Don't get me wrong, I'm insanely jealous of the crowds and exposure (which came first?) international RU gets. Visually it's spectacular and the cash generated is invaluable.

However, as a sporting event it's dire, and getting worse. I struggle to watch the 6 Nations these days, it's that dull. Despite the media lynching over the kick & clap/penalty fest we in RL have known about and mocked for years, the game seems determined to devolve itself into the slowest sport it can. Strikes me there's a battle behind the scenes and those in favour of promoting 'core' RU values - accurate kicking and technically complex rucking and mauling - are winning.

I had a meeting this week with 2 typical 'business' types who follow RU and often take their clients to the 6 Nations. They both stated the England-Wales and Scotland-France games were "awful" and they hoped their next game in Wales would entertain their clients a bit more. It's types like these, who believe going to RU makes them one of 'the chaps' and impresses clients, who bring in cash RL needs to find. But until we can provide the facilities and events RU does, we haven't got a chance.

Yeah, we all know that's the only reason anyone watches. All those millions of people with no interest in the sport who all decide to tune in on the basis of seeing a trailer for the game on the BBC.

The Beeb have thrown plenty of money and advertising at the Winter Olympics coverage this year - I'll bet it doesn't even come close to matching their 6 Nations viewing figures.

Like it or not, there are significantly more armchair viewers interested in International RU than in International RL and would be even if the Beeb didn't show a single trailer for its games.

Challenge Cup final.

[url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/11022010/58/six-nations-bbc-drops-ball-rugby-spydercam.htmlRugby leaves viewers sick[/url

Union leaves me sick too.

I know & meet plenty of these t0ssers. However the difference is most of them woudn't know a good game of yawnion from a bad. I have seen England yawnion on & off for 40 years & I can never remember a time when they played expansive rugby (sic). As long as England are winning that's all that matters, the only reason the media is getting wound up is that they are losing regularly.

Wow, oh wow, oh wow! What an ending to the Wales game!

less than a minute to go, penalty under the posts three points behind and two men up the welsh go for goal - pathetic!

the try in extra time was good though - only for jiffy's response in commentary

and the scottish commentator

13 a side rugby, it's the future...

Bloody hell. What a game that was!

Dear me! The Scots show how to throw a win away in style.
France by 8 later on.

great game that fully enjoyed it

Forward pass not spotted in the build up to that try.

Saying that though, it's RU so I don't think forward passes matter.

Neither do knock-ons.

Unless you are going for an interception. Then you get penalised for being 'dangerously exciting'.

I thought the Scots were incredibly unlucky - couple of blatant forward passes in the build up for the last two Welsh tries.

What do the laws say about time-keeping as well? The clock had passed the 80 minute mark yet the Scots were still made to restart the game after the penalty. Surely if the ball is dead and time is up then that's the end?

My gripe with the 6 Nations is that the Irish always get favoritism from the Ref (only call every 4th knock-ons and straight reds get them a penalty) while the French and the Italians are penalised by being reffed in a foreign language. I'd love to see the Welsh and English being Reffed in Italian when playing in Paris!

Cipriani off to Melbourne. Must want to get out of the public eye. www.sportinglife.com/rugbyunion/ ... 14739.html [iThe Rebels are thought to have a playing budget of more than £5m, with other English players also believed to be on their shopping list.[/i They plan to play him at full back

Cipriani off to Melbourne. Must want to get out of the public eye. www.sportinglife.com/rugbyunion/ ... 14739.html [iThe Rebels are thought to have a playing budget of more than £5m, with other English players also believed to be on their shopping list.[/i They plan to play him at full back

Quote ="Batesy"Bloody hell. What a game that was!'" You think that was a game. Just take a look at this one!!!! news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8526566.stm

Quote ="Batesy"Bloody hell. What a game that was!'" You think that was a game. Just take a look at this one!!!! news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8526566.stm

Does anyone know when Andrew Sheridan is back

Quote ="airliebird9"You think that was a game. Just take a look at this one!!!! news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8526566.stm'" [iFor all the entertainment on offer, the match was not to everybody's taste, with New Zealand newspaper the Sunday Star Times writing it off as a "no-tackle, airy-fairy 18-try romp".[/i Farce of a game and a reet embarrassment.

Quote ="airliebird9"You think that was a game. Just take a look at this one!!!! news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8526566.stm'" [iFor all the entertainment on offer, the match was not to everybody's taste, with New Zealand newspaper the Sunday Star Times writing it off as a "no-tackle, airy-fairy 18-try romp".[/i Farce of a game and a reet embarrassment.

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
Blackheath 82 vs 0 Manchester
Sedgley Park 80 vs 3 Manchester
Manchester 3 vs 50 Cambridge
Launceston 66 vs 0 Manchester
Manchester 23 vs 45 Wharfedale
Otley 87 vs 3 Manchester
Cinderford 73 vs 0 Manchester
Manchester 14 vs 52 Redruth
London Scottish 87 Manchester 7


and so it goes on



------------- Plyd Won Dw Lost - PF -- PA -- BP - Pnts
Manchester 20 -- 0 -- 0 -- 20 -- 86 - 1751 - 0 - minus2

Quote ="airliebird9"You think that was a game. Just take a look at this one!!!! news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8526566.stm'" This result is an example of why people don't watch union in Australia. The result of a dodgy pact to play "running rugby" (ie. an agreement not to tackle each other) in a desperate attempt to get people to come back and watch it... Transparent. Utterly transparent.

Quote ="airliebird9"You think that was a game. Just take a look at this one!!!! news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8526566.stm'" This result is an example of why people don't watch union in Australia. The result of a dodgy pact to play "running rugby" (ie. an agreement not to tackle each other) in a desperate attempt to get people to come back and watch it... Transparent. Utterly transparent.

Time to pack up your kit and try something else me thinks!

Quote ="airliebird9"You think that was a game. Just take a look at this one!!!! news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8526566.stm'" You wait 100 years for a try in Union then 18 come at once.

Quote ="airliebird9"You think that was a game. Just take a look at this one!!!! news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8526566.stm'" You wait 100 years for a try in Union then 18 come at once.