Sonny Bills putting on a show and killing the Tongans, lots of talk about how players such as him are taught these skills from an early age but so far the commentary team have avoided any mention that he's a Rugby League product.

I think they're expecting him to be the star of the tournament in much the same way as Lomu in 95 and they don't want to advertise the fact that he's from Rugby League.

Also notable by it's absence is any mention that the Kiwis are the current Rugby League World Cup Champions and that the All Blacks could make it a double triumph.

You might argue, why should they mention another sport but let's be realistic it's always going to be relevant and they're avoiding it.

They rarely do mention Rugby League unless it is a condescending manner. One of the many things I don't get with kick and clap, is all that crouch, touch, pause, engage at scrum. I get the crouch and engage part but why the touching and the pausing.

Rugby league simply does not exist on ITV and only grudgingly remains on BBC where Ms Baldings enthusiasm makes a welcome change.Sky are quite amusing when you have to listen to that useless never was Jonathan Barnes spit any reference through gritted teeth, but he really cant avoid it due to the number of ex league players currently playing kick an clap.

It's all to do with ensuring that both packs are set and the front row are positioned correctly to prevent injury as far as i'm aware. Suppose they could change it but it's tradition.

They've managed to analyse the 1st half with SBW getting the lions share of praise but still not a peep about his Rugby League background even though it's the obvious contributor to the array of skills he's displayed.

I understand the reluctance and even the insignificance to some but for no one to even breathe a word suggests that they've been briefed not to refer to Rugby League at all.

Absolutely correct - its all to do with a change that was made a few years ago to avoid some serious neck injuries which were occuring - one especially during the WC final england won.

In the past the two packs would almost charge at one another when in the crouched position. If the srcum was not set at the right angle it forces the "tight head props" head inwards into the middle of the scrum. With nowhere to go the scrum will collapse as the front frows are out of position and place even more pressure on the props neck.

The rule was introduced to reduce the speed and intensity of the initial impact and so place less pressure on the neck and avoid injuries. By having the pause it reduces the amount of power the front and second row can put into the initial hit.

SBW's skills are down to his boxing days...

I understand the positioning to prevent injury, but even after touching and pausing they still power into each other which can still cause injury.


Anyone else noticed that they refer decisions to the TMO (television Match Official) not the Video Referee like us League people.

But the tocuhing and pausing allows them to get the correct alignment so that they can bind properly to reduce the liklihood of injury. It will never prevent it as it is a contact sport and injuries are inevitable.

There really can't be many more pretentious phrases in sport that that one.

Just seen SBW compared to Jeremy 'Scared to play Wigan' Guscott. He should sue.