Strange times. Strange territory.

Clear out: play would speed up with the return of the ruck

Here I sit, on a blustery but mercifully sunny day on the south coast, waiting news from Dublin and hoping that the RFU pull it off.

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What a joy it was to be at Twickenham last Saturday.

Passionate: English rugby fans

Now that’s not a sentence that I’ve trotted out too often. True, there have been some decent games there down the years but the stadium tends to leave me cold. It’s too open, too gently-tiered and too hushed.

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You can never, of course, see the fine line. The challenge, sometimes fun, sometimes stressful, is in locating it.

Job on the line: Ashton could be replaced by Martin Johnson

So, Brian Ashton’s job is on the line. Supposedly. Since the RFU don’t admit to their manoeuvrings to hire Martin Johnson, we can only surmise that this might be one possible consequence of Johnson coming on board.

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Rugby union and rugby league to merge? Now, where have I heard that before?

Hands off: Bath and Wigan contest union/league match in 1996

Many times, down the years. The latest re-run of a hoary old line comes from Australia where some eminent figures have wondered aloud about introducing a hybrid form of the game into schools.

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Apologies for lack of posts. Been a bit tied up with the main paper of late. Number two son was also sent on his way out of the coop and, by now, has forgotten just who we are. That is, until the cash runs out. If it’s nice to be needed, it’s even nicer to be wanted.

Battler: Robinson could lead Scotland out against England

That thought must have crossed Andy Robinson’s mind. Where Brian Ashton is, Robinson was. And only 18 months ago.

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