<div class='quotemain'>
To be quite frank the Leicester Tigers etc. Would probably get crapped on by the top four S14 teams. Im not saying this after "not ever having watched a game of rugby". I watch Guiness Prem. etc regularly, and frankly the standard of play is just not as high as the S14.
And trying to argue that your clubs are better than the S14 franchises is plainly idiotic because test rugby is ALWAYS a relatively good reflection of the tiers and grades below it, and the NH sides are playing woefully rubbish rugby at the moment.[/b]
This obviously explains why Ireland took South Africa and Australia to the cleaners, yet saw Munster crash out of the HEC and do badly in the Magners League. Definitely explains it. Yup. Uh huh. Mmhmm..it must also explain why England have such awful form and yet we had two English teams contesting the HEC final. Yup. Definite correlation between Club form and National form there.
As for Dwayne Peel being the best in his position? Do yourself a favour and watch Ruan Pienaar and Fourie Du Preez the next time they play- truly majestic.( Dwayne Peel is an exceptionally good player but is not of the same class as the other two) [/b]
So, exceptionally good but not exceptionally good? That doesn't actually make sense. I really think Du Preez is good but when you look at the performances, Peel is more dynamic a player. You've got to look at the two teams, one which desires a rapid, running game and a team which is basically a team with a single dimension (plus plan B - pass it to Habana) which has the basics and the power down to a tee. The scrum half is one of the players which defines a team. He either desires to change the way that the backs use the ball or he simply reinforces the way that they play overall.
At the end of the day though Du Preez and Peel set the benchmark for others out there. They truly are the pinacle of the game in that area.
To me I've never really understood the whole NH vs SH debate. Why are people so passionate about their hemisphere? I understand nationalism, but I'll be blunt, I'm not going to root for Australia under any circumstances.(In the case of the 2003 WC final, I simply couldn't watch). Obviously there are going to be neutral sides that you adopt for one reason or another, and teams that you despise, but I will not just blindly support a side because of it's geographical position.[/b]
*sigh* years of arguing with the United States over sodding timber rights have eroded Canada's proud links to the UK and memories of what these Commonwealth sporting struggles are all about.
Essentially, when we say "NH vs SH" what we really mean is "Home Nations vs South Africa, Australia and New Zealand". This is a continuation of the same tussles that started over 120 years ago when places like Australia and New Zealand were still parts of the Empire. France and Italy may be part of the "Northern Hemisphere", but they are very much latecomers to what is a purely Commonwealth party. Have you seen any French or Italian fans getting upity about this? No, because they don't actually give a crap what some guy from Auckland or East London thinks about Freddie Michilak or Marco Bortolami. This NH vs SH thing has been going on since before the big three down under got their Dominion status. Its Commonwealth rivalry, pure and simple.
p.s. I'm rather dubious about the claims being banded around that the HEC teams could trounce the S14 teams or vice versa. Two totally different styles of play man. One structured yet slow and lumbering the other free flowing and rapid yet error strewn and messy as hell. Lets just agree that this is like comparing acids to alcalines: the two cancel each other out.
[/b][/quote]
Well! First of all, as has been painfully stated hundreds of times previously, the SA team that got beaten by Ireland was an inexperienced 2nd string team, which happened to look much like the team that played Tonga. Also, I said that test rugby is " a RELATIVELY good indicator" of provincial leagues etc. I said this with full strength national sides in mind, not hopeless b teams
.How can you effectively argue your point when England ARE at the moment one of the better NH sides, is this not perhaps a result of the 2 english sides in the HEC final? AND, coaches, administrators and players world wide have said that a Country's national side depends hugely upon the quality and form of the domestic competion(s). If this is what the experts say, who can legitimately challenge them if the results back up their statements?
Secondly,
Du Preez was shortlisted for IRB player of the year 2006, I truly respect Peel, but personally think that the past couple of years, Du Preez has been top of the world.
Thirdly,
What I think we would all like to see is an exhibition match every 2 years, where the best NH and SH Club/provincial side can knock the s*** out of each other at a neutral venue so we can end this debate once and for all. :cheers:
