watch high energy running rugby almost on a par with RL.
That's what allows players from either code to do well in the other code, esp the backs.

We ought to be grateful that RU in Europe is so laboured otherwise it would be an even greater threat to SL than it already is.