In 1991 players gave you nothing, in 2010 they give you even less.

In 1991 players gave you nothing, in 2010 they give you even less

In his last Breakdown, Eddie Butler explains how media training has erected barriers between players and journalists

Bloggers, the world is yours. Well, at least a tiny corner of it, where rugby is played, can be influenced by you. Although I'm not sure how much attention Martin Johnson pays to your views on the angles of running of his centres. But anyway, you are here to stay.

When I first joined The Observer, in 1991, nobody spoke to anyone. It was the age of England supremacy in Europe and the best players also happened to be a fairly militant lot, largely because they had no say in the shaping of their future. The game was beginning its voyage into professionalism, but only in the sense that rumblings about the inequalities of the amateur game were being heard, grumblings that manifested themselves as a refusal by the England players that year to speak to the media after their first victory over Wales in Cardiff since 1963.

I used to double up for television, a bit like now, and follow them round as a sort of cub reporter for the BBC, doing what was called back then the Five Nations camp report. And it truly was, whichever way you looked at it – but it wasn't helped by the fact that Will Carling's team were permanently surly. The views they held on Dudley Wood, the secretary of the Rugby Football Union and the paid champion of an unpaid ethos, seemed to extend to anyone outside their own playing circle.

I was thinking the other day, having been stuck in a hotel in Bagshot, huddled around an England player on media duty in a group of a dozen reporters, sharing our exclusive on him, that there was more fun in being completely shunned by those players. The deliberate silence of Brian Moore back then said a lot more than the carefully delivered nothings from the latest graduate of the media training course.

Perhaps rugby teams simply like the sense of being under siege and if there is no genuine cause to justify a grievance against the scum of the media, well, they may as well just invent one. And rule No1 is: give nothing away; tell them nothing.

The digital revolution has opened up a limitless universe of words on every subject under the stars, including dear old rugby. And if the output from the players is of limited value then that gives prominence to the views of those only too happy to deliver more than their fair share of words. That's you. So, the future is yours. Take care of it.
2009 Lions Test was close to perfection

The best Tests I ever saw?

France v Australia at the 1987 World Cup; France v South Africa at RWC 1995; France v New Zealand at RWC 1999? That's a lot of France. And a lot of evidence to suggest that the World Cup is one of the best inventions of the last 25 years. Why did they wait so long?

But the best Test has to be South Africa v the Lions, Pretoria 2009, perfectly balanced as it was between brutality and silkiness, between everything going so very right and ending up so dramatically wrong.

My favourite player?

Serge Blanco. I played against him when he was a gangling child star. "Don't kick to this kid at full-back," we of Wales B were repeatedly told at Bourg-en-Bresse in 1979. Always obedient, we duly kicked to him and launched him on his way.

But the thing about Serge was that if he gave you an interview it meant going for lunch in a friend's restaurant in the hills above Hendaye, and over multiple courses, most of them involving pigeon, he would tell you what he thought about rugby. The only way to silence the great man would have been to suggest that he should go on a media training day.

This is an excerpt from The Breakdown, guardian.co.uk's twice-weekly free email during the Six Nations. Sign up now!

Previa Super 14: Jornada 7. De Balón Oval y Súper 14

Los enlaces de la Súper 14 (versión inglesa)
-Previa Jornada 7. Súper 14, 1.
-Previa Jornada 7. Súper 14, 2.

Previa Super 14: Jornada 7 de Balón Oval
Juan Mª García "Talona"

Descanso para Crusaders y Stormers. Vuelven los Reds que cortaron una racha excelente de juego. Veremos cómo les ha sentado la semana de descanso. El partido más interesante; Brumbies – Chiefs.


Highlanders – Lions

Duelo por la parte baja de la tabla. Highlanders quieren resarcirse de su derrota frente a Sharks. Pierden por lesión a Nasi Manu, Tom Donelly y Matt Berquist. Los Lions aún no conocen la victoria y los Highlanders sólo han ganado un partido. Carlos Spencer vuelve a ser titular con Lions en un año que está luchando por el puesto con Burton Francis.

