What I find really noticeable watching games from whenever way back when up until the mid 80s is just how relatively small players were, in terms of general body shape (except for the obviously fat gets running around most clubs). Backs were generally small and hardly any of them looked like they'd last five minutes in the modern game without being snapped in half. Most of the backrowers would get absolutely totalled if they played today and props from contested scrums were generally hopelessly unfit.

Its just such a different sport back then - far less physical (except for the gratuitous violence), some skills far poorer like long passing and kicking, but other skills far better like off the cuff plays and the willingness to take risks. I like watching games from the 80s and 90s but its a very different spectacle. I've got a DVD of the Broncos GF wins we watch every now and then, and the earlier games seem very fast, and I'm always quite surprised to see that if anything there were fewer tackles made than today, when the game just seemed to crack on at a rate that feels much faster.

You’re probably right but I think the issue at the PTB is as much down to the defenders as the attacker so any steps to clear it up must address both parties.

Not a bad idea that.

BTW, don't want to re-rail the thread, the documentary was superbly done. Would love more of these to be done as we have so many great stories to tell. I was welling up when i saw the footage of Don kicking that goal all those years later

Whilst there is a lot of diving about at the play the ball in an attempt to win a penalty, there is also a lot of messing about and actual interference at the play the ball, so if they change the ruling to one you suggest we might see an even further increase in the messing about at the play the ball due to been a lesser punishment should they get punished in the first place.

Why not just start penalising the attacking player for his over drama? Similar to diving in football, this should act as a deterrent and make players think twice about throwing themselves on the floor.

A minor point,never realised that the national anthem was played after the match in those days ,when did this change?.My memories are of the band of the Coldstream Guards marching onto the field playing Congratulations allthough the watersplash final would predate this i think.Must have been the quickest lap of honour on record !