I don't have a problem with it. He's searching for a gap and it does puzzle defences. More effective at times for him than simply running into a defender.

? He didn't get any stick for it back then, though maybe defenders are more aware these days and it has a lower success rate but, as you say it does keep defenders on their toes.

Sometimes wingers deliberately run across field to allow time for teammates to get back. Kear's an elusive runner and difficult to defend against so I don't mind his crossfield running so long as he doesn't run behind teammates and give penalties away.

All wingers do it, and generally make 5 or 6 metres in the process. You can't expect a winger to go straight every time, especially when you are on the back foot and the defence have their line and markers set. Sometimes they have to look and find more space than they have in front of them. I don't generally have a problem with it from wingers. It's bad news when your half backs start grabbing though.

To be honest they could cartwheel like the bullettes - just as long as they make some yards. But as Bulliac points out class players like Spruce, and Mcgowen a bit further back were well balanced runners - so they always looked like they were about to change direction which put doubt in the markers minds and opened up the gaps in the defence. Then you have the master: Hanley - if you were trying to defend him in his glory years you wouldn't have a clue which direction he was going to go in, and the ones who got lucky and guessed right would then get handed off! If he'd been around 20 years latter the RFU would have turfed the Queen out of Buck House to sign him up.

It can work if you've got the pace or power to carry it off. Liam Farrell spent all last thursday doing it to zero effect.

Agree sometimes a tactic doesn't suit a player but you can't always go for your favourite move as Defenders get wise to it. Just as years ago, I always wanted Deacs to go for the gap occasionally - you're right to say he probably wouldn't have gone through it, but it meant the defender had to cover the possibility that he would go for it, rather than just assume he was going to pass, and it kept the defenders honest.