Very true! But then again, that experiment doesn't appear to be working too well. I could equally see Italian domestic rugby union send its top clubs to the French lower tiers one day as well, but that's even more unlikely.

Zebre are a bit of an embarrassment, but Treviso are improving a fair bit. The national team ran Australia ragged last year. We will see how they do in 6 Nations I guess, but won't surprise me if they're above Scotland again.

I think you're right there, Jon. I'm sure a contributor on these boards said that RU is becoming an irrelevance in Scotland- repeatedly being below Italy is going to cause them even more trouble.

Rugby Union, at club level anyway, has always been an irrelevance in Scotland.

The old club sides (even in the stronger areas around the borders) used to pull in attendances equivalent to Conference football sides at best.

The national side will continue to pull in decent crowds for its half a dozen home games a year, but the club game is on its knees.

I only saw the Wales Ireland game this weekend but was quite exciting. BOD is still a class act. One of the few RU centres who knows how to draw a man and get the ball out to his winger. Most of them are actually poor at that but BOD has class oozing out of him.

Are you sure about this? Treviso have improved, having performed well in the PRO12, came within a whisker of beating Leicester in the EC and and beat the Ospreys. In the last three seasons they have beaten have beaten Scotland, France two times, unfortunate to lose to last minute kick against Ireland, lost narrowly to England and ran Austrlia very close. Italian Rugby is going through it's most consistent and successful period, so not sure where the logic is that entry to the PRO12 is not working.

Really scrappy game this. That O'Mahoney for Ireland is a sh*thouse. Hope someone gives him a smack.

For the supposed elite of their sport, the handling and general play on show whenever a bit of rain comes down is embarrassing. Was the same in France last night.

The commentators are saying it's quality.

I'm a RU fan but it always amazes me how we can be the poor relation to this.

Check this out: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21416088 Quite extraordinary really - possibly the worst defence I have seen from a pro rugby team. What a shambles!

Check this out: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21416088 Quite extraordinary really - possibly the worst defence I have seen from a pro rugby team. What a shambles!

Quote JonB95="JonB95"Check this out: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21416088 Quite extraordinary really - possibly the worst defence I have seen from a pro rugby team. What a shambles!'" Sounds like the demise of Newport Dragons might be accelerating faster than advertised!

Quote JonB95="JonB95"Check this out: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21416088 Quite extraordinary really - possibly the worst defence I have seen from a pro rugby team. What a shambles!'" Sounds like the demise of Newport Dragons might be accelerating faster than advertised!