The Rugby Thread

[pharvey]

^ One hell of a player with an incredible career and record - I'm sure he will be sadly missed across the whole rugby community.

A sad way to bow out

[PeteC]

I feel like a traitor. I've been watching rugby now almost daily since June. Primarily southern hemisphere League and Union. NFL season is now here and I've tried to watch a few games and I can't get all the way through them It's because the flow of action and excitement simply isn't there once things get going as it is in rugby. I've grown impatient with delays and commercials it seems. Oh what oh what shall I do! Pete

[arcadianagain]

I feel like a traitor. I've been watching rugby now almost daily since June. Primarily southern hemisphere League and Union. NFL season is now here and I've tried to watch a few games and I can't get all the way through them It's because the flow of action and excitement simply isn't there once things get going as it is in rugby. I've grown impatient with delays and commercials it seems. Oh what oh what shall I do! Pete

Spread the gospel to your fellow Americans

[PeteC]

You've seen the state of Rugby Union in the USA, and League is probably worse or non-existent. Look at Canada who is right next door and 10 x better. I don't know if Rugby will ever really catch on in the States. Football (soccer) only has because of the huge and growing Hispanic population, and back in the 80's it was an alternative for parents so their kids wouldn't get their brains knocked out in pee wee NFL style football. There are many major universities that have rugby teams, mainly upper crust schools, but that's as far as it goes it seems.

I'll saying something else bold in that most of those prancing millionaire NFL players wouldn't last a quarter on a rugby pitch....IMO. Pete

[migrant]

I feel like a traitor. I've been watching rugby now almost daily since June. Primarily southern hemisphere League and Union. NFL season is now here and I've tried to watch a few games and I can't get all the way through them It's because the flow of action and excitement simply isn't there once things get going as it is in rugby. I've grown impatient with delays and commercials it seems. Oh what oh what shall I do! Pete

Spread the gospel to your fellow Americans

OK, I played football in school and college, but don't watch a lot these days too. We played at rugby a lot, not knowing what we were doing, and just taking the opportunity to hit someone.

But I am ready to receive and have my eyes opened

Where can I find a good rugby primer so I understand what I'm bloody watching??

[PeteC]

^I really haven't found one, but then again I haven't looked hard on-line. I just Google certain aspects I don't understand when I see/hear them. I would start with Wiki "Rugby Union" and Rugby League" and try to understand the history and some of the differences. You'll get both styles on the tube over here when you move. I drop kick to Pharvey and others about some kind of concise guide. Pete

EDIT: What takes a long time and many matches is to train your eye to see the things like Pharvey and others who have played/watched rugby since childhood. It's like you and I watching NFL and seeing everything, whereas they would recognize little to nothing. It's a long process with rugby as things get mixed and mashed pretty good on each play and to actually see a penalty, and a lot of "other" is not easy. It's coming to me slowly now after 4-5 months and that's after watching at least half a match per day, everyday.

[PeteC]

Here's a few links. On the first one click the "more info" link at bottom of the initial short article.

http://www.rugby.com.au/tryrugby/Playin ... Rugby.aspx

....I now see really too many to list all. Just Google "guide to Rugby" and they'll come up, primarily Rugby Union. Use "guide to Rugby League" specifically for that style. Pete

[pharvey]

Not seen much lately as I've been traveling to and working on site in Finland..... thankfully though, I've secured my internet connection and with some luck will get to see the rugby

This is going to be a big few days in the RWC.. At least for a few of us!!

God's Own take on those from the Coconut Isles whilst Beelzibub's Boys host the Crims....... all three looking to boost their chances of getting out of the "Pool of Death". I have dire memories of slipping up against the South Sea Island teams in past World Cups, but can't see us doing it again despite our injury list. Not wanting to tempt fate, but aside from a much needed win...... we do need that bonus point. However, we need to be bl**dy careful - a loose game will play right into Fiji's hands.... we need to take opportunities as and when.

