I could see North would be a sucess in League...but Farrell, as mentioned, doesn't really offer enough to make the top grade. He has a good kicking game and is solid in defence, but lacks pace to break the line.

North though.....what a monster. Just watch is try verus the Aussies in the first Lions test. The guys he out paced and stepped around are world class defenders. No mean feat.....also love how he picked Falou up and just ran with him on his shoulders.

He is only young (21 I believe) so could move on after his 3 yr deal at Northampton ends.

The issue is that league doesn't even come close to the global game of union. Until League can step up and produce a worthy international tournament and game, players will stay in union....the Lions, RWC and 6Nations is massive money, business and most importantly to the player....exposure. League unfortunately can't even come close to that.

Probably because the fans don't go to representative games with the sole intention of booing players who don't play for their club. They go to enjoy the occasion and the game, and to support their team. Something that rarely happens in British RL

Fully agree. I can't stand Yawnion, but have found myself watching the Lions Tests. Got to admire how they sell the game, I've been suckered by the hype!

Same. I watched the first test and actually enjoyed it. The 2nd test was absolutely appalling though. There was tension towards the end given the close scoreline but it was about as interesting to watch as most of the games I've seen over the years...I give it chance after chance to impress me but on all but maybe a couple of occasions it fails.

Works for Sinfield although Sinfield would not survive in the NRL, perhaps more of a standard if SL issue.

That's partly because well over half the people who go to RU internationals don't support a club. But the point still stands why should the media get all excited by international RL when the average fan doesn't.

To get a ticket to England RU at Twickenham (unless it is against a mediocre team) you need to be a member of a club. Most people who are members of clubs locally would support their nearest local professional team. The fans don't boo the team/players because they aren't of the football fan mentality (which I sadly say is the challenge the RFL are starting to face with SL supporters now). There is a difference between being vocal/supportive in order to create an atmosphere....and then being plain chavy and abusing the players/officials etc.

After being an RL fan since the mid eighties this is part of the reason why i now follow my local Union team. I can go to a game for a decent price, in pleasant surroundings, buy good quality refreshments, and can stand with people who can take their drink who don't resort to effing and blinding and general aggresive behaviour at every opportunity.

Very true rupert bear....... but don't let the chavs hear you say that....they'll be outraged!

I agree with a few on here. THe 1st Lions test was a good, intense game with some decent rugby. The 2nd was godawful - back to the boring kickfests that we all know and love. The fact that matches tend to be decided by who kicks the most or misses the most is ridiculous and a lot of my union-loving mates acknowledge this.

But because of the media love they're shown, you would think this was the greatest test series on earth. Inverdale on 5 Live the morning after the second test was bigging up that dross so much it was embarrassing but people will listen and believe it and watch the third test on the back of it.

I asked a friend at work bangs on about the union internationals, which of his local clubs he supports? He didn't have one! I wonder how many people that go to union internationals and talk about them actually support a club or have even gone to a domestic match? This is the kind of thing we're competing against - union is engrained in certain areas of society and it does my head in!

Someone posted the stats from the Aus v Lions 2nd test match.
The Lions didn't score a try and didn't make one clean break. That's like a soccer match where one team doesn't score a goal nor have a shot at goal all game.
In the Union game there'd have been 60 infringements and stoppages in play and that's why I don't watch it.
I accept that about Unions fans, though what puzzles me is that when the ref blows for an infringement and you ask them what it's for no one ever knows.

Have to admit that in yawnion, there is more of a sense that speccys go to enjoy the game, rather than slag off their opponents. Haven't been to many games but in a Bath v Gloucester, which is like Wigan v Sts, or Hull v HKR for rivalry, the banter was good humoured, as it used to be in RL. Good play was applauded by all on the very few occasions that it happened.

Lol, I can just see hkr fans applauding good play by hfc or visa versa! Union sounds like it has no concept of tribalism or rivalry?

I learned the lesson ages ago. Give it all a wide berth. (much) Hype over substance every single time.

Money makes the world go round and we have none. The players talked about wouldnt look at any SL offers. NRL possibly but then again i think they could survive without and find themselves in a warm sunny country playing the game they know well down in France where the salary cap is even higher.

