It's because they are practicing their only way of winning

[url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10743886Adidas digs in as jersey row hots up.[/url
The black jerseys, with the trademark white collar and Rugby World Cup branding, cost between $190 (£95) and $220(£110) in New Zealand.

[url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/aug/08/toby-flood-jonny-wilkinson?cat=sport&type=articleFlood for me. Opinions?[/url

"[iThere will [always be 58 million people in England thinking I shouldn't be in charge of the 10 shirt.[/i" - Toby putting the rugby union calculator to good use.

At least 55m of those couldn't even tell you which club side Flood plays for.

I would go for 57.5 million.

I thought the decisive score was a try originating from a rehed move from a set piece and creating two gaps in the Irish defence. With all due respect to Scotland they turned down opportunities to kick relatively easy penalty goals to attempt scoring a try. You are confusing Scotland's lack of coherence and ability in attack with a lack of willingness to attack.

He needs to learn there are more ways to unlock a defence than hitting the gap between two players and trying to get your arms free to offload.

Two very one-dimensional players with ball in hand. If only Cipriani had put his head down and worked harder on the gaps in his game rather than putting his head down Kelly Brook's top...

To be fair, if I had a choice between playing Rugby Union and spending 'quality' time with Kelly Brook, I know which I would choose

I may even choose young Kelly over Rugby League and that is saying something

p.s. don't tell the wife any of the above

Never really understood the dislike that some RL fans show for Union.

They are different games with very different characteristics - I enjoy both (I happen to think club RL is more interesting than most club RU and international RU is more interesting than most international RL).

Lots of things that both codes can learn from each other (perhaps one day a RL player will actually learn to kick the ball properly!). In terms of creating space and opportunities there is loads that RU can learn from RL.

Having said all of which some seriously talented players have prospered in both codes (and some haven't).

Playing yawnion should leave him plenty of energy to satisfy Ms Brook.

Have you not just answered your own question there. I like Rugby League and therefore I may I dislike something that is different to it – I understand that one does not follow from the other but they are not mutually exclusive

Anyway, I don’t particularly dislike Rugby Union, I just find it infuriating – the laws of game not only allow negative tactics, they encourage it. From the scoring system to the ability to just remove the ball from the pitch when you are in defence, the laws simply don’t encourage the use of the skills that make RL great such as ball handling and attacking rugby. As said on the previous page, the more competitive and combative elements of sport such as the lineout and the scrums are being ruined by lifting and feeding (one in the law and one that is just overlooked by the ref)

Oh, and one more point – what do you mean about kicking? The attacking kicking game in RL is light years ahead of Union who simply don’t have the same variation or skill. Now if you mean a quality spiral punt into touch or a drop goal then I agree Union is ahead. If you mean top quality skills to put in attacking kicks, League is a clear winner

To sum my attitude up – when I watch Union, I am always waiting for a decent game of rugby to break out and I am usually disappointed

I think a lot of the problems in cross code debates come from people either defending their code too much, or wanting the other code to be played like theirs too much.

The people who tend to either like both, or understand both properly such as Catalancs tend to make good, unbiased posts.

I take a lot of Dunbars points, only I feel the same way about League. I like the sport, Wigan are "my team" (I put the inverted commas because I follow them but I wouldn't say I support them). I went to Warrington away in the cup and it was a great game. Shocking defence as usual (my main gripe with modern League) but entertainment wise, I won't lie - not many Union games will top that and that's from a person who heavily sides with Union.

However I also watched the 2 Challenge Cup games at the weekend and really enjoyed them, both a complete contrast to that game. I saw people on the Warrington forum slagging the Wigan/Saints game off, but I loved the tension. Leeds and Castleford was even better. League is a great sport for me when the defence is tight. Keeps you on edge all the time. I actually enjoy seeing teams kick for goal as it makes sense in games like that. Again, that's my Union side coming out but despite Sale being rubbish and now and again choosing getting beat with spirit over winning ugly - I would choose a 3-0 win over loads of tries and getting beat any day of the week. It often winds me up watching a game of League between 2 big clubs, close game, scoreline is about 8 points in it, they get a penalty and go for a set of 6. I always think common sense would say take the 2, then the crowd boo which I never like.

I agree with the things you said about the scrummaging and line-outs. I don't think the line-out is a big problem really, but it can be time consuming. Scrummaging gets worse every year. I'd hate to see the embarrassing scrum that you get in League, but it gets reset too much. They should either have a time frame or a limit on how many restarts before you award a free kick or penalty. I realise this is often the outcome anyway, but sometimes they go on for about 4 or 5 minutes and it's boring. Yet at the same time, it's an integral part of the game. When you see a side like Leicester on a good day, they can drive a team 30 metres and that's how they win a lot of their games.

As somebody said - both games could take a lot off each other. People just generally make thick points though because they expect both to be the same when they're not. The gripes I have with League, I just accept. It's the way the game is played. People expect loads of tries and not much kicking. Speaking of which though - I do have to agree with red death though. I have a lot of League fans saying their kicking game has advanced over the years and is ahead of us. Yet whenever I watch it I rarely see it. Place kicking is fine and Sinfield is one of the best in either code. But a few 40/20's a season aside, I don't think the tactical kicking is very good. Though I'm not really sure what you can praise or judge it on too much anyway. You get to the 5th tackle and hoof it into the air, now and again resulting in an error from the opponent. I don't see how that's any different to "kick and clap" as the whole point is trying to gain territory or force an error. Only I suppose you HAVE to make the kick unless you're in for a try in League