ALINEACIONES

Highlanders: Jamie McKintosh, Jason Rutledge, Clint Newland, Josh Bekhuis, Hayden Triggs, Adam Thomson, John Hardie, Steven Stephano, Jimmy Cowan (c), Robbie Robinson, James Paterson, Michael Hobbs, Kenny Lynn, Ben Smith, Israel Dagg.

Suplentes: Jason McDonald, Bronson Murray, Joe Tuineau, Tim Boys, Sean Romans, Jason Shoemark, Fetu’u Vainikolo.

Lions: Michael Killian, Wigan Pekeur, Walter Venter, Doppies La Grange, Tonderai Chavhanga, Carlos Spencer, Jano Veermak, Todd Clever, Derick Minnnie, Cobus Grobelaar (c), Franco van der Merwe, Nico Luus, Ross Geldenhuys, Hannes Franklin, JC Jansen van Rensburg.

Suplentes: Charlie Elsmsie, Heinke van der Merwe, Willem Stoltz, Robert Kruger, JP Joubert, Wandile Mjekevu, Earl Rose.

Brumbies – Chiefs

Gran noticia para Brumbies. Vuelve Julian Huxley después de que en el año 2008 se le detectara un tumor cerebral. De momento estará en el banquillo. Debut para Michael Hooper que deja en el banquillo a George Smith. Después del bye, los Chiefs están deseosos de volver a la competición y con las pilas a tope. Todos los jugadores recuperados y según palabras de su entrenador: “pensando ya en la siguiente fase.”

ALINEACIONES

Brumbies: Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Salesi Ma’afu, Ben Hand, Mitchell Chapman, Rocky Elsom, Michael Hooper, Stephen Hoiles (c), Josh Valentine, Matt Toomua, Francis Fainifo, Matt Giteau, Stirling Mortlock, Pat McCabe, Adam Ashley-Cooper.

Suplentes: Huaia Edmonds, Guy Sepherdson, Mark Chisholm, Colby Faingaa, Patrick Phibbs, Tyrone Smith, Julian Huxley.

Chiefs: Sona Taumalolo, Aled de Malmanche, Ben Afeaki, Craig Clarke, Cullum Retallick, Liam Messam, Taneru Latimer, Sione Lauaki, Brendon Leonard, Stephen Donald, Siviveni Sivivatu, Jackson Willison, Richard Kahui, Lelia Masaga, Mils Muliaina (c).

Reservas: Hika Elliot, Nathan White, Jarrad Hoeata, Luke Braid, Junior Poluleuligaga, Mike Delany, Tim Nanai-Williams.

Cheetahs – Reds

Último partido de Cheeaths en casa hasta el primero de mayo. Varios cambios por lesión. Mapoe tiene para cuatro meses, en su lugar, RiaanViljoen. Su hermano Frans estará de baja seis semanas. En los Reds sólo un cambio obligado por lesión. Jake Schatz jugará en lugar de Daniel Braid, lesionado en la rodilla.

ALINEACIONES

Cheetahs: Wian du Preez, Adrian Strauss, WP Nel, Nico Breedt, Waltie Vermeulen, Hendro Scholtz, Juan Smith (c), Ashley Johnson, Srel Pretorius, Naas Olivier, Jongi Nokwe, Meyer Bosman, Robert Eberson, Danwel Demas, Riaan Viljoen.

Suplentes: Skipper Badenhorst, Coenie Oosthuizen, Barand Pietersen, Kabamba Floors, Tewis de Bruyn, Wilmare Louw.

Reds: Peter Hynes, Luke Morahan, Digby Ioane, Anthony Faingaa, Brando Va’aulu, Quade Cooper, Will Genia (c), Leroy Houston, Jake Schatz, Scott Higginbotham, Van Humphries, Rob Simmons, Laurie Weeks, Saia Faingaa, Ben Dailey.

