 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 Jerry considers this week are: - Gavin Henson's return to international rugby with the Barbarians in December - London Irish's superb start to the season - Northampton's Premiership credentials - The poor early-season form of Glasgow and Edinburgh - What Wales need to do to beat the world's best sides 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.
Hi Jeremy. Players are putting their hands up for their clubs and consistently delivering good performances week in, week out. Do you think it is fair then that Gavin Henson is chosen to play for the Barbarians above these players?
Will, Scotland  Henson is currently appearing in Strictly Come Dancing |
Hi Will. Babas matches are generally a no-go area for Premiership players unless they get special dispensation from their club to play. I think it's a smart move by the organisers to include GH, his inclusion will get the interest from the media and will certainly stir up interest in the match. I'm looking forward to seeing him back on a rugby field. Jerry, who would start for England at full-back for you, Delon Armitage or Ben Foden?
Will, England Hi Will. Competition for places is a coach's dream, although it means selection has to be right. Armitage has rediscovered his form and Foden continues to perform well. I'm a great believer that to replace someone the incoming player has to be playing much better. At this time, I think Armitage and Foden are pretty equal. Therefore I would keep Foden at full-back. Hi Jerry. I would like your opinion on the Sarries-Saints game. It was always going to be a hard-fought battle right from the off. I'm more concerned with the refereeing of the match. Saints were scrappy and probably didn't deserve the win but it appears that, since Brendan Venter's rants against referees last season, referees are too concerned with how they will be deemed in the eyes of Mr Venter.
jaynesgt6, England You sound like a disappointed Saints supporter? The approach by both teams didn't make for an open, enjoyable game to watch or a game that was easy to ref. I happen to think whenever Dave Pearson is refereeing you're not always going to get the most free-flowing game of rugby. I would defend Mr Pearson and all refs with regards to impartiality. It's pretty ridiculous to think that refs are more likely to favour a team because of what a coach has said. It's fair to say that some refereeing decisions can go against your team and they look questionable but generally the refs get it right. Hi Jeremy. I was fortunate enough to watch the London Irish v Newcastle game on the weekend and was blown away by the quality of the Irish performance. Among a plethora of first-class performances, it was that of Seilala Mapusua that caught my eye. I thought it one of the outstanding performances of the last several years. Can you think of a more authoritative performance by a centre in recent times?
Matto Rose, UK  | 606: DEBATE |
Hi Matto, it's fair to say that when Seilala is fit and in the mood he creates havoc amongst defences. He tests defenders to the full with his intense physicality and has the ability to slip passes out of tackles, which kills defences. There have been lots of fine performances by centres in recent times. We've all watched Brian O'Driscoll have a real impact on matches, as well as James Hook, Jamie Roberts. Even Olly Barkley for Bath against Wasps last season at Twickenham. Hi Jerry. London Irish have once again started the season well. Do you think they've got the ability and talent to deliver this year or do you think they'll be the nearly men again? Specifically, Ryan Lamb is a maestro or a liability, depending on his mood. Having such a mercurial fly-half makes me think that LI will still lose the big matches. Am I being to pessimistic?
Tim, Berks, England Hi Tim. Irish certainly have the ability to win the Premiership this season. They are like a few teams at the top looking for that magic ingredient that makes them winners. I would agree with your concerns over Lamb. At his best, he makes the game look easy. At his worst, he's too emotional and petulant. Chris Malone is the fall-back if Lamb doesn't cut it and would be the more consistent but he is not necessarily the genius that is the missing link. Do you feel Northampton losing their unbeaten record was completely down to the conditions and great kicking? Do you think they would have won in dry conditions? And how do you feel their title credentials weigh up compared to other teams?
Jack Alhadeff, England Hi Jack. There is no doubt Saints have all the ingredients to be champions, although I feel they are missing real class at 9 and 10. Lee Dickson plays well but sometimes just tries to do too much, while Shane Geraghty and Stephen Myler haven't been consistent enough. Geraghty started well last season but fell away and Myler is another fly-half that does the basics well but isn't a real threat with ball in hand. | Wales at their very best will give the southern hemisphere teams a good run for their money |
Hi Jeremy. I am wondering whether I am the only one who is questioning Dylan Hartley's temperament at the moment. I feel that the needless penalties he gives away over and over again, along with his unwillingness to pass the ball in try-scoring positions, far outweigh the positives he brings to the team. He's an excellent line-out thrower but is that enough? What are your thoughts?
