Former England and Lions star Guscott is a BBC rugby union pundit

Former Bath, England and Lions centre Jeremy Guscott is back to answer your questions as the new domestic season begins to take shape.

Among the topics you raised that Jerry discusses this week are:

- Gavin Henson. Celebrity or rugby player?

- The effect of the new interpretation at the breakdown and how it has affected defending teams

- Northampton's fly-half dilemma - Stephen Myler or Shane Geraghty?

- Just how good Tri-Nations champions New Zealand are, and whether they can continue their fine form all the way to becoming world champions in 2011

If you have any questions for Jerry, please use the postform on this page. He will answer as many as possible next week, but unfortunately not every question submitted can be used. This week's answers appear below.

Hi Jeremy. I would like to know what your thoughts are on the WRU using Gavin Henson as their poster boy. If you were currently in the Welsh team what would your thoughts be on the Henson circus?
Gary (A Welshman in Thailand), Thailand

What's your take on the possible Gavin Henson return? And what do you think of some of the comments made by current Welsh players? I think it would be good to see a fit and in-form Henson back in the red shirt.
Jimmy, Wales

Henson was controversially chosen to model the new Wales shirt

Hi Gary and Jimmy, I don't think it's all bad using him as the poster boy for the new kit although I can understand the current players being slightly miffed. From a publicity point of view it did the trick, but for internal relations between the WRU and the players I'd have to say the person who made the decision to use Henson got it very wrong.

The whole if, when and where GH will play rugby again is fascinating. It appears that he wants to play again but not for the Ospreys. The answer seems straightforward enough: a team needs to pay a transfer fee or Henson could buy himself out or wait until he's out of contract. In this current economic situation, I can't see many teams paying a transfer fee.

Another option might be that the WRU comes to some arrangement with the Ospreys that allows GH to play somewhere else. There's a lot of merit in what Scott Johnson said at the weekend, saying he thought GH should honour his contract. If differences can't be resolved then I guess we won't be seeing Henson playing rugby until the 2011/12 season.

On a scale of one to 10, how bored are you of hearing about Gavin Henson?
Rich, Wales

Hi Rich, if 10 equals interested, I'm a 10. It's a story that's going to run until we get an answer, and I for one am interested to find out where he's going to resurrect his rugby career.

How do you feel teams are adapting to the slight change in breakdown laws this season? Do you worry that there could be a backlash to this change in directive for referees? I believe the idea is a good one, however at the moment the referees are almost too strong on the defending team, meaning that turnovers at the ruck are at a minimum at the moment.
Tom, London

Hi Tom, the best way to answer your question is to refer to the All Blacks. They still contest at the breakdown in a very competitive manner and so do Australia. The new take on the breakdown by refs should encourage defences to stay on their feet more and counter-ruck, but staying on your feet is key to a good defence. You can suck in defenders by mauling and hitting off the sides and staying on your feet. It will take teams that aren't smart longer to adjust.

Being an Exeter Chiefs fan I was thoroughly impressed with how close they came to beating the Tigers in their own back yard. The score did not reflect the game at all. Do you think pundits will now sit up and take note of this new team, who we've frequently been told will struggle at this level?
Giles Humphries, England

I was at the Leicester v Exeter game on Saturday and we looked dangerous every time we attacked Leicester. Chatting to Austin Healey after the game, he still reckons we might get relegated. Any thoughts?
Ben Wells, Birmingham, UK

Hi Giles and Ben, after last weekend's game I really don't think any team will take Exeter lightly. It's still early days and there's nothing yet to suggest they won't be in the dust-up fighting relegation at the end of the season. At this stage it's week by week, and if the Chiefs beat Newcastle this weekend then that's another step closer to securing enough points for survival.

