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How much more were we looking forward to Saturday when Danny Cipriani was in the England team? We neutrals would have been craning forward in our seats, especially those of us who regard Cipriani as among the greatest young talents we have ever seen. Some of his play for Wasps this season, even as a kid in high-octane fixtures, has been breathtaking - sometimes fallible, but breathtaking.

Scotland would have been craning forward too. Mike Blair is on record as saying that Cipriani would be targeted under the high ball and that the full resources of Scotland, the team and followers and rain-dancers, would be employed to try to shake the young man to his boot studs. Exactly as it should be.

Now, with his withdrawal from the team for "inappropriate behaviour" there is a sense of loss, and a sense of let-down - and also concern for Cipriani. He is a brilliant talent but you always suspected that there were complications below the surface, perhaps even a dark side, and that his own relentless, driven personality, his supreme dedication, may have an effect, a reaction. He is also a young man, and because of his life as a precocious young player in academies and rugby scholarships, he is someone who missed out on his teenage wastrel years.

The incident will probably double the public and media attention and people will worry that rugby has, if in a different key, its own George Best. Yet I have the strong feeling that Cipriani will hold up under pressure. To me, the sole threat to him is his own character. Off the field he needs to sort himself. On the field he is not in the least inclined, as so many other England players have always been inclined, to let the match slide away from him. He will be bold, he will try to impose himself. But will he time it correctly, or will he become dangerously speculative in his career?

If he copes with his own demons and if on the field he chooses his moment, he could be dynamic and an all-time great. He has a vision of the game beyond his years, he has an authority, he has a superb kicking game which is still improving, and he is tough. And far from the least of his virtues is that he is devastatingly fast - he may well have been the fastest man on the field on Saturday.

People have accused me of double standards, that I always deny the right of callow young men to make Test teams. Wrong. I hate it when youngsters of promise are brought in, just for the sake of youth, before they have a track record. Cipriani has that track record. He has won major matches, he has played in the Heineken Cup final like a veteran. He is ready.

For me, the ability is a given, beyond any doubt. Now the attention switches to his ability to behave properly and to bounce back immediately, toeing the party line. We will sadly miss him on Saturday but at present it is far more important that there will be more Saturdays in future.

Don't be a law-breaker, John

John O'Neill, now making a prodigal's return as the chief executive of the Australia Rugby Union, is famous as the man who came up with the "everyone hates England" comment during the Rugby World Cup. He was almost carpeted by the IRB under one of those "bringing the game into disrepute" charges.

Forget that. His tongue was firmly in his cheek. O'Neill is a decent bloke and a splendid administrator. He is high-profile, he fixes things. You hear from him. He gave us a brilliant World Cup in 2003 and it is good for the game that he is back and barking as loud as ever.

But this week he was wrong, dead wrong. I am delighted to report that, according to southern hemisphere sources, at the recent meeting of all the top union chief executives the Wales, England and Ireland unions came out strongly against the silly and unnecessary Experimental Law Variations.

O'Neill was annoyed. "They haven't even trialled them ... they still think it is a southern hemisphere plot, and they have this suspicion that they were introduced by us to overcome our scrummaging problems." Yes John, we do think it is a southern hemisphere plot and we do think that your scrum problems have galvanised your support for the sorry bunch of silly laws. Granted, the IRB originated the process but it has been hijacked by the usual gang of lovers of frothy rugby and those who spend earnest hours with a stopwatch to see how long the ball is in play.

But there is something else O'Neill is missing. His rugby is struggling (mostly because in their earlier frothy phase they forgot about props). The opposition in the northern hemisphere is only tangentially to do with the desperation of the south to ruin the game. In Europe, where the sport has never been so popular and where rugby in many styles is thriving, we simply cannot see what is broken and needs fixing. We cannot see why on earth so much time and effort is being spent on something that is not needed. And why the game is being put at risk.

We need winners

After so much effort, after so many high-profile games, we really do want an outright winner of the RBS Six Nations. It seems that unless Wales can upset the odds in Dublin then at least two teams may finish level on points at the very end.

Is it not now time for the Championship to revert to the norm in terms of tie-breaking? Simple points difference is a rather rudimentary means of deciding so big an event. Starting next season, they should bring in the bonus for the four tries, the bonus for finishing within seven, giving at the same time an incentive for more scoring and for the losing team to keep going. If everything is still tied at the end of all that, they should award the title to the team playing in a stadium with a sliding roof.

