Muddied oafs and flanneled fools, much the same in any country, who cares?

Colin Hailey, Tenterfield, Australia

for gary.....
absolutely correct....how can one play a game five times for five days and then decide it was a draw???

Sharon, Hamburg,

For Gary, Aberavon, Glamorgan...

Nothing's more boring than 5 day cricket? Have you actually seen a baseball game? It can take literally 5 minutes between pitches being thrown. The only positive in the game is the occasional fight, but you'd get more viciousness out of ritalined five year olds,

Andrew, Los Angeles, USA

The situation in which the man, 'bound on' at the back of a grouped of player, can progress untackled, is a farce; why are his team mates not classed as offside? Why should one team match another at a lineout? And why is the ball won 98% of the time at the scrum by the team putting in? Because it goes to the feet of the second row; what happened to crooked feed?

Rugger fan, London , England

How on earth can you say rugby is boring, when we still have Cricket. My god, nothing can be more boring than a 5 day test match.

Gary, Aberavon, Glamorgan

There is already one form of rugby where the scrum is a non-competetive, it is rugby league. It is still in the laws that rugby union be open to players of all shapes and sizes, if the scrum is non-competetive, all props will be replaced by more flankers.
The range of skills and techniques needed in rugby union are much wider than in league. Yes, speed up the breakdown and it will aid the devlopment of attacking rugby, but there is more than one way to skin a cat and the fact that some teams have a better pack and can drive a maul is a potent weapon and a reason for other teams to get better at this AS WELL not remove half the game as it stands.
The Southern hemisphere do not have the perpetual right to preach about standards and the way the game should be played (particluarly when only one of the big three made the semi's of the world cup last year), surely diversity is to be welcomed not removed from the game at all levels.

Martin North, Cardiff,

To "Ron, Minnesota, USA", I am in absolutely no doubt that your wardrobe consists entirely of anoraks and clipboards.

I'm not one for cliches, but if it isn't broke.

Had Australia invented the game, they might be at liberty to change the rules.

Holly, Dubai, UAE

Could that possibly have been Jeremy we saw helping present the trophies at the Hong Kong Sevens?

Ian, Cupertino,

Jeremy, you're on dodgy ground with dodgy hair cuts.

James, Colwyn Bay,

Under the ELVs, there are fewer stoppages, fewer penalty kicks, more scrums, and more tries. So why is that bad?

No sane person enjoys 80 minutes of try-less rugby, where all the scoring comes from penalty kicks, and kicks into touch are considered highlights.

The ELVs require a higher fitness level, which is why the Poms fear them. Rugby should be open to all shapes and sizes, but not to all fitness levels.

The Northern Hemisphere is one Jonny Wilkinson kick from being 0-6 in the World Cup. Europe shouldn't be allowed to dictate the world's rugby laws until they play the sport better.

Ron, Minnesota, USA

give the new rules a chance man! Too many conclusions so soon amounts to paranoia. The ELVs will settle as time goes on and the IRB will do well to wait a couple of years to use some or all. No hurry but one thing is certain - if the game proceeds as it will kill off support because most people will die of boredom.

Dave Te', Brisbane, Aust

Never mind the rugby, but it's unfair to blame the Welsh for their pebble-dash: that fashion started in East London. I don't follow rugby, but anywhere that has a combination of pebble-dashed housing and rain is an aesthetic mess. Pebble-dash in itself is ugly enough, but add rain to it and it stains unforgivably. However, Jeremy, please don't knock the Welsh for this blot on their landscape: rain and pebbledash are, alas, ubiquitous features of this god-forsaken isle we both inhabit.

Marylyn Martin, London,

The reason, JC, why the rules need to be changed is that rugby has become dead boring. Taking the example you cited of the last World Cup-- it was actually used as a potent soporific over here for insomnia. I knew a bloke who watched half of the final, and his heart rate slowed down so much his hands & feet turned blue. Another few minutes and the ambos said he was a goner.

What the rule changes (as implemented in Super 14 and the now-defunct ARC) achieve is fast, running, flowing rugby that entertains the crowds and is enthralling to watch. The new rules turn rugby into a game of fire and passion-- currently, the only fire comes from Burmese monks in the stands setting themselves alight, which is far more interesting than the actual game.

