Room 101: Alastair Eykyn – BT Sport presenter
Bit of a thorny one this, but on balance I think rugby would be better off without it. I watched from commentary in Auckland in 2011 as Ireland pioneered this new method of turning the ball over. Canny defence coach Les Kiss, now Ulster, had spotted a loophole in the laws that meant the defending team could hold an attacker up in the tackle. They then prevented release of the ball, and collapsed once the maul had been called, knowing they would be awarded possession. Smart, streetwise, and innovative but it’s a negative tactic rewarding defenders even if the attackers are moving forward, and encourages mass pile-ups. If it goes we might see a little more ball in hand as a result!
TRP verdict: Kiss of death for attacking rugby, so it’s a yes from us.
2. Anchovies
I just don’t get it. They’re small, yes, but salty, oily, scaly, hairy… leave them in the ocean where they belong. A fast way to spoil a Caesar Salad (or anything on a plate, come to think of it). Food of the devil. Straight red.
TRP verdict: You’ve got us hook, line and sinker with this one.
3. Fly-tipping
The pits. Practised by arrogant, selfish litter-bugs too lazy to get rid of their rubbish in the normal way. In Britain we have a lot of people on a small island. We should be looking after our landscapes, not chucking our broken tellies and washing machines into them.
TRP verdict: A rubbish choice … but a great one too. You’re in again!
