Just to confirm for the record that according to official statistics Rugby League is the second most popular team sport in the UK after football. This is judged using the measure of the number of fans who go through the turnstiles at games over the season in domestic league competitions. Based on this Football is way ahead with over 25 million strolling through the gates. League is second with 1.64 million taking the time to have a pie and watch a game and Union is third with 1.48 million people daft enough to watch blokes have an extended cuddle, lift each other up like a chorus line and kick the ball to the fans. If anyone is interested Cricket is a distant fourth with 888,000.

Based on last full year of statistics available.

I do have a life........honest!!!

Yeah it baffles me that they brought Tindall off. He was one of the only players making proper ground. England were on a roll and were building attacking play that was fairly interesting to watch, hhhmm

english rugby union is a shambles. Martin Johnson has no coaching experience ever. fantastic player in his day but how can the national coach have no coaching experience. Its a joke. Its like putting Kelvin Skerritt in charge of england

Would agree with most of that - England played better this week but you bet Borthwick will be back providing he's fit for the Autumn Internationals.

I didnt.

I put it on for a bit, lost interest, did other stuff, then tried again.

HTH.

From the Telegraph:
Chris Ashton
A fine debut. Had a rush of blood once or twice but never overawed by the opposition or the occasion. 7

From RugbyRugby.com
Chris Ashton:
Looked good in the starting side and showed that he might develop into a dangerous attacking force on the wing at international level. Had one great opportunity to score where his chip kick was put in too early and might have backed himself better in his one-on-one with Clement Poitrenaud.
7/10