Saracens should be ashamed for the noisy racket that is nothing but a crass stunt They have prospered on the road so surely would not have been fazed by the Munster hymns. In fact, it would probably have inspired them as well. Who knows, even the Saracens fans might have got in on the act. Perish the thought that we should actually have human beings making a noise. Saracens got this one horribly wrong, a real shame as they get so much right. They have been great innovators, from the first use of the motorised kicking tee to their fez-headed fans decamping around Europe to follow their team, venues in recent years that have included several stop-off fixtures at Wembley. Saracens led the way on many fronts. Dancing girls - fine. Silly stunts at half-time - fine. Jackpot payouts to daft pillocks running around in circles or landing a rugby ball on the crossbar - fine. But let the action speak for itself. It is not just Saracens who are guilty of misjudgment. Why on earth those supposed buttoned-up lot north of the border insist on playing different musical tracks at Murrayfield during every single break for injury is beyond me. Twickenham is not a whole heap better. Many of us are still wincing from the warbling of the national anthems that took place at the start of the QBE autumn series. And let us not revisit those purple monstrosities that England wore against Australia, an offence not only against the spirit of rugby union football but, more importantly, good taste. It is as if those charged with getting bums on seats at their various grounds think we are all a few brain cells short of the full complement and are incapable of existing in a quiet, contemplative state for a few seconds all on our own. Who knows, we might even do something radical like turn to the bloke next to us and ask what he thinks of the game so far. The Americanisation of the sporting experience can make the soul weep. Some of it is just about OK: most of it is crass. Football has no need to resort to such inanities even though there are certain unsavoury chants in that sport that might benefit from a bit of public address overlay. But, no, in football the spectacle does not need any adornment. Rugby has had to chase a new audience and can be excused some gimmickry. This, though, was beyond the pale. Ruthless Warren Gatland, the Lions head coach, has struck the first blow for a successful tour to Australia - he has left out his long-term friend and ally Shaun Edwards. Of course, Edwards would have been a fine addition to the coaching staff as he showed on the Lions tour to South Africa in 2009. But the mix this time ran the risk of being too Welsh (in terms of affiliation) or too much of the same thing. Gatland had to make a big decision - and he did. At a stroke, every player in Britain and Ireland will know that Gatland will select on merit when it comes to the Test side to take on the Wallabies. No favouritism and, crucially, no preconceived line-up as bedevilled head coach Graham Henry the last time the Lions were in Australia in 2001. You play well, you are in. Gatland will make those hard calls. He has just made the hardest one of all. The devastation caused by Cyclone Evan that struck Samoa last week is still unfolding. Social media speaks of widespread turmoil with some 5,000 officially homeless and damage put at some £100 million. Rugby's Samoan community is vast. They need your support.