We have MANY of the most recognisible faces in this country watching/tweeting/attending our sport and nothing is being done to coax them into a studio or a microphone on Sky to talk about it. Elite sports celebrities are the best people to network with and try and bring together, they get each other and they are often happy around people like themselves.
We have the biggest headline maker of the Olympics last year watching one of our biggest teams and the best we can do is an advert which I havent seen in months now.

The RFL are perhaps THE worst networking organisation in the world. From Wiggins and his SkyProCycling team you could get Jaguar, Gatorade and Oakley. From Rooney et al you could get Nike, adidas, Puma, DHL, multiple betting companies, Nokia, Ford, Coke, Pepsi, wine companies and more.
England RU have car sponsors, more than one communication sponsor, drink (both alcoholic and athletic) sponsors and more.

More sponsors would increase the profile of the game and bring more money in.All it needs is one person who can stand up infront of these companies and make a clear, sound succinct point selling our fantastic game. Shame we stick Nigel Wood infront of any would be sponsors and they get shot down because they dont fit the criteria that are allowed to sponsor RL.

Our game is a shambles compared to the organised and focused lot down there.

We have Irn Bru in our pockets you fool.

And dont forget Big Soup, cant get much bigger than that

Elephant Soup.

Stop embarrassing yourself.

Do elaborate, who's better then Folau in RU. Please don't say George '10 metres' North.

Rugby Union players better than Folau:

Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, David Pocock, Will Genia that's four of the top of my head, If we are going for better International wingers then that's Julian Savea off the top of my head.

and not one of them are getting the world wide media coverage folau is attracting. Dan carter lol great kicking game but anything else and folau is better, julian savea is a good powerful winger but if you don't give him room like digby he will be quite unlike folau where he will just out jump anyone or find space that a over sized winger wouldn't. david pocock and richie McCaw are great union players but there isn't a more athletic player in world rugby that folau.

North not heading south NRL clubs have been advised to keep their hands off British and Irish Lions winger George North, whose battle with Wallabies star Israel Folau has been a highlight of the rugby Test series. Sin Bin revealed at the start of the Lions tour several NRL clubs were interested in North and five-eighth Owen Farrell, the son of former Great Britain and Wigan captain Andy Farrell. But North's agent Christian Abt said the 21-year-old Welsh star would not consider a code switch before 2017. ''It is flattering to receive such possible interest,'' Abt told Sin Bin. ''[But George has recently signed a three-year deal to Northampton Saints.'' Read more: www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... z2YD2eKVQM

North not heading south NRL clubs have been advised to keep their hands off British and Irish Lions winger George North, whose battle with Wallabies star Israel Folau has been a highlight of the rugby Test series. Sin Bin revealed at the start of the Lions tour several NRL clubs were interested in North and five-eighth Owen Farrell, the son of former Great Britain and Wigan captain Andy Farrell. But North's agent Christian Abt said the 21-year-old Welsh star would not consider a code switch before 2017. ''It is flattering to receive such possible interest,'' Abt told Sin Bin. ''[But George has recently signed a three-year deal to Northampton Saints.'' Read more: www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... z2YD2eKVQM

Oh dear we have another one, I agree you get voted the Best Player in The World just because you have a great kicking game

You mean like all the room Israel Folau got in the first test

He has started with good promise but he's achieved nothing as an International Rugby Union player yet, Looking good against a Lions team thrown together for a tour with not much time to build a solid defensive structure is hardly like impressing against the All-Blacks or Spring Boks, The comment wasn't about who was more athletic he said Folau was the best player in Union which is an absolutely ridiculous statement.

no i'm not just going on internationals as he has only played 2 games and has looked like 1 of the best players on the pitch in both games, i'm basing it of the super rugby comp as well where every week he gets a lot of attention of other teams and commentators also he has the best try scoring ratio. Really you dont get voted best player becuase of a kicking game in union?

are you sure? Owen Farrell was on the shortlist last year! He is the best player in union at the moment and thats why the ARU are going to bend over backwards to sign him up so he doesn't leave similar to sonny bill.