What do you think? E-mail Stephen at rollingmaul@thetimes.co.uk with your opinion and he'll reply to the best of the letters next week. Just remember to enter through the gate - don't stray offside

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>>>>>LIST OF THE WEEK<<<<<

My top 5 good old rugby league-speak expressions and their translation into reality:

1. "This game is a great advertisement for the code!" (it's 6-0 after a reasonably mundane first half)

2. "The headlong spread of rugby league continues" (Harlequins have decided to put up with the loss-making league arm for at least another month)

3. "He was always useless anyway/his knees are shot and we got the best of him/he will walk into the England team/he just wants a retirement pension/he will find it so soft down there it isn't true" (another major rugby league player is about to cross codes)

4. "Unlike rugby union, the rugby league play-off system is fair, relevant, exciting and better" (we have to find yet another way of having the five top teams play each other yet again)

5. "Catalans Dragons are making inroads into the whole of Catalonia and they are changing the face of French sport" (Two local shopkeepers have put up their fixture list in the window, L'Equipe mentioned them only last month and they now have only 78 Australians in the squad, down from 86)

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The Stephen Jones Debate

Let's begin by de-bunking the myth that Culloden was about Scots vs English. It was not. The Battle of Culloden was an act in a long-running conflict between regimes, based upon religious differences which persist to this day, particularly in Scotland - look up the 1715 & 1745 Jacobite rebellions. England to hump Scotland by some 30 points on Saturday. The Dreaded Silver Croc, Innerleithen.

SJ: Fair enough Croc, though I don't think the various Clan armies contained a lot of Bagshot stockbrokers. I was not even trying to equate the stakes in a silly rugby match with something so tragic as Culloden. But I was hinting that somewhere, deep down, there must surely be some kind of hidden but profound spirit which would help the Scotland team and followers on Saturday. You haven't all become genteel, have you?

Where has this misconception that the Scottish 8 is some kind of mean machine arrived from? Frankly the Scottish pack is vastly overrated. They are lumbering, slow to the breakdown and ponderous with ball in hand. There seems to be this bizarre idea that the Scottish pack has improved just because they have bulked up and Hadden has picked the giant Hines and Hamilton. This hasn't improved Scottish efforts to effect quick phase ball. Furthermore, pundits tend to neglect the presence of the diminutive Jacobsen and the mildly built Kerr. Equally the Scottish lineout is much shakier since the withdrawal of Murray and the throwing-in of Ford is more miss than hit. The scrummage was smashed by South Africa pre-World Cup, Italy in the World Cup and gained no purchase whatsoever from the hardly terrifying Irish pack. Hadden's insistence on muscle has affected the Scottish ability to last a full 80 minutes and thus traditional Scottish strengths such as the lineout and the quick counter ruck have all too easily been made redundant. Where is the Scotland of old? Poor, poor Finlay Calder. Benjamin Saunders, Beckenham.

SJ: Phew. I feel that I could take on the Scotland pack having read that, Benjamin. Scotland have never again been so good since they took away the proper, sweeping ruck.

I notice that you have left Chris Ashton from your list. Oh wait, he's playing rather well for Northampton isn't he? Also, didn't Connolly come out of retirement to play for Munster? Noel, Isle of Man

SJ: I gather from friends that my column last week has caused a few Public Relations men to respond. Yes, Connolly did come out of retirement to play for Munster. Badly. Chris Ashton, if and when he proves himself in the real thing, may be the first to buck the trend. Or he may not.

I agree with most of your assertions on rugby league cross-overs but in some cases you are being far too harsh. Lote Tuqiri, Mat Rogers and Andy Farrell weren't as bit a success in union as their league reputation might have indicated, but I'm disappointed you didn't acknowledge the form of Brad Thorn and Timana Tahu, newly converted and playing for the NSW Waratahs. Dan, Sydney.

SJ: Dan, the only criteria for success MUST be that they justified their often-huge transfer fees. The point is that everyone on the list I gave could have been replaced by a young union kid doing a better job. Tahu is an infant in union terms, though you will have seen him more than me. Thorn is very much military medium as a union player.

Not so sure what your point is with the league players, I haven't seen so many union boys make a difference in that code either. There have been some decent league players in union: I recall Tana Umaga played for the Junior Kiwis way back in the day. Piri Weepu, Ma'a Nonu are players also. Brad Thorn got picked for the All Blacks but was modest enough to turn them down saying that he didn't think his game was at the level required and is now back playing in the Super 14 extremely well. Must say that I'd like to see some World Cup finals where the teams manage to score a try between them, or are you just scared that the northern hemisphere boys can't catch and pass to save themselves (unless they have a southern hemisphere coach)? Tim Holmes, Zimbabwe

SJ: Tim, sorry to leave you in the dark with my point about league players in union. They are rubbish. Hope that's clearer.