Geraghty and Myler are rivals for the number 10 shirt

As a massive Saints fan, I was thrilled with the result against Leicester, however a somewhat lacklustre performance from Stephen Myler ensured that the game would be closer than it perhaps should have been. However, he is known as 'Mr Reliable' at Saints whereas Geraghty is the opposite. If they are to win the league which one would you have starting in your team or would you perhaps give the young Joe Ford a run?
Matthew Helfet, England

Hi Matthew, with both players at their best I would go with Geraghty. Myler as you say is Mr Reliable and when it goes wrong, the team doesn't completely fall off the edge of the cliff. Geraghty has more to offer in attack and is a threat on his own but when he goes wrong it really does go bad. I believe Mallinder started with his first-choice 10 against Leicester, it didn't work out for Myler, Geraghty came on and did well, hence his start against Quins. It will probably be like that all season, play well and keep your place, if not, the other one comes in - nothing like competition to keep you sharp.

What do you think of the two new Italian teams in the Magners League? Do you think their inclusion will help develop the Italian national side and do you think that the more established stars of the Italian game will be tempted back home to play for them?
Tom Matthewman, England

Hi Tom, It's definitely good to have Aironi and Treviso in the Magners and over time it will benefit the Italian players and the national team. It will be difficult for the Italian sides to keep any young talent making an impression because of the sums of money on offer abroad. For the same reasons, it's unlikely that any established Italian players playing abroad now are likely to return unless maybe they want to return home to live.

How big a loss for the Tigers is Toby Flood being injured? I know it is still early in season, but Jeremy Staunton is nowhere near as good and because he plays so far behind the gain line, hugely affects the way they play.
Richard, UK

Hi Richard, Flood's injury is a big blow for Tigers. Staunton played a lot at the first half of last season and the Tigers did reasonably well. Flood is first choice, but I think Staunton is a good back up.

Jeremy, what are your thoughts on Tom Varndell? Do you think he'll ever be able to break into the England team and hold his place or would you tell him to go back to the sevens circuit for international representation? I personally believe that he has never lived up to his potential and I'm starting to think he never will!
Chrissy C, England

Hi Chrissy, Varndell has shown at times he has what it takes but unfortunately for him he hasn't done it consistently. It's not about his size. Look at Chris Ashton and Ben Foden, they've made it on the back of good club performances and repeating that on the international stage. Varndell still has plenty of time to get it right.

Do you think that Bath have the quality to win the Premiership?
Jake Allright, UK

Bath have a very good chance of making the top four, but to win the Premiership I believe they have to make the top two and get that all important home play-off position. They have the quality but they don't have the know-how, that's what they are finding out about each other. However, that will change the day this current squad win the league or the Heineken Cup.

Richie McCaw captained New Zealand to a Tri-Nations clean sweep

With New Zealand winning all their games in the Tri-Nations, do you think any of the home nations can beat them in the autumn internationals and do you think they will win next year's World Cup?
Jack, UK

Jack, it's going to be tough for any of the home unions to defeat New Zealand, Australia or South Africa this autumn. It's not impossible but as it stands the Tri-Nations teams would start as favourites in all their games unless they brought weakened squads. Of the big three, South Africa are the weakest and look the most run-down but their forwards are powerful enough to dominate most teams. Once the Springboks come to terms with the new interpretations of the tackle they will be dangerous again.

Hi again Jerry. After coming to terms with Worcester getting relegated and being pleased with who we managed to hold on to and also recruit, player-wise, I am dismayed by the stupid play-off system in the championship. Who was responsible for this and how can it be got rid of?
Pete Marston, England

Jeremy seems to be too ready to condemn these play-offs without a proper consideration of the pros and cons. Apart from anything else, teams that reach the final are only playing one extra game over the old format and the home and away final games were watched by bigger crowds than any other!
Tim La Touche, England

Hi Pete and Tim. I take Tim's point that there's pretty much the same number of games played and that Exeter would not have been promoted had the new play-off system not been in place.

My view is that with the old format teams knew most years, with a few weeks to spare, that they were going to be promoted. That meant they could start recruiting and making plans for the following season in the Premiership. I don't believe the new play-offs give the promoted team the benefit of planning ahead, but if Exeter stay up this season then it will prove that the new system has merit.

To be fair, not many people liked the play-offs in the Premiership to decide the champions, it's something everyone's had to get used to. The pros and cons will be discussed and argued for some time to come. I prefer the old way, just like the Premier League in football still is, where the team at the top at the end of the season are crowned champions.

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