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.

Among the topics that have been making the headlines this week are:

- Which centres were the hardest opponents Jerry ever played against

- The chances of England boss Martin Johnson bringing in new faces to face the All Blacks

- The likelihood of Bath centre Olly Barkley making it back into the England team

- Why forwards keep giving away penalties

- Who should start at full-back for Wales now Lee Byrne is injured

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.

Dear Jeremy, I once had dinner with former All Blacks centre Frank Bunce. When I asked him who he disliked playing against the most he astonished me with his answer. I expected him to say Joe Stanley or some South African brute, but he said Jeremy Guscott. He said that all the others would try and play his game and always lose the physical battle against him. He said he was so worried about your pace and step and that you didn't play the physical game that he wanted. Who was your most respected centre that you played against/would like to have played against?
Barnaby Richardson, Cayman Islands

Little (left) and Horan first met when they were only 13

Hi Barnaby from the Caymans, Frank was a very tough opponent and he was dead right telling you I wasn't ever going to get physical, I couldn't match him in that department! I found playing against Tim Horan and Jason Little the hardest because Horan was quick and Little was big and quick. Philippe Sella was another hard centre, he tackled very hard and always managed to hit your unprotected parts!

Hi Jeremy. What do you think of the recent decision by Premier Rugby to give preferential treatment to England by not allowing the release of international players from other countries until 35 days before the World Cup? Will this have a knock-on effect of the Premiership becoming less attractive to overseas players?
Stephen, Caerphilly

Hi Stephen, from what I understand and reading between the lines Premier Rugby (PRL) wants to use it as leverage with the International Rugby Board because of other issues it has. PRL was just making the unions aware of the stipulation that means, officially, PRL teams don't have to release non-English internationals until 4 August. This could have been done so many other ways that weren't inflammatory, but PRL wanted to make a point to get everyone's attention. We all hope that common sense will prevail and all players will be released as and when their respective unions need them.

Jeremy, I read a recent newspaper article pointing out the significant similarities between Martin Johnson's record as England boss and that of Sir Clive Woodward at the same juncture in his England management career. Do you read anything into this?

I truly believe that England have as good a chance of playing well in the autumn internationals as they have had in the last few years, based on their last performance against Australia

Personally, I feel that Johnson's oft-lamented "conservatism" actually attests to a determination to focus on long-term building, rather than media-popular, reactive, short-termism that would see the latest Premiership tyro chucked straight in at the deep end.
Adam, England

Hi Adam, I honestly can't read anything into it. Johnson and Woodward are totally different people, both in character and personality. Johnno as a player was hard nosed and uncompromising, which is so far what we've seen in his approach to being England's head coach. He is very reliant on those around him because he had no experience of coaching elite players. His approach with the media in general is spot on, tell it as it is rather than what it might be or he would like to be. He's made mistakes getting to where he is now but that had to be expected.

Hi Jeremy, looking ahead to the autumn internationals, England once again barely have a handful of players that are absolute dead certs for the starting XV. In 2001-2003 there were at least 12 dead certs. What is the underlying reason for this? Injuries, lack of consistency in form... or is it simply Martin Johnson not having faith (or patience) in his players? It just seems like SUCH a contrast, and it has also been reflected very accurately in our results as well.
Charlie Fletcher, London, England

Hi Charlie, Johnson simply hasn't got the same kind of quality players to pick from that Woodward did back in 2003. I truly believe that England have as good a chance of playing well in these autumn internationals as they have had in the last few years, based on their last performance against Australia. I can't see many changes in the England line-up to start against New Zealand from the team that was selected to play the last game against the Wallabies.

Please advise me on why the England management insist on having players like South African Hendrie Fourie in the Elite Player Squad while young English players such as Andy Saull have to make do with playing for the Saxons. These players would learn more from playing against teams like New Zealand and South Africa etc rather than playing against Canada in the Churchill Cup and winning by 50 points.
Robert, United Kingdom

Hi Robert, Johnson believes that Fourie is better than Saull. Selection is and always will be subjective, the coach has to get it right because his job depends on his team being successful.

Gatland guided Wales to the Grand Slam back in 2008

Wales boss Warren Gatland has signed an extension to his contract until the 2015 World Cup. I think the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is a little premature, particularly if Wales have a poor Six Nations and World Cup - they will be stuck with him for another four years!!!
David Vowles, Wales

Hi David, as I understand it the new contract has some break clauses that might have something to do with the team's performance. You would like to think the WRU has been astute enough to ensure that if Gatland doesn't produce the results they can sack him without heavy financial penalty.