I just wanted to say congrats on another fine article. The tosh about the Scottish was a little predictable, no doubt they will roll over with the usual good grace, but I was pleased to see a fine long dig at our league friends from the north. Their World Challenge Cup nonsense is always good for a laugh, and I can hardly wait for the news from their attempts at running a World Cup. Clive Woody

SJ: Is that Sir Clive? It's great to see the "World" Crown coming home to England though.

Although I don't always agree with you, I always respected your opinion on rugby matters. I am afraid you let yourself down either by sheer dishonesty or total incompetence in your knowledge of the French game and the French players. Trinh-Duc Parra, Nallet and Picamoles were seen by all the French press and also by the Daily Telegraph as the best players for their team against England. Nallet was also the best player for France in last year's Six Nations and was voted player of the year by his peers in December. Just because you don't like Lievremont's experiments doesn't justify being so blinkered when it comes to recognising new talents. Emmanuel Bevillon, Surrey

SJ: Emmanuel, don't you want the best French team to be chosen to play for your country? And since when has the Daily Telegraph been the fount of wisdom and competence? I have seen Mick Cleary play rugby, you know. To be serious, Test rugby is a full-on battle, otherwise you get meaningless friendlies like they have in football.

I have been looking with interest at the experimental laws as implemented in the Super 14s. Why change the laws? When you look at other major sports such as basketball, football, cricket, American football, ice hockey, baseball, and dare I say rugby league, I can't remember the basic rules of the game being changed, apart from the odd clarification. There appears to be a desire in the southern hemisphere to change the sport into something different, something possibly more suited to their harder grounds. My second line of thinking is how the ELVs are shaping up. There is no doubt that there is a lot more running about than before and the game does look more flowing. Is this better though? If we head down this path we will end up with a game that only athletes can play. The big attractions of rugby are: 1) a wonderful combination of power confrontation with occasions of balletic creativity, and 2) There is a position for everyone. We should rejoice that there is a sport that someone like Darren Crompton can excel at. Take away the power confrontation and the need for every body type and the ruin of the sport that we know and love begins. What strikes me about the S14 is that no one in the crowd really seems to care who wins or loses. Not surprising when you hear the commentators talk about them as 'franchises'. Who wants to support a franchise? The southern hemisphere have ruined the governance and structure of their game and now it seems they may be successful in changing the nature of the game for everyone. Hang on, maybe they should split off and form a new game - call it League Rugby! Brian Browne

SJ: Brian, I hope the IRB are reading (and they do, believe me). Who says that faster is better? Brilliant thoughts, mate, and you will be pleased to hear that the Home Unions chief executives gave the laws a pasting at the meeting last weekend. Thank you.

You are paid to write about rugby union so why are you writing about rugby league? Is it because you see it as a threat? It won't be long before the game either dies or reverts back to amateur status in Australia. Rugby league as a spectacle is far more entertaining than rugby union - a game that's riddled with penalties, kicking and constant stoppage of play. The players in the game have now lost the basic handling and passing skills that union was first invented for. Rugby league players are still miles ahead in fitness levels, pace, handling and kicking skills, and having to pass and think at extreme high speed. Also please remember this: union has not only imported players and coaches from rugby league but also: sin-bin, leagues, play-off formats, video refs, stop clock for game time, Challenge Cup. Next they will be disbanding the lineouts, reducing the players to 13 and having a six tackle rule. Rob Parkes

SJ: A threat? Yes, everyone in union is terrified. The appeal of union has smashed league's aspirations to bits. And I have really bad news for you - sin-bin, leagues, play-off, video replays, stop clock. Sorry to shatter your illusions but league invented none of them. It is a wholly derivative sport.

