Overall it was quite a good article and reflects positively enough on the game. Clare Balding's enthusiam has been great. I remember about 8 years ago she did a semi-final between Saints and Leeds in place of Steve Rider, which I think was the first time she did RL and I thought what the hell is she doing this for, but her enjoyment of the game is clear and good to see. Thought the Brian Noble 'calibre' moment was quite amusing! Don't know what the need was for the last paragraph of the article though!

i pressume the very best union games they refer to would be the super 14's which at times is similar to league in speed and excitement compared to the drab english premiership encounters

Quote from Davies on Saturday, Leeds are at their most dangerous when they are attacking

Yet it gets to the heart of why RL isn't more popular........................we need our tv coverage to explain the intricacies of the game better (Cullen does this a bit on Boots n All).

Love them or hate them; the analysis by Gray and Hansen on the footie, or Barnes and Morris on RU; brings these games to life and educates the average viewer so that they enjoy and appreciate what they're watching.

The untrained eye (or average sports' fan) can perceive the game as formulaic. 5 drives and a kick against a defence comprising of 2 markers at the "ptb", then 10 in a line spread across the field, and a full back sweeping up behind.

If we are to spread RL to the masses, then the subtleties of what is going on need to be shown by the tv commentators.

Sorry but I'm not having that one. League is such a simple game compared to union. I've lost count of the number of 'newcomers' I've taken to watch rugby league and they've got a basic idea of what's going on within their first two games, usually by the end of the first 80 minutes. I watch union regularly and there are still refereeing decisions which I don't fully understand. Have you seen the size of the rugby union law book?

Think Balding does a grand job, just wish the BBC could put a bit extra time into the presentation.

Every side needed enforcers in that time. Davies was on the end of some shocking hits in his time - a marked man - as they say. The big boys were looking after the likes of him and Offiah. I take it you're a Wigan fan Andy? Ding Dong Bell, great player but I don't recall him making a tackle that didn't involve him coming into contact with someone elses melon. Your lot had plenty too .

I agree Jiffy is very hit and miss in the commentary box - there must be someone else out here who can summarise without sounding clueless. I've always thought Clare Balding is a fantastic presenter and her enthusiasm for the game is IMO genuine.

As for the intricacies of the game as opposed to Yawnion - Laurie Daley (who coincidentally Mr Gilder, gave Davies one of the worst high shots I've seen) summed it up perfectly - "Rugby League is a simple game played by simple people. Rugby Union is a complicated game played by s".