The Main difference between league and Union is the contest for possession in Union. There has been far more of a contest in the tri-nations than certain games in the North where the idea is to slip the ball up your shirt and plod down the field so which game is really more like league?

Gareth Williams, Powys,

I just love the suggestion that the ARU has that much power in the world of rugby union that it can push these laws in.

seriously think about what stuart is saying - Australia is pushing these laws through.

think about how silly that suggestion is when you look at the structure of the IRB.

garth, london,

England 14 wins, Australia 20. England 12 wins, South Africa 17. England 6 wins, New Zealand 24. Out of 6 World Cups, 5 have been won by SH countries. That's the history. Whose rugby is more successful? The old farts still rule in English rugby. SH innovations have improved the game despite them.

Richard Whiley, Sydney, Australia

Tom Wills introduced the game to Australia in 1858. Historians can decide if he founded Aussie rules, one thing is undesputable, his game was based on watching rugby played in 'rugby UK', back then it was ball in hand, not drop kicking. The ELV's partly bring back what rugby was in its early days!

Cabello Reyes, London, England

Same old stuff from the North commentary team. The difference, despite Stuart's masterly rhetorical flourish, remains that the South play to try, the North to penalty. Even a flawed effort like last night leaves for dead watching an English team mangle the game in mire, spoiling and mediocrity.

Andrew Murdoch, Melbourne, Australia

even the Aussie centre berrick barnes agrees that the game is going league - "It was almost back in the league days.. " peronally i love union and want it to remain an intelligent game.. sats game was just rush, bash, rush, bash. but do we want to reinvent rugby league? if yes then this fan is off.

zugerman, zurich, switzerland

Until British rugby actually trials the ELV's, their criticism of them is nothing more then hysterical paranoia manefesting itself as uninformed dribble. It is quite sad that the fear and resentment by the north, to the south, is clouding what could and should be a debate about rugby and it's laws.

Joseph, Sydney, Australia

The ELVs were first tialed June 2006 at Stellenbosch University South Africa
Then Jan 2007 during Scotlands Super Cup.

They make for a great rugby, bring on the next Tri Nations game this weekend.

Micha, Palmerston North, New Zealand

The current use of the ELVs do at least give some statistical information before new rules are accepted. In the past rules were just changed without too much testing. If you look at the number of scrums/lineouts in matches before and after ELVs the number is about the same.. Yes, the aerial ping-pong was boring, but other aspects (numbers in the lineout, and 5 m back) seem to make good sense. Let the trial play itself out and see where we get to.
Very little comment about the ref in the match. Even though he stood in the wrong place several times I thought he did a very good job at the scrums. The Australia all Blacks match should be a cracker, both sides now being very adept at the ELVs and their ramifications.

PaulR, Adelaide, Aust

Im not sure what your problem is Stuart really. It was a pretty good game, a real arm wrestle with Aust just winning. I found it all pretty entertaining really. I wonder if a Jake White/ Eddie Jones coached team might have played a different game. Im becoming a bigger fan of these EVL'S each game

Andy, Edinburgh, Scotland

The Match may have been exciting to Aussies, but since it was essentially a game of rugby League, that's hardly a surprise!

I've nothing against league - if that's what Ozzies want to play, and watch, fine, go ahead, but leave RU alone. and if that means OZ leaving rugby altogether, fine, no loss.

Rugby UNION fan, Belfast, Ireland

The ELVs seem to require so much more fitness, strength, speed and skill, we are seeing rugby far beyond what we are used to. The breakdowns are ferocious and the game is becoming a real contest for the ball. Isn't this what rugby is supposed to be about?

Dave, Manchester,

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought the ELV's were first trialed in the NH in Scottish Club Rugby. The IRB received positive feeback from all and sundry so decided to trial it in the SH. This should close the current stupid debate, roll on the next Tri nations game. Should be a cracker.

Tom, Wellington , NZ

ELV's are not John O'Neill's changes, nor Australia's, nor even the southern hemisphere's. They are experimental changes commissioned, trialled and approved by the IRB. The mere fact that they have Australia's support signifies nothing. NH should trial before being critical. Enjoy the SH rugby

John , Sydney,

If this was 'rotten rugby' then I hope all Southern Hemisphere sides play 'rotten rugby' in the Northern Hemispere winter tours. They'll put 40 points on England every time.