I watched my first full game under the ELVs over the weekend and it did nothing to change my view that their introduction would be disastrous. I have always been a little dubious about claims that union is becoming too much like league but under the new laws the similarities are too obvious to be ignored. Breakdowns were even less contested than normal, there were almost no running lines and it was one-paced and sterile with an awful lot of unproductive, lateral movement. We are told that the new laws will keep the ball in play for longer but what sort of a measurement is that? I'd rather see 40 minutes of quality than 60 minutes of unstructured mediocrity. The laws claim to speed the game up but actually achieve the opposite because players are unable to unleash any of their explosive dynamism after running around so much. Rugby league overcomes this by using rolling subs but I don't think anyone is suggesting that union should go the same way. If you like a flowing but rather more one-dimensional game, and if you judge a match by how long the ball is in play, watch rugby league. If you like a multi-dimensional game which, while sometimes ugly, contains a clear ebb and flow and many shades of grey, watch rugby union. I am not criticising either game, but they are different and each have their own distinct attractions. Let's keep it that way. Stuart Peel

SJ: Stuart, sometimes I find someone coming up with words which render all my verbose ranting a waste of time. I am going to treasure this line and am going to repeat it frequently. "I'd rather see 40 minutes of quality than 60 minutes of unstructured mediocrity." The perfect savaging of the ball-in-play rubbish.

As a lover of all parts of the game, I am finding the running down of the clock by the side in front to be a real pain. Due to the rule where you can only get to the ball by coming through the middle of the ruck, the attacking team make it virtually impossible to do this, and referees jump on players who do not abide rigidly to it. If you watch the last five minutes of England v Wales, the Welsh did it, then in the England v France game, the English used it. It's time to act before it gets any worse. You could either tell the attacking side to use the ball, as in a rolling maul that becomes static, or when the ball is sat at the back of a ruck while the scrum half is having a 20-second look around the park, allow the defending side to come round the ruck and pick it up. What do you think? Mark Harriman

SJ: Mark, first of all I do like the running down of the game clock, it adds massively to the drama. However, I also detest the endless, crabbing static rucks, whether or not they are being used to run down the time. I usually campaign for the laws to be left well alone but I do have great sympathy with your suggestion. They can definitely call the ball out more often, allowing the other team to pile round. Anything else would be radical but it is unfair if one team can effectively just stop playing.

You allude to the Battle of Culloden with reference to the upcoming Calcutta Cup match, but Culloden was not a Scotland v England clash as there were as many Scots fighting for Cumberland as Charlie. More London Scottish v Hawick - we're going back a bit here! Mac Baldwin, Inverness. PS. the visitor centre at Culloden has been upgraded recently and is worth another visit.

SJ: Mac, sorry and you are of course correct. Sometimes there haven't been that many Scots in the rugby team either.

Re the ongoing Celtic Nations structures debate ... Ireland's provincial system is flawed but it is still the best available to us. We do not have the numbers to support a league of professional teams. The thought of Irish AIL teams such as Shannon and Garryowen with a splattering of international players mixed with club-standard journeymen representing Ireland in the Heineken Cup does not bear thinking about. And it should also be said that the Heineken Cup would be a lesser tournament with sub-standard Irish teams; think of how much a competitive Munster team has added to the competition. The solution is to keep the provincial structures but any young internationals-in-waiting need to be shipped out asap, even if we have to import provincial back-ups from abroad. No prospective international should be spending his season dipping in and out of the sub-competitive Celtic league if and when his international counterpart is unavailable. Leave that job to the Paul Warwicks of this world - that's what we pay them for! Eamonn Dunne, Limerick

SJ: Eamonn, I have to hold up my hands and agree with many of your points, especially the incredible role that Munster have played in the Heineken Cup. It is just that with only three really top-line pro teams, you are choosing from a tiny base. I too feel that sending players to gain a grounding offshore is an idea with merit. Ireland should trust the England and French leagues to hone their players.

Regarding the Experimental Law Variations I decided that I had to watch Super 14 to see what you were on about. Ten minutes into the match I was quietly contemplating suicide. Further to this I watched the Sky Thursday night programme on which Dewi Morris thought it was wonderful to speed up the game while Will Greenwood thought it would suit the sort of quick ball England enjoyed against France. I was saddened by the sight of grown men being so very stupid. England's forwards should be charged with bringing the game into disrepute. They ambled to lineouts, then held a committee meeting before getting on with the game. Rugby has evolved over the years. The equipment has improved (boots, ball) and levels of fitness have improved.Peter Brown, Bridgend (Mr Brown also highlighted his thoughts on EVERY one of the Experimental Law Variations, something this parish just does not have room to accommodate. He did kindly sign off with: "Sorry I have banged on for so long, I just care about the game.")

SJ: Peter, thanks so much for a wholly magnificent contribution and for heroic service in watching the Super-14. There is a huge politically correct body of opinion which is desperate to praise anything fast and frothy and anything Kiwi. I knew we could trust someone from Bridgend to see things in the right way. Thanks too for your comment on each of the ELVs.