As for the game at "Twickers"...... that is quite honestly a tough one to call and one which could go either way. This one could be a pool decider. The return of Johnathan Joseph and Ben Morgan for Satan's Squad do their chances of victory no harm at all though!! Joseph really can turn a game on it's head from literally nothing.

It's a "must win" game for England, but Australia must be confident regardless as I'm sure they'll be pretty much convinced of a victory over Wales based on past results and the current "cripple list" in the decimated Welsh squad....

[pharvey]

This is certainly one match-up that worries me....

Metuisela Talebula (Fijian Fullback): 1.86m - 98Kg, plies his trade in the French Top 14 League.

Mathew Morgan (Welsh Fullback - normally Flyhalf): 1.72m - 73Kg, plies his trade in the RFU Championship (2nd Division basically)......

He's going to feel a little "undersized" against these bruisers!! I hope Gatland does not live to regret this selection.

[migrant]

Here's a few links. On the first one click the "more info" link at bottom of the initial short article.

http://www.rugby.com.au/tryrugby/Playin ... Rugby.aspx

....I now see really too many to list all. Just Google "guide to Rugby" and they'll come up, primarily Rugby Union. Use "guide to Rugby League" specifically for that style. Pete

Thanks Pete

[pharvey]

That was somewhat hard going for a supporter of God's Own (is there a Smilie for "Bl**dy Relief?!!).... I now know I did not bring enough underwear for this trip away from home

Wales can be their own worst enemies - why try play bl**dy Seven's Rugby (at times) when we know Fiji are champions at it? Fiji deserve huge respect for the way they played - destroyed the Welsh scrum (we'll come to that), superb defense, great at the breakdown and mind-blowing in some of their attacks - they've played this well in all 3 games thus far. To be without even a losing Bonus Point at this stage seems almost criminal.

As for Wales.. What Front-Row? Only improved with Samson coming on (and Gethin going off at a later stage). Gethin has massive experience, but has never been a great scrummager regardless of what rules have been in place over the years. He's been there for what else he does around the field, but today was a very poor day at the office and Gatland kept him on for far too long.

I was worried about Ben Morgan at Fullback - HOW WRONG could I be?! Superb game.

As much as I would love to see Wales in the Quarters, and this will happen if the Crims win on Saturday at "HQ" (Rah, Rah), what the hell are we going to do without a scrum and an injury list that challenges the NHS.

Saturday will tell.........

[dtaai-maai]

As much as I would love to see Wales in the Quarters, and this will happen if the Crims win on Saturday at "HQ" (Rah, Rah), what the hell are we going to do without a scrum and an injury list that challenges the NHS.

Excellent point - you'll be cheering for England then?

I was, of course, cheering on Fiji, and once or twice had serious hopes of an upset. Sadly not to be...
The upside for England (clutching at straws, I know) is that Wales didn't get their bonus point (and never looked likely to).
It's all down to Saturday now...

[musungu]

Well the big game for the Red Rose is here and as a supporter it is a worry. Australia have improved a huge amount since the Autumn with a better organised front 5 and they could secure a lot of ruck possession
However IMO the are not the underdogs because of home advantage. They will need to all play at their best and stop the silly mistakes and penalty count. If they do then onto the quarter finals but it is a heck of an ask.
They were mostly all over the Leaks but let it slip, God forbid it happens again.

[dtaai-maai]

Georgia put on a very good show against a below par All Blacks side last night, particularly in the set scrum, where they were dominant.
29-10 until the last few minutes, and the final score probably isn't fair on the underdogs.

The unfortunate thing is that NZ won't play as poorly as that again...

[PeteC]

I forgot to mention Migrant with our last exchange. You won't get the commercials in televised rugby as you do in the NFL. It would absolutely ruin the game and ruin the players to be delayed like that. However, they have their commercial advertisements along the perimeter of the field, either static or moving digital, and holograms actually on the playing surface in some places. They are annoying in the beginning but after a few months of watching you won't even notice them any longer. Pete