They won't change the rules too much. If they did, and made it impossible for sides with nothing other than a scrum, lineout and spoiling tactics to compete against a pacy and athletic back division, they'd get far more one-sided results. That's exactly what happens in league - and is one reason why our international competition is less of a 'spectacle' than Union.



If they changed the rules to make open rugby pay off more often the northern hemisphere sides would be shown up to be as poor as their league counterparts in comparison to Aus/NZ.

Fast off the mark...

[urlhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/my_club/gloucester/8380221.stm[/url

Gloucester eye move for Tadulala... again

www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/20 ... s-strategy Another article questioning the state of entertainment in Yanwion, and another managing to avoid mentioning the elephant in the room. We all know how to improve the game as a spectacle.

www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/20 ... s-strategy Another article questioning the state of entertainment in Yanwion, and another managing to avoid mentioning the elephant in the room. We all know how to improve the game as a spectacle.

Now it's the turn of the British media to moan. Little has changed since Jonny kicked England to the union world cup. That of course was acceptable and 'stirred the nation'. It's ok for two teams to kick each other to death... as long as Jonny and the chaps win.

Indded. It's no coincidence that Rob Andrew is the man in charge of England. He was the least creative half back I think I've ever seen.

Great kicking game though







[urlhttp://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyunion/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rugby/09/11/27/RUGBYU_Sale_Nightlead.html[/url



[i'Referee David Rose was happy for the game to go ahead.'[/i



[iWasps director of rugby Tony Hanks said: "We got advice from the referee and as far as we are concerned we have gone down the right channels."[/i

Manchester 14 vs 41 Sedgley Park

Manchester 0 vs 148 Esher

Nuneaton 95 vs 0 Manchester

Manchester 12 vs 145 Blaydon

Wharfedale 124 vs 5 Manchester

Manchester 3 vs 93 Otley

Manchester 3 vs 93 Cinderford

Redruth 91 vs 5 Manchester

Manchester 0 vs 93 London Scottish

Stourbridge 95 vs 5 Manchester

Manchester 0 vs 59 Newbury

Tynedale 93 vs 0 Manchester



And after a week off nothing changes



Blackheath (40) 82 Manchester (0) 0







-------------- Plyd Won Dw Lost - PF -- PA -- BP - Pnts

Manchester 12 -- 0 -- 0 -- 12 -- 33 - 1211 - 0 - -2

Double that indeed - the current men at the top of English rugby in Johnson and Andrew both achieved their success as players in England sides that played a 10-man game of kick, chase, pressure and convert your penalties.



No surprise their current charges have amassed one try in 240 minutes this Autum, late on against a tiring, under strength Argentina side.



Of the three home nations in action this weekend, not one of them managed to cross the opposition try line. Kind of sums up the northern hemisphere approach to the game.

I have never seen England play expansive wugger in the near 40 years.

Attempts to do so arguably cost Dick Best and Andy Robinson their jobs, when the players proved incapable of the basic skills required.

[url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/dec/02/coventry-rugby-club-liquidationCoventry Rugby Club put into liquidation[/url



It has been a bleak season for clubs in the Championship with three clubs facing financial difficulties, Coventry following in the footsteps of London Welsh and Birmingham and Solihull.