Your articles are always entertaining and I broadly agree with most of your views. However, I fail to understand why you seem so keen to irritate the rugby league fraternity. I am a fan of both codes and see no reason why they cannot rub alongside each other for the foreseeable future. It really does get irritating when leading pundits in either union or league take cheap shots at each other. Jason Robinson was certainly not a one-off in that Lote Tuqiri is pretty well an Australia equivalent. Granted, his behaviour occasionally lets him down but how can you not rate him as a stellar player in both codes? Ashley Silverton

SJ: Ashley, I see your point but Tuqiri really needs to grow up and start playing. The codes do not rub alongside each other. Apart from a few tiny areas of the planet, union has nothing to rub against.

I agree that the cross-border shopping for players has been a complete failure. Many come promising grandeur and a superiority in defence, running lines like no other and bags of tries to save even the weakest of union sides. There is a reason England aren't putting the ball in the Volcano's hands - the fear that he won't know what to do with it, which will highlight another international player picked for what he has done, not what he can do. No doubt Vainikolo is a good footballer, but there are the likes of Cueto, Lewsey and a string of other true union players that could better fit the part with half the work to be put into them. JC Gilbert, Ontario, Canada

SJ: Mr Gilbert, the ignoring of Josh Lewsey is a disgrace, and the lionising of poor Vainikolo disturbing.

Can you please explain to me how you think that 4.2 billion watched the rugby union World Cup when only 33 million people watched the final worldwide? There were 48 games at the World Cup and even if every game was watched by 33 million it would still be way short of your figure. 48 games x 33 million is way less than half the figure you claim. David Barnard

SJ: Statistics taken from the official record of RWC 2007.

Can you offer any explanation for Eddie O'Sullivan's refusal to pick Geordan Murphy? He had a cracking game last weekend, and that came after O'Sullivan confirmed that Girvan Dempsey would be back from injury and in the team for Ireland's next match. Also, Balshaw at full back? He was reasonable going forward, but why won't Brian Ashton pick Josh Lewsey? I'm not sure that suggestions that Cipriani should be in there are warranted though. With Vainikolo on the wing we'd have a pretty inexperienced back three. Andy Rolfe, Sheffield

SJ: I always feel that O'Sullivan is blinkered went it comes to choosing superior players who happen to make their living outside the country, and the treatment of Geordan has been dire. It is amazing that he retains his confidence.

At last someone has the gall to adequately condemn the poisonous infusion of rugby league game plays and defensive systems that have all but choked our wonderful game to death. It almost seems like a conspiracy by rugby league to stifle our game so that league may look interesting again. Bob Tonkin

SJ: It is not the fault of rugby league, Bob. It is the union idiots who make the signings.

As a Saints fan two words spring to mind with respect to former league players plying their trade successfully in union: Chris Ashton. When he is to be found on the wing or at fullback for England for years to come, coupled with enjoying great success in the Premiership, your words may well come back to haunt you. At the very least, we the Franklins Gardens faithful promise to remind you. Ian Harwood

SJ: That is all in the future. I was assessing what has actually happened, not conjecture. I miss Franklins Gardens very badly, it will be great to get back next season.

This area of the e-mail is reserved for your views and boos. E-mail Stephen at rollingmaul@thetimes.co.uk and he'll either agree, disagree, add some insight or come back firing...

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>>>>>HERO OF THE WEEK<<<<<

Roger Lewis, chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union.

According to an informed Southern source, our hero waded into the meeting of all the chief executives last week and savaged (in diplomatic terms) the ELVs, causing Aussie and Kiwi faces to elongate. Lewis realised that to allow the game to slide into frippery, all good men must do nothing. He did something.

I must declare an interest - Lewis and I have been friends since way before I told him he had to apply for the Welsh job, but he knows that if he had supported the ELVs I would have savaged him. My round, Rog!

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The week in 60 seconds

Thursday:

CIPRIANI DROPPED FROM ENGLAND SQUAD

The precocious Wasps star has been dropped from the team to play Scotland on Saturday after being pictured leaving a Mayfair nightclub shortly after midnight.

STUART BARNES'S VIDEO ANALYSIS

The former England fly half picks out the key battles that will decide the matches this weekend.

DEAN RICHARDS AND JEREMY GUSCOTT ON THE SIX NATIONS PODCAST

The former England team-mates join Mark Souster and Stephen Jones to preview the fourth round of matches.

