Cracking the Code

Even those who refer to our great sport as “Egg Chasing” will admit when pressed that they both respect and to a certain extent envy how Rugby Union’s values of the past have remained prominent despite the evolution of the professional game. This Saturday and last provide the perfect examples of these values and traditions. Let us rewind to Twickenham last Saturday, when with half time just a kick away Dylan Hartley took exception to Wayne Barnes’ decision to award a scrum penalty to the Tigers. Hartley renowned for his unforgiving competitive edge that has too often left him in more than spot of bother had once again crossed the line between tenacity and the unacceptable. In the heat of the Aviva Premiership’s showcase match Hartley lost control for a split second and in doing so not only cost his Saints team their shot at the title but also prematurely ended his season, when he would have had a 3 way battle royal for the Lions number 2 jersey firmly on his agenda. Any Match of t

30 April 2013 - Just after 11 am BST today I put Sky Sports News on my phone at a volume barely above silent to watch Andy Irvine read out the names of the 37 men entrusted by Warren Gatland and his brains trust to create their own Lions history down under. Moments after the squad had been finalised the rugby community across social media platforms went into a frenzy, everyone desperate to give their opinion on those who had or in most cases hadn't made it. The consensus being that messrs Wilkinson, Robshaw and Best and been particularly unlucky to have not booked themselves Today's selection was the beautiful crescendo to months of deliberation, debate and discussion that dominated Saturday evening discussions in Rugby Club's throughout the Britain and Ireland. Nobody will argue that Gatland and his colleagues didn't do their research, he and his team have been everywhere over the past season studying potential Lions in their many different habitats. My comments and