By Chris Hewett - Thinking Allowed

Anyone seeking to capture the essence of rugby’s transformation over recent decades need not wrestle with the demise of the ruck, the invasion of rugby league defence coaches, the dire effect of tactical substitutions, the alarming absence of body fat on tighthead props, the hunting to extinction of the bloke with the sponge bucket, or the rank insubordination of No.9s who can now give the referee a funny look – even a volley of verbals – without receiving a summons from the local magistrates.
There is a quicker way: just cast an eye over the fixture list ...