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Ask Jeremy Guscott

By Jeremy GuscottFormer England and Lions centre

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Unioncomments127

Toulon v Sale

Among the topics making the headlines this week are:

- The Welsh RU weighing up a switch to artificial turf at the Millennium Stadium

- Toulon's thrashing of Sale - can Jonny Wilkinson's French team be stopped?

- Leinster's uphill task to defend their Heineken Cup crown after defeat to Clermont

- Scottish sides' continuing winless streak in the Heineken Cup

Thank you for posting your questions for Jeremy. Submissions are now closed for this week.

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127 comments

  • Comment posted by clownfeatures, at 16:04 17 Dec 2012

    Is Jonathan Davies the most biased pundit you've ever worked with? His Lions selection on this site recently defied logic and belief.

  • Comment posted by ynecawla, at 19:12 17 Dec 2012

    Jeremy: you have in the past been very critical of Rugby League as a sport. Given England's use of ex-League playeys, have your views changed?

  • Comment posted by Roarz, at 17:42 17 Dec 2012

    @20, they didnt overperform, its just very difficult to sustain form for 5 years at a time. They are still a fearsome side, just happens to be so are clermont. On top of that they are missing proven match winners at any level in Rob Kearney and Brian O'driscoll, any side in the world would miss then.

  • Comment posted by User0982169352, at 17:06 17 Dec 2012

    Jeremy,
    Watching the games at the weekend I was incredibly frustrated by the cynical tactics of defending teams in the red zone and the weakness of certain referees to do anything about it [in one game there were at least four instances of penalties being awarded 5m from the line and no yellows]. Should the laws be changed to make it a penalty an automatic yellow when it's that close to the line?

  • Comment posted by User0155670121, at 09:28 18 Dec 2012

    Hi Jerry,

    What’s your view on Plastic pitches for International matches?

    I understand why a club might look at it but I don't understand why the WRU are looking at it, surely International stadiums should be able to keep the pitch in a good condition for a handful of games a year.

    Your No1 Fan

    HERSH.

  • Comment posted by User0859491489, at 00:42 18 Dec 2012

    Hi Jeremy

    After Northampton's fantastic display agianst Ulster at the weekend how far do you think they can go in the competition?

  • Comment posted by John Myhill, at 20:33 17 Dec 2012

    I had a fabulous weekend in Belfast watching Saints beating Ulster, and not just because of the result. We were made to feel very welcome by the Ulster fans, even after the game. Where's your favourite destination for a good time with real rugby fans?

  • Comment posted by jools33, at 18:52 17 Dec 2012

    Hi Jerermy,
    With the Ospreys recording a 17-6 victory to Toulouse over the past weekend perhaps all of this doom and gloom is a little premature. Is it not perhaps a little too soon to write off the welsh in the coming 6 nations, as many seem to be doing? Should Wales be considering a smaller more mobile wing like Eli Walker or Harry Robinson to add an extra dimension to their backline?

  • Comment posted by User0735651246, at 15:24 18 Dec 2012

    #99.TheLastKingofEngland. Wow I sense a lot of distain towards the Welsh there. Why not be happy they have been a great team these last few years, we need all the NH teams to keep improving so that we can all improve and get more consistent. Why the hatred?

  • Comment posted by User0302385138, at 13:05 18 Dec 2012

    85 Mark Liversedge

    Ho ho! It's based on participant numbers rather than elite performance level. God knows...the FA would owe the English public billions by now if that was the case.

    Youth rugby has a problem. There are plenty of young players but then a big drop-off...possibly as a result of talentless but oversized teens bulldozing to glory. When will we start playing by weight division?

  • Comment posted by lifelongrugbyfan, at 19:01 18 Dec 2012

    Wales are the hardest to predict as all the remaining squads will be similar to the Autumn and as such will see France as slight favourites closely followed by England and Ireland. Wales however will have a number of influential players returning from injury and could be back in the mix to compete for a fourth title. If Scotland can find the right coach then they could cause a few upsets.

  • Comment posted by Reinas Golden Gloves, at 18:48 17 Dec 2012

    Jeremy
    What more do you think that Welsh and Scottish clubs can do to get higher attendances at games??? The Ospreys are averaging around 8,000 this year which while being better than last year could still be improved on. The local derby will always sell well with over 16,000 tickets already gone for the Scarlets game but surely when Toulouse, Leinster come to town there should be more interest?

  • Comment posted by TheLastKingOfEngland, at 11:33 18 Dec 2012

    @64 Yep Edinburgh made the semis last year (a feat which almost guarantees them at least pot 3 seeding for the next 4 years btw) but you have to accept that's the exception and this year we've returned to the rule. Zebre might be a special case but Scarlets, Cardiff, Ospreys, Treviso, Glasgow, Edinburgh how many more special cases are there?

  • Comment posted by Fmac12, at 19:48 17 Dec 2012

    Jeremy, if Clermont and Toulon were to meet at a neutral venue in the Heineken Cup who would you go for. Toulon must be the favourite as they have the complete team with class in every position whilst, although they have a very good side, there are a couple of players in the clermont side that are not as brilliant as the Toulon players.

  • Comment posted by Fmac12, at 19:38 17 Dec 2012

    Jeremy, who are your favourites for the semi finals. You have to hand Quins a spot as they will definetley get a home quarter with such an easy pool and you would expect them to win at The Stoop. What about the other 3 (or 4 if you disagree with Quins)?

  • Comment posted by Rich, at 13:27 18 Dec 2012

    @87 Thats exactly my point, although my mistake about the 4 Irish teams always qualifying. The Dragons miss out becuase they are the always lower in the league table than then 3 other Welsh teams albeit maybe above several other Scottish, Italian and possibly Irish sides that do qualify! Something is not quite right

  • Comment posted by Roarz, at 22:59 18 Dec 2012

    How badly will Tommy Bowe be missed my Ulster (and Ireland and the Lions if his injury is as bad as it looked)?

    Also are star players in positions where sides have depth (such as bowe) missed as much as good players in very weak positions (e.g mike ross)?

  • Comment posted by JohnnyWAL, at 14:15 18 Dec 2012

    Jerry- should Lee Byrne be recalled for the 6 nations?

    The problem is the lack of pro clubs in nations outside France and England. In reality the strongest Euro competition would contain English, French clubs and the top two Irish and Welsh and one from Scotland, but is that really how we want European rugby represented? No, we need a broad representation, the format atm is as good as it can be.

  • Comment posted by TheLastKingOfEngland, at 11:45 18 Dec 2012

    @62 I'm really sorry but I just don't know how to make this any more clear. I'm talking about the standing in the tables now after all 4 rounds of play. The results from last week do play a role but my question is based on all the clubs performances so far in this years competition. No where in that question do I reference last weeks results and only state rankings at the moment.

  • Comment posted by Andrew R, at 14:12 18 Dec 2012

    Jerry, in a desperate attempt to distract from loss to England, Steve Hanson has stolen the tardis in order to put together the best AB team of the last 20 years he has assembled the following team: Cullen, Howlett, WIlsoon, Umaga, Lomu, Carter, Marshall, Brooke, McCaw, Collins, Thorn, Williams, Hayman, Fitzpatrick, Woodcock. You have to pick a World 15 of the same era to beat them?

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