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Jake White's third way

It is an agonising, slow-moving, frustrating story and reflects badly on England rugby. Everyone now agrees with that. As our little old Sunday Times said last week, Martin Johnson has been offered full control over the England team. Everyone, surely, is united in sympathy for Brian Ashton as speculation continues and negotiations about his job are effectively conducted behind his back.

Admittedly, I cannot claim to be behind the concept of retaining Brian as a supremo because in his heart, I believe he realises that he does not like the post, or lives up to it. Yet he is one of the finest men I have met in the game and part of me hopes that if Johnson says yes, then Ashton will swallow his pride and continue under Johnson as attack coach.

However, the grim clouds are not lifting. Say Johnson says no. He could say no because he does not need the job and because he does not trust a chain of command that sandwiches him in between Rob Andrew, Francis Baron and RFU chairman Martyn Thomas in a kind of political netherworld.

But if he does say no, then Ashton is still surely doomed. The RFU cannot for one second then go back to him, after their own management board voted unanimously for Johnson to be secured, and pretend that he was the right man all the time. Carry on Brian, we are all, er, right behind you.

It seems to me that as Jake White sifts job offers from a wide range of top rugby nations, plus Ireland, that he might be well advised to hold off signing. His preferred post, in dear old England, could yet become available at any time.

Lee Byrne - an apology

All right! All right! My faithful and sharp-eyed (and sharp-tongued) Rolling Maul readers have expressed incredulity that Lee Byrne did not make my Lions squad. One reader was kind enough to send me a collection of the effusive words I had produced about Byrne after a season that clearly projected him to world-class heights as an all-round footballer, kicker, defender: the lot.

I could offer any number of excuses - grief at being passed over for the first time in living memory at the SJA/Sport England journalistic awards 2008 (well, my sideboard has been extended four times already and still there's no room for another trophy); pressure of work at trying to work out what on earth Rob Andrew is up to. The truth is that it was a howling, horrible MISTAKE. I wrote our Lee down in my notebook as one of the most obvious shoe-ins since Martin Johnson was chosen by England for the 2003 Rugby World Cup final, then when I transferred the names from the notebook to the screen, his name unforgivably dropped off.

Lee will be there all right. But at least I got all the others correct. Didn't I?

Pierre Spies, the Danny of the pack

Last week, Pierre Spies appeared on a rugby field for the first time for several months. His return for the Blue Bulls was partly down to the Bulls' dire form. It was also a great moment for world rugby. When it comes to glorious, burgeoning young talents on the world stage, I put him right up there with Mr Cipriani. Spies is the Danny of the pack.

He is a giant of a man, he has beautiful hands, he can play football, he has power and he can shift. He can do the 100 metres in 10.7secs. Spies missed the World Cup and what would definitely have been his personal winner's medal because blood clots were found on his lungs. I will spare you the medical details but after about the fifth opinion he is apparently fit to resume.

It is great news. When a new global titan appears on the horizon, such matters as narrow patriotic bias surely fade into total insignificance. Good luck Mr Spies, and the Lions may even find you leading the Boks against them next year. Ryan v Pierre. You'd pay to watch that match-up.

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.

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

The top five most dangerous men in the sport:

1. Rod Macqueen

The Aussie in charge of the experimental laws group and who is now, even in the admission of colleagues, desperate to drive though the whole sorry bunch of the ELVs, even the bonkers ones. He must be stopped.

2. Lawrence Dallaglio

Suddenly, after all these years, he's reinventing himself as Rocky 8. His alleged punch on Julian White last weekend suggests he wasn't choosing soft targets, either.

3. Big Dominic

Maidenhead U14 flanker. He's in the big league decider this Sunday against Reading Abbey. He's ready, and he's not nice.

4. French television producers

Beware these men. The fools have decided that next season's France-Wales match will take place nearer to midnight than evening, and on a Friday - killing it as a Six Nations party for travelling fans from Wales or the south-west of France.

5. Rugby League Fan

One dangerous (to himself) league-loving reader wrote in pointing out that I made no reference in Rolling Maul last week to the struggling code. Red rag to a bull, I'd say.

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The Stephen Jones Debate

Can I make mention of three reasons from this year's Six Nations - beyond the game on the pitch - why so many who have been involved in rugby think it is the great game it is? Nothing to do with money, nothing really to do with winning or losing, but everything to do with traditions and individual thought.

England v Wales: As Wales come out into Twickenham without having won in donkeys, Ryan Jones leads them on, then stops and shakes the hand, claps on the back or encourages every one of his team individually, showing not only that he is thinking of his whole team, but probably also giving a lift to each. A great statement of intent by next year's Lions captain?

Scotland v England: Lamont is lying injured, Vickery takes the time to check on him, talk to him and then send him on his way with best wishes and a pat. I re-appraised my view of him on this alone.

Italy v Scotland: Strokosh is given "man of the match", and seconds later Scotland promptly reward him by losing the game. He goes into the Italian dressing room afterwards and gives the bottle to Parisse as the man he felt really deserved it. Pure class. Alan Thompson, London

SJ: My request for reminders of grand old traditions which should be brought back has received a major response, though I still wish the ref would send back 10 yards anyone who questioned any of his decisions. And yes Alan, three good examples here that things are not nearly so bad as we sometimes fear.

Well done, Wales! Here is another interesting ELV story from my homeland which clearly shows an unexpected consequence of the new laws. Perhaps sense will finally prevail. Reuben Casey

SJ: Thanks Reuben; a story of how defence can be denuded by the horrible new experiments.

I think that we all should reflect upon the fact Northampton have scored 1117 points in National Division 1. I'm a Stoop man; when we went down we won Division 1 with one loss, and won the newfangled, only-for-the-lower-orders, whatever-it-is Cup. It looks like the Saints are doing the same. Don't know about the Cup, but it shows a depressing difference in standard between the Prem and Division 1. Both Saints and Quins were entirely proper candidates for relegation - we came last. But how can you be an entirely warranted relegatee and then just stuff the division below? Spooky similarity to soccer and their Premiership. Bruce Dixon, London

SJ: Quite right Bruce, although in my opinion, National One is gradually gaining in strength, with new investment and a trend for Premiership teams to farm out their best young players on loan. However, the gap is cavernous.

I'm a 15-year-old prop, and have been propping since I was eight. One day I'd like to play for England, and make my living in rugby. I train just about every day in one way or another to forward my ambitions, but having seen the ELVs, and heard what people say, I really don't think there will be a place for me, or the thousands like me ... I am more like Julian White than Matt Stevens, and there's nothing wrong with Stevens, but why should I lose out because I'm more like White? Not widely reported even on Rugby Club when they reviewed the S14, the ELVs have effectively outlawed the cover tackle! A penalty try was awarded in S14 last week, when an excellent cover tackle was made 10 metres out from the line. Under ELVs, when a tackle is made, the offside line is drawn, so if a tackled player pops the ball to a support runner, and the chasing defender is within five metres of the support runner, he can't cover tackle. He has to run past him, and tackle from the front. Apparently this was not an oversight, but a deliberate attempt to favour attackers, which of course it does - if you cannot tackle the attacker, the attacker is given an advantage! Simply put, I don't need to eat kangaroo poo to know it doesn't taste good, and we don't need to trial ELVs to know they won't fit our game, nature or union culture. Harry Jenkins

SJ: Harry, if you fail in your ambition to become a pro player, you have a career ahead as a professional observer. A few readers have highlighted this defence anomaly and it is outstanding to have someone like you, labouring at the coal face, expressing reservations. In this newspaper, we are in favour of Julian! Best of luck in your career.

Firstly, Ellis is not fit to lace Peel's boots. Gethin Jenkins is a shoe-in for starting place. Euan Murray? From that mighty Scottish front row? In respect to your scrum-half bench: the Jocks have two you have not picked that are better then Reddan. Please explain Barkley's proven Test pedigree (every English coach from Woodward on has not fancied him - and quite rightly so). Chris Patterson? Certainly not before Mark Jones (we are talking about wing play and not the ability to kick goals). Does he make the Gloucester team much? I know you write for the English Times, but you really have to check your English bias. Mike Sanders

SJ: That's a first. I have never been accused before of being biased to the English. Let's just have a friendly bet that Ellis (with a run, as they say in horseracing) goes with the Lions. One pint of fine, er, English ale.

Jonesie, you are not selecting the LW Drags here! There are some interesting selections, some I agree with, some I do not but, after all, this is your team. However, no Lee Byrne in the squad after the season he has just had? And not even a place on the bench either! A glaring error of judgement? Or has the memory of the Six Nations been wiped after a few too many celebratory drinks? Tim Hughes

SJ: Tim, my years of selecting the Drags are long gone but they were fun. Sorry, you may have seen the feeble apology.

What has poor Lee Byrne done to offend? Stand-out performances, in every correspondent and pundit's team of the tournament, yet unable to make your cut? Ceri Davies, Kent

SJ: Whoops. See above.

Stephen, Stephen, Stephen, how could you! Lee Byrne was one of the best players in the Six Nations yet you cannot find a place for him on tour. You have finally lost the plot. Your selections remind me of that day in 2005 when Sir Clive (no surname necessary) unveiled his Lions squad to a quiet and disbelieving press (I guess you were there). What do Welsh players have to do, other than win Grand Slams, to get due recognition?