Frank, Perth, Australia

I thought the defensive game played by both teams was worth watching. Brutal and non stop. Whatever gripe you have with O'Neill, that is your business, but damning ELV's because of it is puerile. NZ and SA are also in favour of ELV's. The game needs to evolve.

stephen, Sydney, Australia

Funny stuff, a Pom lecturing us about playing boring rugby. We'll tell you how to srummage next. And the usual rubbish about implying Smith (if its NZ its Macaw) is cheating because he plays as a true number 7 - you guys never said this when Back was in his prime doing exactly the same.

Bruce, Brissy, Australia

Well the ref was absolutely dreadful and allowed George Smith to get away with absolute murder at the breakdown. Plus not somehow noticing Matfield being taken out in the air the lineout. Nor when Barnes (maybe?) took a quick tap but failed to catch it, yet wasn't blown up for it. All a gift to Aus

Justin, London, Uk

Enjoyable game - not as great as last week - but certainly what people watch rugby for. Fewer penalties, more running, offloading & tackling. I really don't understand your gripe Stuart, it seemed pretty obvious the rules weren't at fault for the early mistakes. Stop complaining, enjoy the rugby.

G T, Shanghai, China

Australia took a scrum? No that can't be right - I have been told by journalists that there would be no scrum under the ELVs. Surely they didn't get it wrong...

GA, Hong Kong,

Another dreadful, dull, shapeless, repetitive, one dimensional pile of junk. Anyone who wants to watch this, and anyone who agrees with the ELVs, knows nothing about rugby. This garbage will be the death of the game - and all to attract a few Aussie tv viewers.

Andrew Dale, London,

Not as good as the AB / SA games but still much better than the last unwatchable world cup. ELV's are speeding up the game and the 5 metres back from the scrum is opening up space. Ref did not rule the offside line very effectively though which closed the game down a bit.

Jamie, Brisbane,

Oh Stuart. ELV this and ELV that. Let it go sunshine.!!! All will be brought into perspective when we tour in November. Same field, same rules, same ball (with the same air in it!!) - different class of players.Roll on the end of season tour.

Steve, Sydney, Australia

There has been no mention of the referee being out of position behind the wallabies ruck,hampering their attacking options.Ref also need not control the first eight in scrummage.They also have a role in game tactics.Too much time was taken up.

David Schuh, Gladstone, Australia

Agree with previous comments - the game was exciting to watch - and new laws prevent the over reliance on goal kicking which has spoiled rugby for years (particularly in thenorthern hemisphere).

Also note post match the Springboks players were not hiding behind the 'battered by NZ' excuses.

Ian, Perth, Australia

A most enjoyable match..There has been no mention of the referee being out of position behind the Australian ruck,minimising the wallabies options of attack.Ref also needs to let the first eight apply their own tactics without being too involved,afterall they are international players.

David Schuh, Gladstone, Australia

One of those nasty ELV loving Australians has just been hired to make England's backline more skillfull and entertaining.

He'll have to be a miracle worker, and you know it which is the reason for all this anti-ELV spite. England's backline is hopeless and incapable of high speed rugby.

James, Sydney, Australia

For goodness sake stop bagging the ELV's at every opportunity. They aren't meant for every game to become a try fest. The ball should be kept in play as much as possible (remember, rugby is the running game) and this they help. Try them and then comment rather than whining about some Oz conspiracy

Blair , Brisbane, Australia

It is a bit rich being lectured by the English about what is entertaining rugby! England may not have a problem with endless scrums, penalties and games with no tries, but the southern hemisphere does. It is amazing how many are willing to judge the ELVs and yet haven't seen them in practice.

Pablo, Edinburgh, Scotland

This was a good game. Never a dull moment really.

Andy, London, England

This game was so exciting. Very enjoyed. Rules more easy to understand. Before ELV`s so many stops so many penalties. Now just rugby.

Mayuki Okuno, Osaka, Japan

In their wildest expectations the Boks could not have imagined coming off this tour with more than five points. They are well positioned and look sitters to take the Tri Nations if they can beat the AB's in the "Throwdown in Capetown". What a game that will be if both teams run out their best.

John Silich, Aspen, USA

I enjoyed the game, it wasn't a "PowderPuff" back dominated game (as dreading by UK Fans) rather it demonstrated that ELVs such as space behind a scrum and quick restarts add to the game - who would have thought Aus would choose, win & score from scrum against SA

M, NY,