Suplentes: Sena Hardman, Greg Holmes, Adam Byrne, Ezra Taylor, Ben Lucas, Will Chambers, Rod Davies.

Hurricanes – Sharks

Cory Jane regresa al equipo después de perderse el partido de la semana pasada. Piri Weepu continúa en el banquillo. Por lo demás, sin novedades en los canes. Los Sharks por su parte, después de su primera victoria, confían en el mismo equipo. Como novedad, cambios en la tercera por rotaciones. Alberts y Botes por Deysel y Daniel.

Hurricanes: John Schwalger, Andrew Hore (c), Neemia Tialata, Jeremy Thrush, Michael Paterson, Victor Vito, Karl Lowe, Rodney S0′oialo, Tyson Keats, Willie Ripia, Andre Taylor, Ma’a Nonu, Conrrad Smith, Tamati Ellison, Cory Jane.

Suplentes: Dane Coles, Jacob Ellison, Bryn Evans, Nick Crosswell, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, David Smith.

Sharks: Patrick Lambie, Stefan Terblanche, Adrian Jacobs, Riaan Swanepoel, JP Pietersen, Andy Goode, Ruan Pienaar, Ryan Kankowski, Willem Alberts, Jacques Botes, Alistair Heargraves, Steven Sykes, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, John Smit (c).

Suplentes: Tendai Mtawarira, Wiehahn Herbst, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Jean Deysel, Rory Kockott, Waylon Murray, Odwa Ndungane.

Waratahs – Blues

Cuatro cambios en los tahs para recibir a los Blues. Vuelven Palu, Baxter, Beale y Horne. Mucho ánimo en el equipo tras la victoria frente a los Force. Los Blues se presentan sin cambios respecto al equipo que venció a Brumbies hace 7 días.

ALINEACIONES

Waratahs: Kurtley Beale, Lachie Turner, Rob Horne, Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Daniel Halangahu, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh (c), Dave Dennis, Kane Douglas, Dean Mumm, Al Baxter, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson.

Suplentes: Damien Fitzpatrick, Sekope Kepu, Will Cadwell, Ben Mowen, Josh Holmes, Tom Carter, Sosene Anesi.

Blues: Isaia Toeava, Joe Rokocoko, Rene Ranger, Benson Stanley, Rudi Wuulf, Stephen Brett, Alby Matthewson, Viliami Ma’afu, Serge Lilo, Jerome Kaino, Anthony Boric, Kurtis Haiu, John Afoa, Keven Meleamu, Tony Woodcock.

Suplentes: Tom McCartney, Charlie Faumuina, FiloPaulo, Peter Saili, Chris Smiley, Daniel Kirkpatrick, Paul Williams.

W. Force - Bulls

Primeros contra últimos, o mejor dicho, últimos contra primeros. Los Force siguen teniéndo la enfermería llena, 10 jugadores, y el entrenador ha de hacer encaje de bolillos para conformar una plantilla con constantes cambios en las posiciones. Vuelve Jaco Pretorius a la alineación de Bulls tras cinco semanas sin jugar. Dippenar pasa al banquillo. Este es el único cambio en el equipo.

ALINEACIONES

W. Force: Nic Henderson, Ben Whittaker, Tim Fairbrother, Tom Hockings, Natahn Sharpe (c), Ben McCalman, Matt Hodgson, Richard Stanford, Brett Sheehan, David Hill, Mitch Inmann, James O’Connnor, Ryan Cross, Scott Staniforth, Mark Bartholmeusz.

Suplentes: Pek Cowan, Kieran Longbottom, Luke Jones, Ted Postal, Chris O’Young, Sam Harris, Haig Sare.

Bulls: Zane Kirchner, Gerhard van der Heever, Jaco Pretorius, Wynand Olivier, Francois Hougaard, Morné Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Victor Matfield (c), Danie Rossow, Werner Kruger, Gary Botha, Gurthro Steenkamp.