Let's embrace rugby instead of drug-me, and enjoy the game that's truly played in heaven... by everyone but the Poms.

Bazza, Sydney,

James of East Lothian asked, "Haven't you always wondered what Jeremy Clarkson wants to be when he grows up?"

As far away from Scotland as possible is the obvious answer to that question.

Andrew Waldron, Bournemouth, UK

Far be it from me to disparage the great Welsh "nation", but have you considered the possibility that the Welsh rugby team, and I would never confuse a rugby team with a people, won because they are uglier?

As for rugby, depressingly, it is becoming more like football. I once visited one of my former clubs, and watched players and fans alike, sipping beer and talking quietly. I knew it was no longer a place of refuge for the likes of me.

My long in the tooth friends of another era often say "if it weren't for rugby, I'd be in jail."

None of us had a clue about the rules, save one: "you must release the ball!"

David, Amsterdam, Netherlands

I'm not an avid fan of Rugby Union, but I have seen the last three world cups. Unfortunately, I didn't quite have much interest in the 2007 World Cup because it was as boring as as watching someone else watch paint dry.

England getting into the World Cup final was mostly thanks to the kicking game. Whoop-dee-doo! What an enthralling series of matches they played. I had to drink about 50 Red Bull's to stay awak watching that tripe!

What they're trying to do in the Super 14's is speed the game up and make the rules a little simpler. And after watching a couple of those games... it's a lot more entertaining, more of a spectacle and I'm interested again!

Dan, Cornwall,

Haven't you always wondered what Jeremy Clarkson wants to be when he grows up?

James Bruce, pencaitland, East Lothian

In terms that Jeremy can truly understand...
Would you rather watch "Top Gear" or "American Muscle Car"?
The new laws are the former, the "English laws", the latter...
Hopefully this helps!

Mike, Calgary, Canada

the IRU instructed the super 14's to try the new laws. It has nothing to do with Australia and if you new your rules it has nothing to do with taking scrums out of the game. In fact there are twice as many scrums in the new rules

joel, london,

Isn't it great that all the whingers protesting that the new rules are a great advance for the benefit of the game are from Australia and NZ?
What was so wrong with the world cup? It was the most exciting we've had since 1987! Tell me you weren't perched on the edge of your seat biting at a cushion during all the quarter and semi finals? (well, apart from the South African ones) never before have so many teams from outside the big 8 nations gone through from the pool round. Fiji were good, Tonga scared South Africa and Argentina were simply marvellous. This is just sour grapes from two nations who found that other teams could compete with them and win under the existing rules. Since time immemorial it has been a truism of Rugby Union that you cannot win if you don't do the work up front. The backs can all all the gloss and the glory but your forwards have to win you the ball first. remove this from the game as the Southern hemisphere nations wish to and it will cease to be Rugby.

John, Skipton, Yorkshire

You must have taken the M4 if all thos road works slowed down your hundred mile an hour dash. I didn't, saw no roadworks and relaxed and enjoyed myself immensely. Then again, like many people, I went to Wales, not a rugby match!

KR, Stockport,

Wales is a beautiful part of the country, with so much to see, the scenery is breath taking. You need to try getting out of your car Jeremy and take in the sights - from outside your car!

Mrs. Tanya Tate, Bingley, United Kingdom

Jeremy, you really are a heathen.There are truly beautiful places in Wales,why on earth go to the pebble-dashed, terrace-housed hillsides?I know why, because you get a better laugh by mocking than saying "actually this is lovely place and an awfully lot nicer than middle england -where I live".Also, Wales really deserved their rugby win and thank you ever so much for mentioning it,even if you did it in such a back-handed way.

Dawn , newport, wales UK

Please stay in Wales Jeremy !!!

Ian Payne, WALSALL,

Jeremy,

Rugby should be a free flowing game and not decided by penalties. How boring, And as you are stuck in a country that loves its past and has no idea about what their future should be or even a passing understanding of what future means - yes others will make recommendations for change.

Shouldn't you be concentrating on the pay back from India with its raid on Jaguar et al?

Max, Sydney, Australia

Just out of idle curiosity I thought that I should find out what 'Wales' is. It turns out that it's a collective noun for a number of English counties. Wales is a part of England. Who would have thought! It's defined in The Interpretation Act, 1978.