The Ospreys as they showed on Saturday are up for it. They are no mish-mash. Two good games of Rugby. I expected the Tigers v Wasps game to be a slow stick-it-up-the-jumper sort of game. I was pleasantly surprised to watch a thoroughly entertaining game.

On a different note - refereeing. Isn't it time that in a global sport interpretation of the laws is universal? For example, Wayne Barnes allowed, correctly in my view, forwards to advance through a ruck by stepping over players. All the SH refs told forwards to get back. Isn't it time referees actually refereed the offside line at rucks against ATTACKING teams? The so-called pillars invariably stand to the side of a ruck with only their hands placed on a ruck. The definition of binding is from hand to shoulder. The defending team are almost refereed out of a contest, hence Warren Gatland's comment after the Wales v France match that the ref was only refereeing one team, Wales. This was when France had the ball for about 15 minutes.

It's official then that the ELVs are rubbish. Anything Jeremy Clarkson says is, by definition, true. (See his article bashing ELVs and Aussies in the Review section of the Sunday Times.) Peter Brown, Bridgend

SJ: Don't wind me up. I bet Clarkson gets paid more than me and he gets all the free cars.

You suggest that only a club can win a major rugby tournament and wonder if the Ospreys care enough about the jersey. You argue that club members must grow up together and be accountable to the local area. How, therefore, can the Guinness Premiership "clubs" be so-called, with a significant proportion of players imported from abroad, or moving from another club? Where is these players' accountability to the local area? When I was at university near Northampton 40 years ago, it was a club for the locals and they gave me a game. Now it is an international guest side whose members, I suggest, are more bothered by their pay cheques than the jersey or local area. And some clubs, eg Wasps, Saracens, London Irish, do not even play in their local area! Mac Baldwin, Inverness

SJ: Mac, I still say that the great teams grow up together and the incoming players only succeed if they buy in totally to the ethos and history of the club.

I am rather bewildered by your comments regarding Fiji's state of play. As I recollect all Northern Hemisphere scribes were quick to blame Wales for playing "into Fiji's hands", by employing open rugby. Needless to say, bigger unions can only hope to (apart from southern Hemisphere teams) beat Fiji and the rest using boring tactics.

The recently finished Six Nations rugby games were the most boring I have seen. England v Scotland was worse than some of the boring clubs games we have in Australia. I cannot understand why Six Nations are so bloody conservative. No bonus points on offer equals boring ten-man rugby. The only teams who play constructive rugby are France and Wales.

IRB surely must put the interest of the game ahead of the vested interest of the Six Nations mob and at the least change the five-metre line and change the rule relating to kicking out from 22 metres, not to mention a host of other rules that slow the game down. It has NOTHING to do with rugby getting close to league.

Scrum goes down but the ball is out - let the game go on. Accidental off-side - not contact or obstruction made with player - let the game go on. Quick tap - as long as it's close to the area of infringement - let the game go on. Scrum repeatedly being collapsed - I reckon we should have two re-set and if teams cannot get it right - let the game go on. Tackled player slowing the ball down, not rolling away - the classic being Richie McCaw - yellow-card the player and let the game go on. Quick through in the line-out - let the game go on.

Needless to say, rugby needs to modernise as a mass entertainment sport and with dinosaurs like you around, we have slim chance. We need to be pro-active and grow the game and get new spectators all day, every day.

Last but not least I am told the ball in play percentage in the Northern Hemisphere is a staggering 25%, compared to 38% in the South. What do your unions want to do - get a cold beer while the scrum is forming (or re-setting incessantly) or want to see some good tries scored and ball in play for longer? Need we say more? Bring in the ELVs, I say. Vinay Prakash

SJ: Passionate words, Vinay, though you are way off beam with the ball-in-play stats. But since Europe kills the South for income and commercial and spectator appeal we must be doing something right.

Stephen, you said in your previous column that the ELVs allow a weak scrumming team to opt out of scrums. I quote "The scrum cannot be a bigger attacking weapon if you are allowed NOT to have a scrum by the ELVs. It means you can avoid better scrummaging teams."

This ignores the fact that the stronger scrumming team will have more opportunities to take a scrum - well, to be precise, more game situations where a scrum is seen as the best realistic option. Under the current laws, of course, any team awarded a penalty could take a scrum but realistically few do unless in the opposition's 22 and needing a try desperately. With more free kicks awarded instead of penalties, and the subsequent removal of the benefits of kicking directly to touch (no gain if kicked outside the 22 and no retaining the throw to the lineout), a strong scrumming team will tend to take more chances to press this advantage.

