Gareth Thomas set to join Crusaders

Quote: Codarmysaint "This is just a load of crap, perpetuated by your average league fan. The backs in the guiness premiership poo all over the super duper league backs from a massive height. They are faster, stronger and far more skillful, because you see, league is going backwards. The game is just like a huge game of british bulldog where the fittest survive.

Gareth Thomas will tear it up in SL, even at the age of 36 and will be even more embarassment for our game'"

The bit in bold is correct then you go on to make a total hypocrite of yourself by posting the same and more from a Union point of view.

League has been going backwards in the last few years but the signs are now that we are moving forward again. The gap has been closed certainly by Union and I think the influence League coaches have had on this is much to do with it, the lines they run are very much the lines League players have run for a very long time.

I have experience working with both pro league and union players at a top level regards conditioning and I would say that the Union backs generally are more powerful, as this is more a requirement of the game, mainly because they need nothing like the all round aerobic capacity that a League player does. The fitness components are very different and union players can sacrifice aerobic conditioning for anearobic conditioning. League backs are asked to do far more work in a game in every aspect and this has to reflect in their conditioning.

Regards skill level in truth i think the basic levels are again pretty similar but the League lads do everything at a much quicker speed which in my opinion gives them the nod.

Regards pure sprint speed again i think there is little to choose. Union backs are a little more powerful but generally have a bit more bulk again due to the lower need for aerobic training, so generally there is little to chose from both.

Regards Thomas I think he will go well in League, he will not "tear it up" but he will not let anyone down. He is strong lad and his game has always been one of a traditional league player, ie he has a strong carry looks to run the ball when he can and cuts some good angles.

Its a shame we never got him years ago as i genuinely think he would have been a GB international, now though he will put bums on seats, will not let anyone down and will strengthen the Crusaders, which can only be good for the game in Wales.