Rediscovering the lost art of hooking

It’s only a few months since I last put pen to paper yet so much has happened in the intervening period, it’s hard to know where to begin.

The latest tweak to the scrum engagement sequence and the welcome decision to scrutinise the delivery of the scrum-half when feeding the scrum has already had a positive impact.

That, and the worrying fallout between the Anglo-French alliance and the Celtic-Italian brethren over the Heineken Cup, are the most intriguing developments in recent weeks. Tack on the lambasting of the IRFU’s approach to contract negotiations as articulated by Jonny Sexton in his new book and Brian O’Driscoll’s broadside at Warren Gatland over his Lions test omission, and you have plenty talking points.