SHAUN EDWARDS: TWO FACES, ONE SERIOUS AND DRIVEN INDIVIDUAL

There is more to Welsh rugby's latest saviour than that brooding look.

Interview by John Hopkins

CROFT CAN SPEED TO ENGLAND'S AID

The flanker hopes to show off his pace when he wins his first full cap for England against Scotland.

Report by David Hands

Wednesday:

CIPRIANI STARTS AFTER ENGLAND LOSE PATIENCE WITH BALSHAW

The Wasps full back has been handed his first full cap after Balshaw's inability to dominate defensively has cost him his place in the starting line-up.

Report by David Hands

SCOTLAND TO TARGET CIPRIANI IN MURRYFIELD RAIN

The inexperienced full back will be tested in tricky weather conditions on Saturday.

Report by Lewis Stuart

WHITE KEPT IN RESERVE FOR SCOTLAND

The captain is fit after suffering concussion against Wales but is named only on the bench, with Alasdair Strokosch keeping his place at blind-side flanker.

Report by Lewis Stuart

GATLAND PUTS FAITH IN JONES

The Wales coach did not deny it came down to divine intervention to select Stephen Jones ahead of James Hook at fly-half for the match against Ireland.

Report by John Hopkins

O'CONNELL COULD LOCK DOOR ON WELSH AMBITIONS

The Munster lock has proved his fitness to start his first international since Ireland's ill-fated World Cup campaign.

Report by Mark Souster

Tuesday:

BRIAN ASHTON TO MAKE CHANGES ON HIS TERMS

The England coach has the perfect time to make change after his team's hard-won victory over France.

Report by David Hands

JENKINS PASSES ON SECRETS TO HIS KICKING KINGS

The Wales kicking coach wants no mention of his side's perfect kicking record in the build-up to the game against Ireland.

Report by John Hopkins

Monday:

SIMPSON-DANIEL GETS ANOTHER CHANCE TO TAKE WING

The Gloucester wing has been called into the England training squad after showing illuminating form for the Guinness Premiership leaders.

Report by David Hands

TRIPLE CROWN THE BAIT FOR HOOK

The Wales wunderkind and fly half is comfortable being compared with Dan Carter and comfortable with the ongoing debate about who should play No 10 for his country - himself or Stephen Jones.

Interview by Mark Souster

EASTER COMES TO HARLEQUINS' AID BUT WOUNDS ENGLAND CHANCES

Victory over Gloucester came at a high price for the Harlequins and England No 8, who aggravated a knee injury.

Report by Matthew Pryor

BATH SATISFIED WITH SUBSTANCE OVER STYLE TO STAY IN CONTENTION

The club will not worry about the style of their first victory in Bristol for ten years after a derby match at Ashton Gate distinctly short of inspiration.

Report by David Hands

Sunday:

JONNY WILKINSON - PLAYING FOR FUN

England's star stand-off has cast off the demons that drove him to the top of the game - and to the depths of despair.

The big interview by David Walsh

PLAYING THE WAY THAT PAYS

The team with the most creativity will be the one to triumph in the Six Nations.

Analysis by Stephen Jones

FLOOD MUST TOUGHEN UP TO OPEN ENGLAND GATES

The Newcastle centre can be the new Greenwood for England - as long as he stops wanting to be Wilkinson.

Analysis by Jeremy Guscott

IRELAND V WALES: THE CROWN DUEL

Wales put their hopes on the line in what should be a classic match in Dublin.

Analysis by Stuart Barnes

GATLAND AND O'SULLIVAN SET FOR REMATCH

Brace yourselves for the Eddie and Warren show. The Rematch, The Return, The Revenge...

Comment by Peter O'Reilly

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Things you need to know about rugby: No 5

THE DANGER OF THE SALARY CAP

Every employer of professional rugby players in the southern hemisphere and in rugby league has suddenly realised two things. First, the salary cap imposed on the English clubs (well, imposed on the few who bothered to stick to it) rises in real terms by £1m next season. Secondly, with England squad players away for longer periods under the new RFU/PRL agreement, the clubs will be targeting outsiders.

Cue general panic, urgent meetings between unions, agents and players and an attempt by Australia to bring in a system in which countries would be compensated for the loss of players they nurtured (dangerous, since New Zealand and Australia would then owe millions to the Pacific Islands).

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2

The number of victories Scotland have enjoyed in their past 17 matches against England

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Suggestions, fan mail and complaints: rollingmaul@thetimes.co.uk -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Suggestions, fan mail and complaints: rollingmaul@thetimes.co.uk