Firstly kicking. I am impressed with the distance and accuracy that frontline kickers now get, both out of hand and off the floor. The end over end Aussie Rules style kick has supplanted the out of fashion Torpedo kick.

Why is this? A well struck torpedo can travel prodigious length and be faded into touch in a way the end over end can’t be, particularly in windy conditions. Is this just a fashion thing or more deep seated is the Aussie method really that good?

Also interesting to note the apparent difficulty JW had kicking the “Mitre” Ball in Rome, an indication of the different playing characteristics offered by this compared to the preferred Gilbert and Adidas brands and not forgetting “Webb Ellis.”

I say bring back the old Adidas leather Wallaby ball. It’s light tan middle and black ends were an innovation in the 70’s and France’s chosen ball at that time. Jon Pierre-Romeu French Fly-Half could kick it a country mile, and frequently did! At the Parc de Prince, an unusual pitch at the time as it was essentially a soccer pitch, the grass was short and always firm so if allowed to bounce a ball would do so wickedly. It was a bit of a challenge in the wet however—.

On the injury front a physical contact sport like rugby is always going to offer the prospect of serious injury. Over the past 30 years great steps have been taken to decrease this incidence with some success. Attention to player fitness , you don’t play to get fit you have to get get fit to play etc, etc. Being coached correctly at all levels in terms of safe technique in all the collision situations is vital.

But sooner or later even an experienced player, as evidenced by the unfortunate Tom Evans playing for Scotland v Wales, just forgot the old maxim of looking where you are going. He ended up getting in the classic situation to sustain a cervical dislocation, ie, head and chin being forced down on to the chest with force coming through from behind; the classic front row nightmare being experienced by a winger!! He is a very lucky individual.

The crouch-touch-pause at the scrummage has helped enormously to reduce the number of serious neck injuries. But as Tom ‘s injury has demonstrated this type of incident can happen at any stage of a game or indeed any level at which the game is played , so concentrate on good basic skill development and technique particularly at the contact points. Also recognize how poor technique can be so dangerous (self preservation is a basic instinct and should not be ignored) if you end up in the wrong place in the wrong position–!