England manager Martin Johnson reacts after seeing the old version of the rfu.com website for the first time © Getty Images

Fans in England have suffered for years thanks to the woeful web-based efforts of their Union. The website that until this week looked like this was a mess. In playing terms it was more suited to England's infamous 'Tour from Hell' in 1998 rather than their glorious Rugby World Cup triumph in 2003.

The game maybe thriving with more players than ever before but I fear for those lost to the game forever. How many would-be fans and players were immediately turned off the game as a result of visiting the old website? Even the efforts of minor unions like Fiji and Canada were making the money-men and tech-bods at the RFU look foolish.

It has taken years but finally the RFU have decided to take the internet seriously. Sadly they will have to relinquish the 'Worst Sports Governing Body Website Award' that they have monopolised for the best part of a decade but rumours abound that it will be forever re-named 'The Red Rose' in their honour.

The result is a new-look website that looks a whole lot better and is what fans of the England team and supporters of the game in general deserve. Time will tell if it stands up to the rigours of the season.

At last they will be able to make eye contact with their impressive rivals from the Australian Rugby Union, the South Africa Rugby Union and the industry-leading New Zealand Rugby Union.

But of course, if you want a one-stop shop for all your rugby desires then you need look no further than ESPN Scrum.com!

	A class apart: Springboks skipper John Smit © Getty Images

15. Frans Steyn (South Africa)
We already knew he could kick the leather off the ball but with three successful kicks from inside his own half against the All Blacks in Hamilton he cemented his reputation as one of the most deadly boots in the game.

14. Cory Jane (New Zealand)
Jane may have only featured twice during this year's Tri-Nations but he did enough against the Wallabies in Wellington to claim a spot in our line-up. There may have been a general lack of top quality wing play but let us not detract from his superb try at the Westpac Stadium. One for the future.

13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Australia)
There were few bright spots for the Wallabies in this year's Tri-Nations but Ashley-Cooper's emergence as a genuine threat at outside centre was one of them. After stepping into the void left by injured captain Stirling Mortlock, he went on to play a starring role in his side's upset of the Springboks.

12. Jean de Villiers (South Africa)
A close run thing between the Springboks stalwart, Australia's Berrick Barnes and New Zealand's Ma'a Nonu with the latter making a late run at the spot. But it is Munster-bound De Villiers who gets the nod for largely dominating his counterparts with a tight defensive game and a trademark intercept score to wrap up the tournament in Hamilton.

11. Bryan Habana (South Africa)
The ever-impressive Habana took his try tally to 35 from 52 games with a brace against the Wallabies in Perth. Rellatively quiet but still a significant presence.

10. Morne Steyn (South Africa)
New Zealand's Dan Carter may have stolen some headlines with his return to the international stage but make no mistake Steyn was the star of the show. He made his Tri-Nations bow at half-time against the All Blacks in Bloemfontein and didn't look back. He finished with a record 95 points to his name including another record 31 point haul against New Zealand in Durban.

9. Fourie du Preez (South Africa)
Surely a shoe-in for the IRB Player of the Year and that is before the Springboks have even embarked on their end-of-season march through Europe. So often the Springboks' driving force, he is in the form of his life thanks largely to a deadly kicking game.

1. Benn Robinson (Australia)
The Wallabies' loose-head enhanced his growing reputation despite his side's erratic record. Most memorably got the better of Smit in the Wallabies' victory in Brisbane.

2. Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa)
Anchored a dominant Springboks pack and provided plenty of grunt in the loose. And while New Zealand's Andrew Hore and Australia's Tatafu Polota-Nau struggled at lineout time, Du Plessis had the twin towers of Matfield and Botha to rely upon.

3. John Smit (South Africa)
The Springboks skipper has his critics but he has also tasted success at the Rugby World Cup, against the Lions and now in the Tri-Nations. His scrummaging may have been questioned but he was never out of his depth as some would have you believe. A true statesman off the field, he finally shared in a victory on New Zealand soil and is still the best captain in the international game by a long way.

