League, Union or not, did anyone watch that game today and not wonder about the massive physical effort put in by all players?

Watching union simply isn't my cup of tea. No agenda of points to be made, it just doesn't thrill me.

Watching Scotland play Union usually only re-emphasizes the point.

No, I didn't watch it.

Union is a hugely Physical game and Scotland tend to be the more Physical of the Home Nations possibly due to lack of ball handling skill, To be fair i could have kicked Matt Giteau's potential game winning conversion though.

I was mildly impressed by Scotlands defence, but it only held out due to the pathetic attack from Australia. If only their League counterparts had played like that a week ago.

Also did I hear correctly that Graham Steadman is the Scottish defensive coach?

Union attack play (when they're not too busy playing kick tennis) is just predictable and laboured, no option runners or good lines, the ball goes through every pair of hands and still obsessed with 2 meter spin passes.

Very apparent that the comentators are even fed up of their own game.

Also what is the point of contested scrims when 70% of the time they collapse in a penalty and the other 30 the feeding team retains posession?

The problem is they've made scrums too important a part of the game so teams practice them over and over and over again to the point where they've perfected techniques to bring them down or slow it all down if they think theyre losing a scrum. But thats not my main problem with Union. Apart from the lack of attacking skill obviously, the big problem is the lineouts. They reward kicking the ball into touch with a shot at regaining posession. If they did away with lineouts firstly there wouldn't be a need for 12 foot tall, big, useless 2nd rowers who's only usefulness is in the lineout and are unable to run, pass, catch, or defend. And secondly it would mean kicks would be kept in play a lot more and so someone would eventually actually have to attack with the ball in hand.

eveything about the game from the structure, laws and coaching is contrived to make it a dull spectacle.

And for those who champion it's technical elements...chess will never get me stiff either!

The scrums are impressive in a way, but once you've seen one you dont need to see another 20 in a game. As for the rucks and mauls, theyre only the equivalent technical skills as the play the ball in League, yet we dont laud the play the ball as a masterclass in technical ability.

Tis the self same ex-Cas player & coach .... Just as Mike Ford (Oldham, Wigan and Bramley coach) is on the payroll at Twickenham.

scrums and lineouts are just complicated ways of restarting the game - that more often than not lead to another restart being needed, drives me mad. watched part of the england game last week - awful stuff in the back, really think Smith will be in there in no time.

There is a "Other Sports" board you know?