WORCESTER'S Les Cusworth is calling for a merger of union and league to create a new free-scoring version of rugby for the new millennium.

The former England stand-off and assistant manager has spoken out after seeing England suffer a World Cup exit via the deadly boot of South Africa's Jannie de Beer.

Cusworth fears defences are getting on top in the game -- starving fans of the exciting running rugby they crave.

England's quarter-final against South Africa became a game of tit-for-tat kicking in the first-half while de Beer set a world record of five drop goals after the break.

Both of the game's tries came directly from kicks, one sliced by Paul Grayson and the other following a cruel bounce of the ball from a de Beer kick.

"What separated the teams was who had the better kicker on the day because neither defence gave an inch," said Cusworth.

"One of the problems of the modern day game is the amount of kicking taking place because defences are on top.

"It asks questions of the make-up of the game both now and in the future.

"I've been calling for a hybrid version of league and union for the last three or fours years, but we'll have to wait and see what happens and it's certainly not for me to decide."

Rugby League formed at the start of the century after northern players were unable to sacrifice their jobs for playing rugby.

The 13-man code has since shaped its rules to try and appeal to the paying spectator while union has only had financial pressures since turning professional.

The two codes have been fierce rivals ever since but the hard stance has softened since union embraced professionalism four seasons ago.

Players such as Worcester's Rob Myler have since done the previously unthinkable by moving from rugby league to rugby union and a merging of the codes would see the country's major clubs such as Wigan, Leeds, Bath and Leicester play each other on a regular basis.

But Worcester's chief executive and former England manager Geoff Cooke believes the game should not be tampered with.

"We saw plenty of tries in the other quarter-finals and we don't want to be seeing basketball scores," he said.