World Cup needs a crucial injection of beauty to contrast with big beasts

For the game’s future viability, rugby cannot afford to morph into a monster truck demolition derby

BOMB SQUAD: South Africa's Jean Kleyn and New Zealand's Tupou Vaa'i compete in the lineout. South Africa brought on seven forwards in the match. Pic: Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images

Two hundred years ago no one thought Charles Darwin would amount to much. “You care for nothing but shooting, dogs and rat-catching and you will be a disgrace to yourself and all your family,” his father told his 16-year-old son, who went on to achieve global fame for his contribution to evolutionary biology. 

Which just goes to show how wrong even the most up-close predictions can be.