Stuart, Chichester,

Just found this site, don't care a whit about sports or cars, but I LOVE Jeremy Clarkson, and I've missed him terribly- do you know that we can no longer buy the Sunday Times in Chicago? We had been paying $8.00 for a copy, and it never arrived until Tuesday, but now it's simply not available in Chicago, no where, no way. I used to spend a week reading the paper, saving the Travel section for pudding- reading a web site just isn't the same, but it was fun to find Jeremy today, so, thanks, I guess...

Jan Wetzel, Chicago, USA

Wilkes is right. If you want to see all action attacking rugby why don't you just watch/play rugby league? It's a far more exciting spectacle for the observer. And the crowd usually makes plenty of noise too. I've been to "Twickers" and I've never been anywhere where 70,000 people make less noise. Which is ironic because you usually can't hear yourself think when you stand next to half a dozen braying Henrys in the pub.

Kevin, London, UK

Stick to cars, mate. The scrum is even more important under the new laws; laws that were introduced by the Jessies in the Northern Hemisphere dominated IRB, not the Aussies.

Dick McCaw, Oamaru, NZ

tim elliott clearly hasn't hear of the barnett formula witch is the way of allocating funds to areas of the u.k, genrally ex-industrial dprived working class areas like parts of wales,scotland and the north of england. The barnett formula allocates subsidies on the basis of need so the places that need the money ( genrally the areas thatcher ruined ) and anyway welsh coal and scottish oil has subsidised english fat cats for decades so what we need to do really is to have english mp's only voting on english issues and chuck northern ireland out of the union ( witch is gonna happen anyway ) because they take a large amount of money from the treasury.P.S it's the scots who have been getting the free-bees in regards to education and prospect of scrapping council tax what wales got so far is free prescriptions witch we could afford anyway!

Huw, Llantrisant,Wales,U.K,

You're way off the mark on this one Jeremy. The new rules allow for far more attacking play (extra five yards behind the scrum for defenders) and the speed of the game has increased rapidly with many 'tap-and-go' free kicks.

Rugby used to be a little slow what with injuries and mucking around at lineouts etc. but this years Super 14 matches are the first time I have seen two teams sucking up the O2 like their lives depend on it.

Most importantly what these rules do are stop the penalty fest that has switched most people off the game. Rather than kick anything in the opposition's half now we have more tries and play in the 22s.

Rugby is a great game and when I first heard of rule changes I was sceptical, but from what I have seen so far I am mightily impressed - and will be watching twice as much rugby this year.

Luke C, Perth, WA

Oh, that picture of Clarkson on the banner........please, please, please. It's not funny. Really, it's not.

Esther, London,

Residents in wales, and yes a lot of them do have homes, are due for more freebies in that they will not have to pay speed fines, fuel tax, bus fares, taxi fares, plane fares, oh and all food will be free too. Subsidised by the english. I hear the scots, that's the ones who still live up there, will also get similar 'help'. Countries around the world are writing petitions right now to become part of the UK.

tim elliott, banbury,

Wales? Speed cameras?? Pebble-dash??? You were in the wrong bit, Jeremy. Come up to North Wales - we have miles and miles of glorious road, no yellow boxes and the indigenous architecture, should you slow down sufficiently to clock it, is whitewash & slate. Well, avoid the A55, obviously.

PS. I'm not Welsh.

Judith Sansom, Corwen, UK

As usual Jeremy, very amusingly ,pushes his luck but I ,for one ,agree with him re. rule changes in Rugby. I do not agree with those who say England only did well because of the present rules. Those existing rules allow the game to be played in several ways and, if a game is dramatically won by a last minute drop gaol then great I say. I think the present day refs. are not strict enough regarding straight ball into the scrum and I don't want to see anyone mucking around with the ruck or maul .The line out ? If they want uneven numbers OK I can't see one side putting in fewer people than the other and losing the line out because of it/. I like watching Rugby League but the symbolic use of the scrum is really a no no to me and ,whilst I think I realise the reason for the six tackle rule ,I ,at times ,find the inevitability of it somewhat trying (no pun intended). May one ask who Carole Bouquet is ,please.

alan burden, mijas pueblo, e

Yes, Jeremy, urban Wales is seriously depressing. So is much of urban England. So what? That's why people watch and sometimes take part in games and invent fiendishly complex laws. And fantasise about driving crazy cars.

