Quote cjhatesunion="cjhatesunion"Apparently the union media where wetting themselves,raving about it when we have been more or less doing these skills for years.'"
To be honest, I remember Tony Ward doing it for Ireland in the 70's and have seen "flick" passes out the "back door' many other times in Union. The Welsh team of the 70's were the greatest Union side I have seen 'live' and they again were masters at the improvised play.
It's prety much a dead point anyway, as Union is changing its rules to make it more appealing and you will see more "run ball" in future....I posted earlier this year that my barber, a senior RU ref in the Wellington region had stopped going to Union as it was becoming more like league with lineouts. The drop in attending fans here in NZ would point to him not being alone.
2 different sports....with different skill sets. SBW is one of a few who can make the transition.....he is a very good all round athlete and will do well in both codes.
As for SBW at the weekend.......he was OK......but he was given more space and time in 1 game than he will see in the entire tri-nations and RUWC in 2011. I suspect that the Springbox will target him with a monster of a centre........the French will play around him and the Aussies will chip it over him....a sign that whilst he is learning Union, other nations take him as a threat already.