Fraser Brown: Bonus points can skew Six Nations but they reward attacking rugby over longer season and that's how it should be

Expansive tactics paying off in Europe’s big three big leagues

Europe’s three big leagues have their own idiosyncrasies but one thing that links them this year is how tight they all are. We’re now in the final stages of the regular season and it’s the first time that I can remember a proper race to get into the play-off positions in all three.

The United Rugby Championship is especially competitive, although it has developed into almost a two-tier situation. Glasgow Warriors, Leinster, Munster and the Bulls are in a battle for the top four positions, and then there’s the scrap for the final four play-off places which involves the teams from fifth right down to the Ospreys in 11th.