While I wouldn't want to return to a game dominated by fly halves kicking on muddy pitches, for a while now, I sit watching top rugby union and wonder what the powers that be have done to it.
It's as if the game has been turned into a version of Rugby League but not as good.
Gone are the days of a ball going along the line for a possible try by the winger or outside centre.
Now, it's a procession of phases, with the big guys bull-dozering through a few yards at a time with endless rucks.
At these, when the ball comes out, the scrum half often waits, killing any momentum.
Why on earth is he allowed 5 seconds to play it?
The referees call out to the players telling them to 'play it'. What's all that about?
How would it be in football if the referee called out to a winger to get his cross in, or an Umpire in cricket called out to a batsmen not to leave a delivery?
Surely, the referee is there to penalise breaches of the laws, not to coach the players through the game while it is happening?
And this style of refereeing is inconsistent. Do Referees tell players to roll away in rucks?
Then we get the scrums. Where do we start with these?
By the 2nd half, I was turning over whenever a scrum was called.
They are a complete farce.
While at the start of these internationals we get US style pyrotechnics lead razzamatazz heralding the greatest event since the 2nd coming, within minutes, we are witnessing the dance of obsessive referees and conniving players wasting endless minutes.
The crowd sits quietly and any momentum in the game is lost.
Maybe when a scrum is called, they should re-light the fireworks?
Then we get just about every try referred to the TV official, delaying things even more.
It saddens me as I have watched the 5/6 nations all my life and have watched and enjoyed live Rugby Union at top clubs below the Premiership level.
The whole thing flatters to deceive for me now.
My enthusiasm could easily be rekindled in part, if they made play instant at rucks once the ball is available and if they sorted the scrums out.
Perhaps the IRB should be sat down and shown re-runs of Gareth Edwards' try against the Barbarians in 1973 and asked the question as to how they could change the game to recreate that?