Realistically, the only times under the ELVs where a team can opt not to take a scrum where they could not under the current laws is when winning a turnover at the maul and when winning a turnover at the ruck. There is no option to opt out of scrums awarded due to a knock forward, forward pass or accidental offside.

There are problems with the ELVs, but removal of the scrum is not one of them. If anything, they affect lineouts far more than the scrum - the aforementioned free kicks rather than full penalties, the "no passing back to the 22" law and allowing quick lineouts to be passed backwards adds up to less full lineouts over the 80 minutes. Jerry Graham, New Zealand

SJ: I have to admit that you have logic and good sense on your side, Jerry. I will take on board what you say, although recent stats that there are about .0001 more scrums in a game don't seem to me to suggest we should be taking a massive gamble. But well said indeed.

Sorry, but I have to take you to task over your constant obsession that big is always best -it's flawed thinking, blinkered and in some cases folly. I'm involved as a coach with county level rugby, mainly at age ranges U16 and U18. The limited thinking that we see at full international level filters down to these young players through game preparation that is conservative, limited and lacking in imagination.

The English attitude is all too often "we'll pick him because he's big" - creativity, flair, imagination and sheer individualism are all too frequently disregarded - and you champion this? The game will get very predictable and dull if there are 30 behemoths out there slugging it out - in some cases it's already happening.

I recently watched Somerset U20 play Cornwall, I knew a lot of the Somerset players when they played in the younger age groups. The game was largely one-dimensional with both sides playing no risk, defence-orientated games; both featured a kicking 10 who did exactly that. The back three on either side hardly saw the ball and indeed for Somerset the outside centre's contact with the ball was minimal.

The big is best thinking is for me a major point of argument in several positions - but chiefly 12 and 7. Significantly Wales have won two Grand Slams in recent years by moving the ball, being creative and with a small genuine openside to the fore. Even you can't contest the tremendous contribution by Martyn Williams - what a difference he makes. However, if he was English, would he get a look in? I doubt it. As he's not 6ft 4 and 17 stone plus, the English attitude would be that he's simply too small and therefore cannot be any good - what arrogant, blinkered stupidity!

At 12, this position is dominated by big men. The English approach has it that anyone 5ft 9 and 13 stone simply cannot play 12! In England, the 12 is the size of forwards from previous generations. They're big, strong and powerful, but creativity? No, sir! In the Somerset U20 team, the 12 is the typical English inside centre: solid, strong, legs like tree trunks and he'll tackle everything that comes near him - great. But in attack - same old running lines, usually picking out the biggest back row forward on the field and running straight at him. Wouldn't be too bad if players like this could offload out of the tackle, but the skill levels for this aren't there. They spend too much time in the gym competing with the front five in the squat - they feel they need to build concrete-like quads and calves.

Little wonder then that the 13 and the back 3 are all too often on starvation rations - our 10s' first instinct is to kick; when they do pass the 12 will seek contact - and not space. Our approach to games is to avoid defeat - which is defeatist in itself! Point to ponder on size - let's talk about props. Can you honestly tell me that these small props would not be able to cut it in today's game? Robert Paparemborde, Jeff Probyn, David Sole, Graham Price, Tom Smith and Paul Wallace. The latter pair of course were the Lions Test props in SA in 1997.

Finally - your Lions selection. I suspect many would strenuously contest your decision to omit O'Driscoll and Wilkinson. They are proven world-class players, the indifferent form of both is surely partially attributable to the clear unrest in both the Irish and English camps. Select O'Gara instead of Wilkinson? Myopic! Tim Payne instead of Marcus Horan - no, Tom Croft instead of Jason White - no, Tindall and Barclay instead of O'Driscoll and D'arcy - absolutely not! Roberts (big is best again!) instead of Mark Jones - no. Few outside Wales would go with Ian Evans over one of the Irish locks - they're out of sorts - true, but their quality is known, Evans' turn is ahead. I do agree with the selection of Thomson and Flannery. Hartley? Yes, why not, let's be bold. None of the other hookers have been convincing enough. Andy Hopper

SJ: Andy, I coach at the same age groups and the way the game is going, I am afraid the biggest 12 always gets in for me. I assume no one is stopping you trying to play things however you wish, so you are at least trying to create an oasis for the smaller, more creative player, But who said big means uncreative? Why can't you be both?

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<<<<<

Lyn Jones, coach of the Ospreys

You keep hearing that Jones is on his way out, that he is not up to dealing with the stellar Ospreys squad and that Andrew Hore, the Kiwi drafted in by the club in a kind of coaching overseeing role, is actually really there to sack him.

