It's a shame really that most sports are measured by their International product. In most peoples eyes the International is the top of the leaderboard and rightly so, it's supposed to be the best of the best. However I've never been a fan of International sports, the quality on show is generally very poor. The Rugby World Cup was very average, the Football World Cup in 2010 was appalling. It might seem like silly comparisons but if you took one of the top 4 Premier League sides in Football and put them against England, they would absolutely destroy them. Sure, that might be because of the influx of foreign players. I think the same of a lot of sports though. This weekends Premiership had some of the best games I've ever seen, both results wise and games I've watched on the tele and saw highlights of.

I don't think it's a coincidence that while the forward dominated England game has been on the tele, the reserve players of some teams have been playing open Rugby and scoring tries for fun in the league.

Sale 46-34 Wasps - 6 tries to 3
Leicester 42-15 Newcastle - 6 tries to 2
Gloucester 29-23 - Harlequins - 3 tries to 2
London Irish 23-30 Northampton - 3 tries to 4

Sale absolutely destroyed Wasps before bringing on some subs and losing concentration and conceding 2 quick fire tries. The Gloucester and Harlequins game, from what I saw was the best advert for Union you could see. The Irish game today, again, from what I saw was really good, fast tempo Rugby.

I do think some people fail to see that it's a competitive championship, The 6 Nations. Any Englishman would have taken a 3-0 win over Wales. It was actually a decent game, played at a good pace and I think we were robbed at the end. I still say it was a try despite how many people tell me it wasn't. We are a brand new squad with brand new coaching staff and it will take time to gel. Right now it's about grinding out victories and we failed to do that yesterday. Don't be surprised with the kick fest on show when most of the squad is made up of Saracens, Northampton and Leicester players, 3 of the most forward dominating teams in the league.

Just a quick one Shark J. Didn't you have a dig at rugby league last season becuase of the high number of tries and porous defences?

I did, and I maintain that. I was at Bradford vs Wigan last week (I'm a Wigan follower, not sure fan is the right word) and there were that many tries that most people were just talking and apart from those 50 or so kids (the ultras or whatever they're called) bouncing around all day, most people knew it was over at half time and the latter tries barely got a cheer. The skill level on show was very good and it was very clinical.

I know the differences between the 2 games so I know there's more tries in League. Part of me was joking, part of me was just defending myself in favour of Union.

But you're right. I was a bit gutted that Sale conceded 3 tries. We were the first team in 61 months not to concede a try at Northampton last week and we still lost. Then we concede what sounded like 3 daft tries against relegation threatened Wasps.

To be fair, I couldn't care less right now as we are in February and looking at a Heineken Cup place, even the play-offs. Usually at this time of the year I'm moaning to everybody about relegation. So it's all good!

Shark J is a crank. I never even realised you lurked down here in the depths of this forum

By crank he means I've known him for 7 years and he didn't know I posted on here, rather than a troll or a wind up merchant. He's a Leeds Rhinos fan so he's a bit special, God bless

but then you also have the likes of Exeter... jesus christ talk about dull. i'm sure that's about 3 games involving them now with no tries at all !!

Too right. People won't shut up about Exeter and how well they've done since they've come up. They are right of course, but they're a horrible team to watch.

I'm travelling on my own to Sandy Park next weekend, 9 hours on the train in one day. I'll take any win right now but I hope we try to throw the ball around because I know they won't.

I've watched England yawnion for 40 years, granted the last 20 totals about 40 minutes, but they have never done anything but kick & play conservatively. Unless it's against Japan & they are 60 up (20 penalties) then they might throw it around for the last 5.

I enjoy both codes but after at least 40 years of watching the five/six Nations competitions I must say that the quality of european international RU is at it's lowest ebb - probably the only exiting moments have come from the Scots who have tried to play open attacking football only to throw away two games trhough inexperience and bad discipline
From what i've seen of british rugby on tv and quite a lot of live french Top 14 games this season the product is becoming more and more boring and even CA Brive are now resorting to offering deals to get the crowds in.

The only bit I have seen this year was the last 10 minutes of a Scotland game a week or 2 back. They did throw it from side to side to try & break through. But with 15 defenders stood 3m apart it is almost impossible to get through, which the Scots failed to do. I almost felt sorry for them.

It's no secret that NH union is often a chore to watch but every so often you see a game that is highly entertaining and keeps your attention for the full 80 minutes. As for negative or just plain boring, I'd include Bath and Worcester this year.

Shocking news about Otago RU. If such a famous name can go bust maybe the stories about NZRU's problems are true.