Really!? That's awesome. Maybe I'll start supporting Ulster for something to do...
It's a slippery path that, take it from me.
Really!? That's awesome. Maybe I'll start supporting Ulster for something to do...
Really!? That's awesome. Maybe I'll start supporting Ulster for something to do...
Apart from H Cup they're all on BBC Northern Ireland so not sure if you guys can get it.
It's a slippery path that, take it from me.
for sure, wouldn't want to end up like you
I do wish bbc england had coverage rights for anything besides the six nations.
Would love to know what laws you want us to ditch. Personally, I'm a fan of rugby the way it is. We shouldn't change our game to suit other people. These other people will either like our sport or they won't and that is up to them. We don't want to ruin what we have already got.
Your from NZ. They change it to fit in with your style of play.Would love to know what laws you want us to ditch. Personally, I'm a fan of rugby the way it is. We shouldn't change our game to suit other people. These other people will either like our sport or they won't and that is up to them. We don't want to ruin what we have already got.
I really believe that it has alot to do with development at youth level, rather than any tinkering to how the game is run in the NH. 15 years ago when I was in Secondary school our sports program existed of Football some athlectics and Football, I never even held a rugby ball until i was approx 18 and even then it was in the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. It was a pretty large school also approx 300 pupils per year with a 50/50 split in Gender. Sadly underinvestment meant that we only had a Football team nothing else and this is one of the largest secondary Schools in Birmingham. From what i gather from family not much has changed either which is uplifting
Sadly from my exp Rugby is still very much a sport for the Grammar schools, and Football will always be King, and that isn't in to rude a health domestically if the technical deficiency our players display at the Major international tournaments are anything to go by.
A few years back I had a neighbor - an older gentleman - from Scotland. I got to talking with him about sports, and asked if he liked rugby. The man about bit my head off! "Noooo! Rugby is for the elite - the snobs! I'm a football man!"
So, just wondering - is there an overall attitude that rugby is just for the more affluent, and football is for everyone else? If so, could that be affecting the game? Does there need to be a re-education (along the lines of what happened in SA) to make rugby more appealing to the common man?
das
Definitely not elitist on NZ; everyone plays rugby pretty much regardless of background. I knew very rich kids and very poor kids growing up and pretty much everyone played rugby against everyone. If anything I'd say soccer is more popular with the richer schools/kids, kind of the opposite to the UK but maybe not to the same degree.
Its only considered an elitist game the same way cricket and F1 are considered elitist (in the UK at least, can't comment for other countries). Basically because grammar schools used to play rugby while state schools played sniff the glue.
There is an element of reverse snobbery from some soccer and most mungoball fans where its cool not to like union, because that makes you working class blah blah blah (all politically left wing, champaigne socialist ********). In reality, the people who attend & play all come from different walks of life.
Good kicking is a must, but it shouldn't be the entire game. I prefer the flow of the SH game - it's faster, with more passing and running and those delicious little grubber kicks and less kicking for territory (though it's sneaking in more and more - personally, I find the latter boring as hell, esp. when it dominates play). At least that's how it seems to me. I may be totally off, and forgive me if I sound like a noob - this is the first time in all my years of watching the game that I can actually discuss and analyze it with fellow fans, so I am weak on understanding some of the more technical aspects of the game.
I find Super Rugby far more exciting than H Cup, but I'm watching on tv and never have gone to any pro matches in the NH or SH, and I have no idea what fan enthusiasm is like for these respective competitions. I will say that a few games ago (not sure if it was during Super Rugby or the spring test matches), one of the commentators said something about it being better to watch the game at home in front of the fire, sipping a glass of wine. Perhaps this is a SH mentality - watching at home instead of freezing one's arse off in the stadium? Thoughts?
das
So you expect players to play their youth rugby in Winter conditions and then their careers in the Summer? Coaches will pick player suited for the conditions they're plying in and these are the ones who come through they'll also be used to a gameplan this is where they're been moulded.
If anything we've got a pretty good development system going on.That's a redundant argument. In NZ the Super 15 season starts way before any school or club rugby does, and the ITM cup is played after club and school rugby is finished. Hasn't hurt our players development.
If we had a bigger population like South Africa or Australia, we might have to field 4 All Black teams at the world cup.
No, it's changed to try and make it a less cynical style of rugby.Your from NZ. They change it to fit in with your style of play.
This.Definitely not elitist on NZ; everyone plays rugby pretty much regardless of background. I knew very rich kids and very poor kids growing up and pretty much everyone played rugby against everyone. If anything I'd say soccer is more popular with the richer schools/kids, kind of the opposite to the UK but maybe not to the same degree.
Anyone can play rugby.
A few years back I had a neighbor - an older gentleman - from Scotland. I got to talking with him about sports, and asked if he liked rugby. The man about bit my head off! "Noooo! Rugby is for the elite - the snobs! I'm a football man!"
So, just wondering - is there an overall attitude that rugby is just for the more affluent, and football is for everyone else? If so, could that be affecting the game? Does there need to be a re-education (along the lines of what happened in SA) to make rugby more appealing to the common man?
das
Sometimes kicking for territory is necessary. The best teams (or the teams with smart first 5's) know just when to do this. It has to be a balance of when to run it out; pick and drive it up the middle; or just kick it for a breather.
Think of it like some NFL teams use it to close out games or protect the ball. Not many these days with the rule changes, but the AFC North still does it.
Define cynical. Because at the moment the AB can score tries and prevent others from doing so without fear of being carded. 46 penalties per yc says it all.So you expect players to play their youth rugby in Winter conditions and then their careers in the Summer? Coaches will pick player suited for the conditions they're plying in and these are the ones who come through they'll also be used to a gameplan this is where they're been moulded.
If anything we've got a pretty good development system going on.
If we had a bigger population like South Africa or Australia, we might have to field 4 All Black teams at the world cup.
No, it's changed to try and make it a less cynical style of rugby.
This.
Anyone can play rugby.
This.
The passing skills of northern hemisphere clubs are generally terrible. As a Leinster fan, I pay particular attention to their style of play. They defend really narrowly offering buckets of space to outside wingers in the full knowledge that teams probably aren't skillful enough to exploit the space - only the Ospreys seem good enough to take advantage of it.
For standards to improve at senior level, the ground work must be laid at age grade rugby. In Ireland, I'd scrap the JCT and Medallion Cup competitions (under 16) and only keep the SCT competitions (under 19). At lower ages, introduce more tip/tag rugby and sevens tournaments. Concentrate on improving players skills (passing off both hands, offloading etc) at underage level and you won't have a bunch of gym monkeys who are big and have no other talent when it comes to adult rugby.
At pro level, I'd like to see more cooperation between the provinces at the start of each season. If, for example, Munster have a great maul, why can't the IRFU (as paymasters) gleam information off them as to how it's achieved.? Likewise if Ulster have a powerful rucking game, Connacht a top defence or Leinster a quality passing game, how they do it should be shared for the overall benefit of Irish rugby.Laa
Lastly, I agree with the original poster that a European league is the way forward in the long term. My proposal would be a bigger league however. As is there are too many low quality games. A more streamlined European league would address the quality problem, be better for TV (in my opinion) and reduce player fatigue.