I'm not sure if it's just me but there seem to be more professional fouls like diving and feigning injuries being committed these days. Not like "Bloodgate" but more an increase in playacting. Should action be taken to stamp this out and what would the best way to do it be?
Bruce, Norway

Hi Bruce. Personally I can't say I have seen too much evidence of trying to con the refs in the ways you mention. In general I think the refs are good at spotting what is genuine and what might be fake or play acting.

Do you think Bath centre Olly Barkley plays better when his name is not being mentioned for the England number 12 shirt? With Riki Flutey injured, surely Barkley is next in line for the shirt?
Becky, England

Hi Becky, Barkley was the in-form 12 at the end of last season, and something happened on the England tour to Oz which meant he was left out of the Elite and Saxons squads this season. There would need to be at least another four injuries to centres in these squads before Martin Johnson might consider Barkley. It's a real shame because at his best Barkley has the talent England could prosper by employing but at this moment in time he's not playing as well as he was last year, and it looks very unlikely that he will break into the squads.

With Northampton's vast improvement since returning to the Premiership, do you see Jim Mallinder becoming the next England coach? Also, Saints have got a vast array of talent in the group but I feel Phil Dowson should be in the England elite squad with his performances over the years. Also why hasn't Jon Clarke been picked by England, even for the Saxons?
Ben George, England

Hi Ben, Mallinder is fast becoming a top quality coach but I would at least like to see him coach a team to the Premiership or Heineken Cup before thinking about him possibly becoming England's next head coach. I'm a big fan of Dowson and I, like you, can't understand why he isn't included in the elite squad. Clarke was very close to England selection a couple of seasons ago but got badly injured. If he became busier around the field he would have more of an impact and catch the eye more of selectors.

Who do you think can step in for Lee Byrne at full-back for Wales if his hand injury puts him out of the autumn internationals? Do you think Chris Czekaj deserves a shot?
Sam, Wales

Hi Sam, for once I'm a little stuck because there appear to be a lot of players carrying little knocks, resulting in doubts about their fitness. Czekaj has now been drafted into the squad as a replacement for Byrne after the latter was ruled out because of hand injury. Gatland might be tempted to play James Hook at 15, he's done it before, but I hope he resists this because I believe Hook has a bigger impact in a game playing 12 than at 15. Logic would suggest Will Harries gets the nod - I would pick him.

With Wales calling up the likes of 18-year-old George North on the wing, do you think that Martin Johnson could make a surprise selection this autumn?
David, England

Hi David, I think we would struggle to expect a surprise call up, there's nothing to suggest he would be likely to do that, plus the players come from the Elite squad unless there are injuries.

Lions legend McGeechan has been Lions head coach four times

Just read that Ian McGeechan could possibly be talked into taking the Lions to Australia, has there ever been a man more in tune with a job? He is the British and Irish Lions through and through, but do we need to start to groom his successor as we need to glean as much knowledge as possible from Geech. What are your thoughts?
Karl, UK

Hi Karl, Geech at the present time is consulting with the Lions, and there isn't a better person than Geech to get advice from where the Lions are concerned. If a suitable candidate to coach can't be found by 2012 then I think Geech should do it again. My thoughts are that the home union coaches shouldn't do it because its not part of their individual rugby heritage.

Week after week I'm hearing the same thing from boss Alan Tait about how the Falcons' lack of discipline is causing them to lose games. So what is he doing about it, as there doesn't seem to be any improvement? How do you stop players from giving away penalties?
Chris, Durham

Hi Chris, it's not easy, especially with forwards, they claim they're listening but clearly, when you see them play giving away silly penalties again, you realise the lines of communication have broken down once more. A coach can only keep saying the same thing so many times and then there has to be action. I remember watching Lewis Moody playing a few years back, he used to be good for four or five penalties a game but even he has managed to change.

Hi Jerry, I usually play on the wing or at full-back, but since moving to a new club they have asked me to start the transition to scrum-half. I have a good pass, am quick, loud and decent organiser, but what I really struggle with is positional play, and the technical aspect of being a scrum-half. Who would you say was best scrum-half you played with? He doesn't have to be full of flair or skill, but one who was technically the best? Cheers.
Rob, England,

Hi Rob, technically the best scrum-half I played with was Richard Hill from Bath. Hilly practiced meticulously through rain, wind, snow and hail, nothing would prevent him from passing and kicking. Kyran Bracken was another great passer and kicker of the ball plus he had a break on him as well. Ben Youngs, for his age, is the best Northern hemisphere scrum-half I have seen in years.

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