5. Victor Matfield (South Africa) & 4. Bakkies Botha (South Africa)
The Springboks duo are named together for they are such a formidable partnership, a team within a team. Widely regarded as the best second row pairing in the world before this year's Tri-Nations, they cemented that reputation with a physical and mental mauling of their southern hemisphere rivals.

6 (Openside). Heinrich Brussow (South Africa)
Brussow emerged as a world-class talent during the Springboks' series victory over the Lions earlier this year and kicked on again in the Tri-Nations. He continues to boss his more experienced rivals including the likes of All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw and his Wallabies counterpart George Smith.

7 (Blindside). Juan Smith (South Africa)
The silent efficiency of Smith has long been a key part of the Springboks arsenal and he was again at his best until injury brought an end to his campaign. He was unable to share in the delight of the title-clinching victory in Hamilton and will be sorely missed on their end of year tour having subsequently suffered a knee injury.

8. Keiran Read (New Zealand)
The strong-running Kiwi made the most of his opportunity after Rodney So'oialo was cast aside by coach Graham Henry. Expect the 23-year-old to go from strength to strength on the end of year tour.

	England's Steve Borthwick poses in his new kit at Twickenham © RFU

A new international season is upon us in the northern hemisphere and with it comes the latest line in 'innovative' apparel.

England's new playing strip, officially launched on Thursday, is once again produced by Nike with whom the Rugby Football Union have had a lucrative relationship dating back to their ground-breaking skin-tight number produced for the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

It claims to be, "the lightest and most innovative playing jersey yet" and sees England return to a classic all-white playing strip with the shirt boasting an open neck collar and the motto 'Rugbeia floreat ubique' Latin for 'Rugby flourishes everywhere'.

At 27% lighter than in previous seasons the new kit is designed to give the team every possible advantage on the pitch with the added comedic element of making out-of-shape fans rich enough to get their hands on it look ridiculous! Why don't they just get rid of the playing shirt altogether and opt for body paint?

A new and improved 'gripper' print features on the chest panels of the jersey, effective in both wet and dry weather. Nike has worked with players to ensure that the gripper print is positioned at the optimum position to help catch and carry the ball, whilst the gripper layout was inspired by the famous structure of Twickenham Stadium(!).

The authentic jersey can be yours for a staggering £90 while a replica is also available for the measly sum of £50.

Earlier in the week, Ireland unveiled their latest strip - the first product of a partnership with Puma since the end of their deal with troubled manufacturer Canterbury.

The release that accompanied the announcement declared, "The home shirt marks a return to a more traditional colour [hasn't it always been green?] with a green ('Power Green') carefully selected to symbolize the country of Ireland, with its rich history and tradition."

Those Irish fans fearing that the only innovation the Grand Slam winners are likely to benefit from is a different shade of green can rest easy.

The shirt also features, "a revolutionary double layer construction. The inner layer is especially designed to lift moisture away from the skin to the outside of the garment where, the outer layer facilitates a very rapid evaporation, to ensure the player is kept dry." Glad that's clear - you're ready to break the banks for this now I know. But it gets better.

"Pumaflex stretch panels are strategically positioned to improve the player's freedom of movement, particularly around the torso where a rugby player's body needs to twist and turn constantly during a game so that the player is not restricted or uncomfortable when reaching for the ball or diving in for a tackle." I think BOD himself may have penned this.

"An athletic fit ensures each garment is as comfortable as it can be for each player, supporting the muscles as best as possible to improve confidence and reduce fatigue whilst also limiting any unnecessary fabric that can be grabbed by an opposing player." John Hayes will sleep easy tonight.

What no motto? That will surely explain the slightly less cardiac-arrest-inducing price tag of €65 (or £60).

The Guinness Premiership broke new ground on Saturday with the first ever game staged at Wembley Stadium in North London.

Saracens' narrow victory over Northampton may not have been the greatest advert for the game but as a spectacle it went some way to fulfilling the hype surrounding the occasion. A bruising contest, it sparked into life in the second half and delivered a rousing finale that included a hint of controversy with the majority of the 44,832 fans present going home happy.