Colin, shrewsbury,

You're right about the pebble dashed houses

JP, Newport, Wales

.... 'I’d much rather sleep with Carole Bouquet than Charlotte Church.'

You'd stand more chance with Hyacinth Bouquet.

Hywel Wilcox, Bradford,

It is all very well bleating on about creating a free flowing game, but judging by the amount of kicking now evident in the Super 14 competition it just isn't working.

The ball is being slowed down with impunity as hands in the ruck is now a free kick - with the ensuing decision to scrummage meaning an even longer break between phases of play.

You only have to have watched the GP game between Wasps and Bath from a couple of weeks ago to realise that not a great deal is broken with the game played in heaven.

To make people run you need to make it harder to defend not easier. League is a great game and works because they keep the teams apart, not by encouraging kicking on tackle 1.

Jase, Doha, Qatar

"The new laws are designed to address shortcomings identified by even the most casual observer at the last rugby world cup"

The shortcomings being that England beat Australia?

Interesting how the game needs new laws since Australia have been beaten twice in a row by England. I wish we could change the rules of football so that having a Bentley and whinging was worth a goal, just to help the national team. We'd win the World Cup.

If you want uncontested scrums, endless running and 20 yard passes why don't you just go and play league instead?

J.Wilkes, Gloucester,

It's really very simple. It's about money, and in Sport, that means Television. Here in Australia, we can watch Soccer, Rugby League or AFL ( Australian Football) - therefore we only watch winners. Rugby Union is the poor cousin in all of this. League is the biggest sport in half the country and AFL in the other half. With Soccer coming up fast in the inside. As well, many players play both Rugby Union and Rugby League. The domestic Union competition, Super 14, played against South Africa and New Zealand has been disastrous for Australia in recent years. Rugby League is every bit as violent and about mud as Union but it is a fast, skilful and free-flowing game. And Australian has beaten Britain in League tests since nearly the dawn of time.
The recent world cup in which the winning teams played a dull unadventurous conservative game was painful to watch and no advertisement for the game.
Union in Australia is in a fight for its life. Hence the drive to change the rules.

E Chambers , Lithgow, Australia

The new laws are designed to address shortcomings identified by even the most casual observer at the last rugby world cup i.e. the rugby was about as exciting as church.

The kind of kick and clap that propelled England to a world cup final may have been reasonably successful from the team's viewpoint but would have attracted very few to the game save for the occasional sadist.

Have you ever been to a Guiness Premiership rugby game? It's a great advertisement for football.

The new laws have been introduced to the Super 14 downunder, producing a fast, exciting game.

There are in fact still plenty of scrums, but fewer line outs.

I like the concept, but it will never be accepted in the Northern Hemisphere, where old school attitudes will persist.

Jamin, Melbourne, Australia

I went to a fight once, and a game of rugby broke out... no.. seriously, it wasn't home here in Oz, it was in the Cook Islands. They have no sports where an engine is fitted so they survive on Rugby.. that and drinking. Say what you will about Aussies and Rugby, don't care, never could understand the game actually. All I know is (I think i know this anyway) it's a game where 1 bloke tries to shove 2 blokes heads up 3 guys backsides...
However,, I reckon it could be made into an interesting sport, Hey Jeremy, reckon you could start a "world series auto soccer"? like you did in Top Gear.. THAT'S a sport I would follow and rules be damned.

Nevyn, Adelaide, Australia

YES!! spot on Clarkson. I'M from Melbourne where rugby is non existent. but when you do see it on the tv. its always a bunch of meat heads carrying on about how this or that wasn't in the spirit of the game!!!.. i don't like rugby all that much i don't hate it either. in fact the reason i don't follow it and the other major code of football here in Australia is because the games rulers keep trying to soften the game up. i wonder how long it takes before people are reduced to watching "touch football/ rugby" because all the corporate bosses of the leagues ban all form of psychical contact because its not in the "spirit of the game"

Arron, Melbourne, Aus