Well, maybe he's now there to keep him. Last weekend, Jones took a squad that was obviously tired down to its bootlaces after the Welsh slam, and which had enough egos to sink a battleship, and honed them into a splendid and well-organised unit that thrashed Saracens and pitched the Swansea/Neath conglomerate into the final of the EDF Energy Cup.

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The week in 60 seconds

Thursday:

ASHTON ABLE TO BREATHE EASIER AFTER ANDREW KEEPS THE FAITH

England head coach may have been saved by playing record as negotiations continue to find a suitable team manager

Report by David Hands

Wednesday:

ASHTON UNDER MICROSCOPE BUT BOARD SET TO SIDESTEP DECISION

Rob Andrew is set to deliver his report to the RFU board, but any potential role for Martin Johnson remains shrouded in doubt

Report by David Hands

Tuesday:

ENGLAND'S YOUTH SUCCESS SHOULD BE BUILT ON AND NOT TUCKED AWAY

Junior grand slam winners England are northern hemisphere's best hope to beat New Zealand at Junior World Championship

Report by David Hands

ANDREW'S GAMBLE ON JOHNNO NOTHING MORE THAN SELF-PRESERVATION

Appointing Martin Johnson as England's manager is as much a gamble as if the FA turned to Alan Shearer after Steve McClaren's departure

Comment by Matt Dickinson

Monday:

NO ROOM FOR SENTIMENT AS LEICESTER TAKE REVENGE AGAINST WASPS

Leicester 34 Wasps 24: Andy Goode leaves Danny Cipriani in the shade as Tigers claim their place against Ospreys in EDF Energy Cup final

Report by David Hands

YOUNGSTERS LIFT HARLEQUINS INTO TOP FOUR

Bristol 15 Harlequins 28: Bristol dominate first half yet, having missed two penalties, are winded by Harlequins' young guns in Guinness Premiership

Report by Geoffrey Dean

Sunday:

RFU LEAVE ASHTON A DEAD MAN WALKING

Approach to former captain Martin Johnson reveals RFU power struggle after mediocre Six Nations

Report by Stephen Jones

A TEAM STILL WAITING TO BE LED TO ITS BRAVE NEW WORLD

Whoever is in charge cannot be allowed to squander the talent of Danny Cipriani and England's youngsters

Analysis by Stuart Barnes

CIPRIANI HAS HIS EYES ON THE PRIZE

England's multi-talented fly-half is big news right now, but his quick feet are still firmly on the ground

Interview by David Walsh

Saturday:

THE WASP WHO URGED DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN TO SPREAD THEIR WINGS

Josh Lewsey's sense of social injustice drives him to help children whose potential in life is being stifled by deprivation

Report by Mark Souster

SARACENS EMBARK ON MISSION TO STEM TIDE OF WELSH EUPHORIA

Saracens attempt to reach their first final for ten years as they play two thirds of the Wales side who secured grand slam

Report by David Hands

Friday:

CIPRIANI IN LOVE WITH HIS SUBJECT CHOICE DESPITE ONE HARSH LESSON

England's fly half could have pursued two other sports but either way he will still have fun away from the game

Exclusive interview by Alyson Rudd

ROBINSON SAYS POLITICS AND PREPARATION ARE TO BLAME, NOT ASHTON

Former coach believes RFU politics and the lack of player access are the real reasons behind England team's troubles

Report by Owen Slot

ANDREW FINDS NO QUICK FIX FOR BRINGING JOHNSON INTO ENGLAND MIX

The World Cup-winning captain's possible involvement in management could create problems for head coach Brian Ashton

Report by Owen Slot

CAN GRAND SLAM HELP DEVOLVE WELSH POWER TO THE REGIONS?

Grand slam triumph proved Wales are capable of fielding a dominant pack - Ospreys and Cardiff now have to follow suit

Analysis by Gerald Davies

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Things you need to know about rugby: No 8

THE MADNESS OF LANSDOWNE

There is an overwhelming stadium success story from the past year - Croke Park, Dublin. It had given us another magnificent backdrop and a fund of old stories from old anti-Brit, anti-rugby Republicans about the murky past - though maybe we've now heard enough lads.

More to the point, the soaring stadium takes 80,000. So why is it that the Irish Rugby Union are now rebuilding Lansdowne Road with a cruelly slashed capacity of 50,000? This means that for every match played there, 30,000 will effectively have been evicted and around £700,000 in ticket receipts gone west. Great vision.

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10

The number of defeats in Clive Woodward's first 22 games as England coach. Brian Ashton has also lost 10 matches after the same number of fixtures in charge.

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