Dan, Northampton, UK Hi Dan. I believe Hartley is improving but his temperament lets him and his team down from time to time. He did mess up an overlap at the weekend but to be fair so do a lot of players week in, week out. Hartley has to learn quickly that defences are expecting him not to pass so it would be a good idea to pass it from time to time. He has to temper his over-exuberance and lead by example with calm and mature decision-making, more in tune with a captain and international player. Hi Jerry. With the Scottish national team having had a fairly successful season last year, what do you think the two clubs need to do in order to be consistently competitive? This season has started badly for them and I'm sure a little advice from yourself would be helpful!
James Mckay-Mount, UK Hi James. The ambitions of Edinburgh and Glasgow must be to get into the play-offs of the Magners League and into the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup on a regular basis. Everything is stacked against them. The number of players available to them and their cash resources aren't great. And look at the competition: Leinster, Munster, Ospreys and Blues - and that's just in the Magners.  Guscott and Carling attempt to bring down Scott Hastings of Scotland |
Andy Robinson looks to have taken the national side onto the next level, winning the last game against Ireland and coming away from Argentina with a series victory was very impressive. I don't believe supporters can expect too much more from Edinburgh and Glasgow considering what's available. In a recent Scrum V interview, Scott Johnson said Wales could be top dogs if only they believed in themselves a bit more. Do you think it's possible? I can't see it somehow.
Malcolm Chiplen, Wales Malcolm, don't be such a defeatist! Wales at their very best will give the southern hemisphere teams a good run for their money. Any team with the class of Gethin Jenkins, Alun-Wyn Jones, Martyn Williams, Mike Phillips, Shane Williams and Lee Byrne certainly has the talent. Johnson is partially right when he talks about belief. Mentally they are not as strong as some teams but they are better when judged on playing ability. Hi Jeremy, as a fan of free-flowing rugby, it upsets me to see penalties being taken from beyond the halfway line. It seems that any infringement a team makes gives away three points. What is your view? Do you think there should be direct and indirect penalties? For example, should there be a zone in the opposition half, maybe beyond the 10-metre line, whereby you can kick for goal and anything behind that zone is an area where taking a pot at goal is not an option?
Enrique Hernandez, Brazil Hi Enrique, really pleased to hear from someone in Brazil. Penalties will always be part of our great game and if a player is capable of knocking over kicks from 55 yards out, so be it. I don't think there should be zones and we already have free-kicks which don't allow a direct pot at goal. All sides know the laws and if a player decides to risk having a penalty awarded against them within kicking range - wherever that may be - then they know the consequences. If Toby Flood was fit, would he play ahead of Jonny Wilkinson for England?
David Price, USA Hi David. After what happened during the summer tour, I would pick Flood before JW, although I've only read about how well JW is playing in France. Now I've joined an online Premiership result-predicting game I've been paying more attention to your predictions - and you've had nearly as many wrong as me! Is this an indication of how unpredictable performances have been this season - Exeter a lot stronger than expected, Leicester not quite as sure-fire, Quins very weak and Wasps up and down like yo-yos - or is it because the new interpretations of the rules are evening things out, meaning any team could beat any other on the day?
John Myhill, UK Hi John, I would say it's an indication that you're as bad as me at predicting! Predicting rugby results is never going to be an exact science, we all know that. After four weeks, the bottom looks fairly predictable, with Leeds and Falcons propping up the table, although most of us thought Exeter would be with them. The top of the table doesn't look unfamiliar, although maybe we all thought Leicester might be higher than fifth? There are always going to be unexpected results - Gloucester losing to Exeter being one. I tend to use form and a gut feeling to make my predictions, which are made before the teams are announced. Our club captain is very much an in-your-face person before a game. In his team talks every other word is a swear word. I very much like to sit on my own to psyche myself up before a game but listening to his team talks makes me lose my concentration. Have you ever had a situation like this and what did you do about it?
Big John, England Are you sure you're called 'Big John'?! There was a coach who will remain nameless who was a shouter and a bit physical. He would rant and rave in the dressing room before a game and then slap players across the face as they ran out of the changing room. I tried to avoid the shouting in the face by leaving my bootlaces undone and crouching down to do them up whenever he came near me. I always ran out low to the ground to avoid the swipe across the face. Hi Jeremy, a quick question. Do you remember your all-time favourite tackle?
Jamie , Ireland Hi Jamie. To be fair, tackling wasn't my bag. Phil de Glanville did most of my tackling at Bath and Will Carling when I played for England!
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