As a marketing experiment the game was a huge success and Sarries must be praised for their bravery in switching the fixture from their usual Vicarage Road home and for taking on the risk - to the tune of the reported £300,000 fee demanded by the landlords.

The bumper crowd may have only half-filled the iconic venue but was surely more than enough to cement the club's plan to stage three more games there this season with one of those games rumoured to be a high-profile clash with the Springboks in November. The newly-crowned Tri-Nations champions are already set to for one mid-week fixture on their forthcoming tour against Leicester Tigers and another against Saracens, recently bolstered by a significant South African investment, now seems likely.

The attendance for Saturday's game was more than twice the previous biggest crowd for a Saracens match in the Premiership - they attracted 19,000 for their league title decider against Newcastle in 1998 - and significantly more than the 9,000 they average at their usual home. The Wembley attendance also came close to matching the 50,000 that Harlequins attracted to Twickenham for their 'Big Match' with Leicester last season.

The utilisation of larger stadiums for high-profile knock-out games is now a common occurrence in the sport but their use for regular season games is a relatively recent phenomenon with the now traditional London Double Header another perfect marriage of marketing and muscle.

Both Saracens and Harlequins, who will also return to England's HQ later this year for the 'Big Match 2', have benefited from the exposure of the Double Header with this season's matches attracting 67,684 fans to Twickenham last weekend.

But in striking out on their own both Saracens and Quins are following the lead of Top 14 side Stade Francais who, under the guidance of president Max Guazzini, have led the way when it comes to selling an event - not just a game.

Cheap tickets have helped lure capacity crowds to the 80,000 all-seater Stade de France for many of the Parisiens' league matches and it is a successful venture they will look to continue this season.

Following the lead of their rivals across the Channel, Saracens priced the tickets attractively for Saturday's fixture - £10 for adults and £5 for U16s - with thousands of families and importantly new fans taking advantage to create a colourful and memorable atmosphere.

Those fans that flocked to Wembley may not have got the camel racing that they had been promised due to health and safety red tape but they did get the Royal Marines, a tug-of-war and dance act Diversity - winners of Britain's Got Talent - and going by the reaction to the latter's high-tempo display they were a big hit.

Sadly the same fate is unlikely to befall Sarries much-hyped song - 'Stand up for the Saracens'. Recorded with the help of follically-challenged pop duo Right Said Fred, the frustratingly catchy song reverberated around the stadium every few minutes as a rallying cry for the team and fans alike.

Saracens long-time chairman Nigel Wray has boldly predicted that they will attract a 90,000 crowd to Wembley within three years. His claim is not born out of greed but commercial necessity.

Writing in the match programme, he said, "For our game, for Saracens to be truly economic, Vicarage Road on its own cannot suffice. We need to have these great events if we are to stay, as we aim to, right in the top flight of European rugby."

Following the latest example of the strength of the Premiership brand, Premier Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty was equally confident. "With the continual growth in club attendances and the vision and imagination of clubs like Saracens, I can see a day in the not too distant future when we have a sell-out club match at Wembley"

The long term key for Sarries is converting these new fans into regular visitors to Vicarage Road. The figures from the Wembley game might not immediately add up, and may even return a loss, but that will not cause too much concern at Saracens with everyone at the club focused on the bigger picture.

Only time will tell if their efforts in making this Wembley experiment a success will draw two, three or four thousand extra people through the turnstiles when Sarries play their third 'home' game of the season against Gloucester later this month.

Club rugby's biggest attendances:
82,208 - Munster v Leinster, Croke Park, Heineken Cup Semi-Final - May 2009
81,600 - Leicester v Wasps, Twickenham, Premiership Final - May 2007
81,076 - Leicester v Wasps, Twickenham, Heineken Cup Final - May 2008
79,779 - Stade Francais v Toulouse, Paris, Top 14 - March 2008
79,741 - Stade Francais v Toulouse, Paris, Top 14 - January 2007
79,619 - Stade Francais v Biarritz, Paris, Top 14 - October 2006

And it appears Quins are also starting to see the funny side of it all.

