Now that the rugby season is underway and that the excitement of on-field action is taking precedence over the off-field drama, we are getting excited about what is coming up this year.
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All eyes are on South Africa at the moment but there are some other stories of interest floating around Planet Rugby at present and here are just a few of them.
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Tom May, David Wilson and Matt Banahan will all make their full England Test debuts against Argentina this Saturday at Old Trafford.

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The England team to play the Barbarians on Saturday features a couple of new faces, and some exciting fresh talent.
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Martin Johnson has just named the squad from which he will pick a side to play the Barbarians, and which will travel to Argentina this summer.
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The so-called new era under Martin Johnson cannot come quickly enough. For 5 years, England has been rubbish and the latest episode in New Zealand has plumbed new depths of embarrassment.

On the pitch, there never seemed to be that collective desire that’s required to take on and beat the great teams – there were a few bright sparks of passion and commitment in the shape of James Haskell and Luke Narraway (among one or two others), but it’s not enough.

Off the pitch, it seems that their unaffected attitude has landed them in trouble. Rather than reflecting on another defeat, there were cheers and beers in a nightclub followed by that alleged debauchery that is simply unacceptable by anyone, let alone professional international sportsmen.

Last week I wrote a fairly optimistic summary of what we could take from the first test, but this week it is all a bit bleak.

Johnson needs to start from scratch.

Just in case he needed reminding of the huge challenge ahead, Martin Johnson has apparently been in touch with his captain to tell him what he needs to do.

Hopefully he mentioned that he needs to work on his presence, and it’s not good enough to just push in the scrums and jump in the lineouts. Everyone needs to see Borthwick carrying the ball in the loose and leading the charge in a Johnno sort of way.

Perhaps he also discussed the hotel room shenanigans that apparently took place last week, and for Borthwick’s sake I hope that if something untoward did take place, he wasn’t involved – I wouldn’t want a dressing down from the great man, even if he is 3,000 miles away.

I wonder also if Johnson discussed match strategy for Saturday’s game. Presumably he’d be reiterating the importance of defence, particularly in the 10 channel, and probably suggesting that the forwards batten down the hatches and hope that Flood can kick them into a position to score with a driving maul or slot the odd penalty.

Do you think he also had some advice on how to ignite the creative spark that must be lurking somewhere in that centre partnership of Jamie Noon and Mike Tindall?

England will field a very different side for the second Test against New Zealand, with six changes in total – five of which are in the back line.

As predicted by The Rugby Blog readership, Charlie Hodgson drops out of the match squad altogether with Toby Flood filling his fly-half boots. He will be partnered by Danny Care, who makes his first start in an England shirt after looking sharp from the bench last week.

Mathew Tait is selected at full-back over Mike Brown, Tom Vandell replaces David Strettle and Jamie Noon starts at 12 alongside Mike Tindall.

In the forwards, Tim Payne comes in for Andrew Sheridan who was ruled out through injury – but otherwise the pack is unchanged.

Is this a back line to trouble the mighty All Blacks?

England: Mathew Tait (Newcastle); Topsy Ojo (London Irish), Mike Tindall (Gloucester), Jamie Noon (Newcastle), Tom Varndell (Leicester); Toby Flood (Newcastle), Danny Care (Harlequins); Tim Payne (Wasps), Lee Mears (Bath), Matt Stevens (Bath), Tom Palmer (Wasps), Steve Borthwick (Bath, captain), James Haskell (Wasps), Tom Rees (Wasps), Luke Narraway (Gloucester).
Replacements: Jason Hobson (Bristol), David Paice (London Irish), Ben Kay (Leicester), Joe Worsley (Wasps), Peter Richards (London Irish), Olly Barkley (Bath), David Strettle (Harlequins).

New Zealand: Leon MacDonald (Crusaders); Sitiveni Sivivatu (Chiefs), Richard Kahui (Chiefs), Ma’a Nonu (Hurricanes), Rudi Wulf (Blues); Daniel Carter (Crusaders), Andy Ellis (Crusaders); Neemia Tialata (Hurricanes), Andrew Hore (Hurricanes), Greg Somerville (Crusaders), Brad Thorn (Crusaders), Ali Williams (Crusaders), Adam Thomson (Highlanders), Richie McCaw (Crusaders), Rodney So’oialo (Hurricanes).
Replacements: Keven Mealamu (Blues), Tony Woodcock (Blues), Anthony Boric (Blues), Sione Lauaki (Chiefs), Jimmy Cowan (Highlanders), Stephen Donald (Chiefs), Mils Muliaina (Chiefs).