Suplentes: Bandise Maku, Bees Roux, Flip van der Merwe, Derick Kuun, JL Potgieter, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Padrie Wannenburg.

Six Nations - Team of the Championship

Six Nations - Team of the Championship

As the dust settles on this year's battle for Six Nations glory it is time to choose our Team of the Championship.

France celebrated their 100th Championship with their ninth Grand Chelem and unsurprisingly their dominance is reflected in our selection - but how many of Marc Lievremont's charges get the nod in our team? None of France's title rivals managed to derail their Championship challenge but have any of their players earned a place in our side?

Here's who caught our eye and as ever we would love to hear you thoughts:

15. Clement Poitrenaud (France)The Toulouse star was back to his devastating best in this year's Championship with a series of outstanding displays. He played with a breath-taking confidence and his ability to spark an attack from nothing is a joy to behold - and there were none of the dreadful errors that have plagued his career.

14. Tommy Bowe (Ireland)The Irish speedster's star continues to rise. Two tries against England and another against the Scots cemented his reputation as a world-class finisher. Lethal in attack and tenacious in defence, he poses a threat all over the field.

13. James Hook (Wales)Hook began a new chapter in his international career with a move to outside centre at the start of the Championship and took to it like a duck to water. Wales may have struggled for consistency but they can rest easy that they have found a long-term home for Hook's undoubted talent - and he weighed in with three tries to help cement his selection.

12. Yannick Jauzion (France) The veteran's centre partner Mathieu Bastareaud may have stolen most the headlines but Jauzion thrived in a supporting role - grabbing two tries with his usual mix of power and pace.

11. Shane Williams (Wales)Young guns may have stolen a lot of the headlines but old stager Williams showed he could still get the job done with the match-clinching score against the Scots and his 50th for his country against France - he may be 33 but there is life in him yet.

10. Francois Trinh-Duc (France)Handed a rare extended run in the side, Trinh-Duc has repaid the faith shown in him by Lievremont by forming a lethal half-back pairing with Morgan Parra. Not quite the finished article but at just 23 years old he has time on his side.

9. Morgan Parra (France)Not only the best scrum-half in the Championship but the most valuable place-kicker - notably booting his side to Grand Slam glory against England. The 21-year-old thrived on the responsibility handed to him by his coach and orchestrated his side's charge to the title.

1. Thomas Domingo (France)Another of France's young guns, the 24-year-old Domingo came of age in this year's Championship and repeatedly punched above his weight at scrum time.

2. William Servat (France)An ever-present throughout the Championship and another of the pillars of the French forward effort - and he even doubled his international try tally - to two.

3. Nicolas Mas (France)A formidable scrummager who helped wreak havoc throughout the Championship. And he claimed a rare Man of the Match honour for the front row union with a calculated display against England.

4. Simon Shaw (England)There were not that many high points for England in the Championship but the physical element provided by Shaw was definitely one of them. There are plenty of miles on the clock but he is still a formidable presence at the set piece and in the loose.

5. Julien Pierre (France)The Bourgoin lock's chance came and he grabbed it with both hands and held off the challenge of crowd-favourite Sebastien Chabal in the process. And he allayed any fears with some accomplished performances.

6. Kelly Brown (Scotland)Like the equally formidable Killer Bs - John Barclay and Johnnie Beattie, possesses a potent mix of strength and intelligence and used both to good effect to get the better of more illustrious opponents.

7. Thierry Dusautoir (France)The all-round excellence of the French skipper was the bond that held his side together on the rare occasion they were under the cosh. His dynamism knows no bounds and could snaffle the Player of the Championship honour from Harinordoquy and Parra.

8. Imanol Harinordoquy (France)The warrior-like Harinodoquy is favourite for the Player of the Championship honour thanks to a string of vintage performances. More often than not the driving force behind a dominant French pack and showed an unrivalled hunger for work.
Well, there you go. And to think last year's Team of the Championship did not include one Frenchman.