My travels took me past their Twickenham Stoop home today where a well-placed sign was calling for blood donors - I kid you not. Has the now-famous joke shop in Clapham run dry of the fake stuff? Sadly, this was not some moment of comic genius from a fan on his way home from the Twickenham festivities last Saturday but a genuine plea from the National Blood Service.

For those willing to help they will be holding a donor session in the Jesters Suite on September 15 - Click here for more details.

But the jokes do not end there! Of course, it was alleged during the investigation into the scandal that winger Tom Williams' mouth was deliberately sliced open by club doctor Wendy Chapman on the request of the player as part of an elaborate cover-up. (The General Medical Council have confirmed that they are investigating the role played by Chapman, in the aftermath of the fateful Heineken Cup loss to Leinster.)

And in a side-splitting turn of events that you would normally only expect to see on The East Terrace, Quins have since announced a razor manufacturer as their latest corporate partner!

"As part of the new agreement, King Of Shaves are currently developing a bespoke Harlequins Azor Razor in Quins colours and incorporating the Harlequin that the players and management will be given as well as being available in the Harlequins Merchandise Store for our supporters," states the hilarious release.

Chief executive Mark Evans, who may also find himself under investigation by the Rugby Football Union, adds, "Like all good sponsorships, this will be a mutually beneficial relationship and we look forward to working with the over the 2009/10 season."

Priceless stuff.

	"I said I was going to be Batman!" - Fans add to the colour at the traditional London Double Header at Twickenham © Getty Images

A press release landed in my inbox hailing the fact that attendances for the first round of matches broke the all-time record for a single round with 108,467 people passing through the turnstiles across the country. The previous record of 104,415 was achieved in round one of the 2006-7 season.

A record 67,684 people also watched the London Double Header at Twickenham, beating the previous record for that event of 52,027, achieved last season. "Twickenham resounded to the sound of four sets of noisy and passionate club fans, bringing their own colour and atmosphere to rugby's headquarters," the statement boasted proudly.

The lack of TV coverage may well have boosted the footfall at England's HQ but the presence of Sky's cameras did little to deter fans flocking to Franklin's Gardens and Kingsholm on Sunday where crowds well over 10,000 turned up. There were also strong attendances in the north for Sale Sharks' defeat of reigning champions Leicester Tigers and for Newcastle Falcons' opening day draw at Headingley Carnegie.

"It was great to be able to focus on matters on the field this weekend and the clubs and our supporters didn't disappoint," commented Premier Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty.

Premier Rugby can rightfully feel proud of the continued success of their product especially after the so-called 'summer of shame'. The sport needed some reassurance from its fan base and they obliged. Some may have wavered following a glut of damaging headlines but it appears the majority are prepared to forgive the sport its 'Bloodgate' and drugs-related shortcomings.

Thankfully the sport, and in particular its fans, have retained a sense of humour with pantomime-like boos greeting the arrival of Harlequins onto the field at Twickenham while supporters dressed as Dracula and waving their own blood capsules could be seen in the crowd. Saracens boss Brendan Venter also got in on the act, telling his coaching staff over the radio to, "get the blood capsules ready" when centre Bradley Barritt went down injured during his side's clash with London Irish. The jokes are set to run all-season long.

Of all the Premiership combatants it was Quins who needed to hit a positive note but so much for their best intentions - it took all of 46 seconds for the club to slip back into the mire with lock George Robson getting his marching orders for head-butting Wasps' scrum-half Joe Simpson.

The smiles and the laughter could well be short-lived with controversy back on the agenda today with Bath duo Michael Lipman and Alex Crockett set to appear before an Rugby Football Union appeal panel in a bid to overturn the nine month suspensions handed down to them earlier this year failing to submit to drugs tests. And later this week European Rugby Cup will decide whether to extend their investigation into the 'Bloodgate' scandal or pass the ball onto the RFU.

Watch this space.

The film's central character famously claims that he would not even hurt a fly but the same cannot be said for Rees who is set to tear into opponents when he returns from injury later this month. Stay tuned to Scrum.com for more from the England international over the coming months including his A-Z guide to taxidermy - OK, just kidding about the last bit.