[quote="The Avenger":2mljhfid]Which is exactly what I was saying, since open professionalism Union players have become fitter but they’ve also become more specialised with their skill set being peculiar to their role within a Union team. There are areas of commonality and that’s where they are behind their League counterparts. Union players simply don’t face the same level of relentless pressure and intensity and as a result their skills break down when put under the sort of pressure a top level League defence would impose.[/quote:2mljhfid] You say that, but there is no recent example of Union player playing League to prove your point. Of course a player going either way has to learn the game, which Burgess proved. I've played both at a decent level and I've talked at length to a senior coach of both games (I assume it's the same one) A rugby union scrum half is always under pressure, can pass further than most and can kick. They still have to learn the game. You might even play them at hooker in our game if the are built like Duport. It isn't a case of not being skilled at all. You just have to fit the skill to the role. A winger or outside centre would be pretty easy to move across. A fullback is now harder because the league role has changed. Front row is almost an alien game in RU. But you'd play a number 8 at prop in league. Etc etc. Saying all that, some of the passing and catching skills in today's Ireland England game was schoolboy level!!

[quote="PopTart":333gqrb5] Saying all that, some of the passing and catching skills in today's Ireland England game was schoolboy level!![/quote:333gqrb5] Saw the result on the BBC website... So I took a quick look at the match report... I have to say I didn't recognise any of the players names on either side... But the report suggested it was a good game.

[quote="PopTart":hv46y0s9] It isn't a case of not being skilled at all. Saying all that, some of the passing and catching skills in today's Ireland England game was schoolboy level!![/quote:hv46y0s9] I never suggested they weren’t skilled at all, in fact I’ve stated a couple of times that they are skilled. I doubt it’ll be the same Coach, the guy I’m talking about was shocked by the gap between League and Union players in the common skills shared by the two codes.

[quote="Spookisback":2881mgau]Saw the result on the BBC website... So I took a quick look at the match report... I have to say I didn't recognise any of the players names on either side... But the report suggested it was a good game.[/quote:2881mgau] It was a good game, but it was made close for a long time because Ireland kept throwing dodgy passes when they were in good positions to score.

Not many have made it, no chance of rest periods in league, past players comments, also, in league they target you more, man on man to sap you, in short it's a differant game, to day I watched Ireland v England, both sides stood mainly flat with the ball, anyone coming near the man with the ball it was kicked, passing was slow ie no quick draw an man & pass, no consistant line breaks & very little anticipation in tackling on line speeds. However, rucking is very challenging !

[quote="Spookisback":33sl11sc]counted about fifty from memory before my mind wandered off somewhere, including many from Trinity ... David Jeanes and Rob Valentine as examples[/quote:33sl11sc] Haha yeah I started to eat my words as soon as I posted! Geoff Clarkson was another!