Good points Nick.
The centralised contracts has really worked for Ireland (the IRFU enforces a mximum number of games for player, and has told the provinces to pull certain players out of league games to comply).
The fact that the Guinness Prem is such a dog-eat-dog competition, and the relegation thing is so crippling that half the clubs are desparetely scrambling to get H Cup places, and the other half desperate to avoid relegation is hurting the quality of the competition.
If in doubt, hoof it out of your half, hope for a knock on, rely on penalties. Its the Saracens way.
Meanwhile, Irish provinces have evolved nicely - Munster try to be more expansive in their backs with the likes of Earls, Mafi, Howlett, and Leinster have become a 15 man team and not just fancy-dan backs. They're not burned out by endless Magners league games, so can peak for H Cup and 6N.
All of this, and the confidence gained by H Cup wins, has helped the Irish NT.
England on the other hand have no links to the clubs, have poor coaches (Wells in particular needs to be dumped ASAFP), and are struggling to decide even on a basic pattern of play.
Talented players are just not trusted (has James Simpson-Daniel even been given consecutive games?) and workhorses are always picked if there's a toss-up (and a big hello to Steve Borthwick).
