Won't it be a joy to watch some rugby where the forwards have some part to play? That's right, the increasingly successful Guinness Premiership is back this weekend, and without the full set of confounded Aussie alterations to the rules called the ELV's. Rugby is meant to be a game for all shapes and sizes, and only now in the northern hemisphere is that true so let's sit back and enjoy the true game.

There have been plenty of personall changes over the off-season. Newcastle has lost Mathew Tait and Toby Flood, leaving poor old Jonny Wilkinson on his jack jones up there.

Lawrence Dallaglio has shuffled off stage left, but has been replaced by Serge Betsen; Tom Walkinshaw keeps trying according to the rumours to sell Gloucester, Steve Borthwick and Olly Barkley left Bath for Saracens and Gloucester respectively, and after seven tortuous months coach Marcello Loffreda left Leicester Tigers and was replaced by Heyneke Meyer of the Blue Bulls.