The AP is heading in the right direction, better pitches, better players.
To improve the AP we seriously need to look at the EQP payments. At the moment, if all well spread, we're looking at (at best) our 8th best player in each position, regularly turning out. The gap between 8th best and 1st choice is huge, and you'll struggle to improve the AP as a whole, when playing poor players.
I think I'd reduce the minimum number of EQP players required. Introduce a minimum salary for any non-eqp (to get rid of journeymen squad filler), and create a genuine A-league, not necessarily age restricted, but a player who has appeared in an AP game in the last week/2 weeks etc, cannot be picked.
That allows teams to get more players like Salvi, Smith, Piutau, North, Picamoles etc, whilst removing filler. Those filler positions can be replaced by the best championship players, and therefore give more of them a chance to step up and prove themselves (Guy Thompson for Wasps, Dickinson for Saints, Atkinson for Glaws have all in my mind shown they're more than capable at AP level if needed).
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Not sure I agree with that...London Welsh were rock bottom last season and the best rugby in years was being produced.
And Sarries and Saints were nailed at the top, and producing not much more than forwards dominance. This year neither can seriously consider themselves ready for the drop, and again, both are producing dire rugby.
On the other end, Wuss and Falcons, as relegation favourites, have just played a very entertaining and expansive game, and both sides have stuck to that theory in previous games this season.
