Always remember that rugby is a simple game

Roar Rookie

By bruski, 8 Aug 2009 bruski is a Roar Rookie

Tagged:: All Blacks, Rugby Union, Springboks, Tri Nations, wallabies

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There has been a lot of grumbling and whining of late when it comes to the latest Tri-Nations Series. These grumblings range from complaints about the referees to the style of rugby being played on the park.

Rugby is a simple game and I think sometimes people try to over complicate it.

The style of rugby played by the Springboks is great. Remember, this is not rugby league. In rugby union, every aspect of the game focuses on the contest for the ball.

Every breakdown, the ‘Boks are there, hitting it hard. They play a raw-boned aggressive style of rugby that tests the heart of any team that comes up against them.

The contest is the most important part of the game for them – they want to win the ball and put themselves in a better position to capitalize on the mistakes of their opponents. Which, unluckily for the All Blacks, were far too frequent.

The All Blacks work hard at the breakdown, but do not have the aggression and intensity levels of the Springboks. They have gone to some hybrid style of rugby, similar touch football. It reminds me of the muck around time before training when we were warming up and throwing the ball everywhere whilst having a good time.

Meanwhile the Wallabies are halfway between the Springboks and All Blacks. They have to find some mongrel and commit more flying bodies at the breakdown.

The Wallabies want to play with a bit of flair, but their forwards, not Burgess, are letting them down.

We need to win the contest. Remember it is a simple game. Once we start winning the ball with aggression and speed at every contest, then the rest of our game will come together.

We also need to take the referee out of the game. The best teams do not need to talk about the referee. They win the game no matter what.

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The Crowd Says (14) | Page 1 of Comments

Pippinu said | August 8th 2009 @ 9:01am | Report comment

Allan Jeans used to say that football was a simple game: either we’ve got it; they’ve got it; or it’s in dispute!!

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sheek said | August 8th 2009 @ 9:51am | Report comment

Bruski – True!

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ohtani's jacket said | August 8th 2009 @ 12:39pm | Report comment

You lost me when you said the Wallabies were better at the breakdown than the All Blacks.

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lauboy said | August 8th 2009 @ 1:26pm | Report comment

Bruski lost me when he said the style of rugby played by the Springboks is great

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sheek said | August 8th 2009 @ 2:25pm | Report comment

Errrr, being too brief can backfire sometimes.

What I thought was ‘true’, was the following -

“Rugby is a simple game and I think sometimes people try to over complicate it”.

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onside said | August 8th 2009 @ 2:44pm | Report comment

‘rugby WAS a simple game’

Since the advent of supreme professional rugby athletes ,the game is anything but simple.
The only simple professional rugby on offer these days is the occassional Barbarians
game, where grandfathers take grandsons to show them what the game was once like.
Or what in their dreams they wished it was like. Simple rugby.But there’s a catch, a rugby
caveat,the Barbarians are neither required nor expected to win.If as professionals they
had to win,then the simple rugby would become obsolete, because winning professional
rugby matches is a very complex issue. The word simple is a misnomer.This is not being
pedantic because the word is pivotal to the story line.One definition of a champion is they
repeatedly do simple things well.A flick of the wrist cover drive can look simple,a delicate
tennis lob can look like childs play,a simple penalty kick for goal in football ,or a three foot
put to win a PGA playoff.The point is that these skills repeatedly executed under extreme
pressure are not simple.Likewise the Sprinkboks game plan.It is a very complex well drilled
game that doesn’t just happen.

‘Always remember that AMATUER rugby is a very simple game’. Professional rugby,never.
Sure they might make it look easy,but dont be fooled,it ain’t.

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swear said | August 8th 2009 @ 3:10pm | Report comment

bruski, I reckon you’re absolutely correct. Let’s hope Australia can step it up tonight. Can’t wait !!!

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bruski said | August 8th 2009 @ 3:24pm | Report comment

lauboy, you disagree?

Well who do you think has the best style at the moment? The AB’s

The Wallabies?

What do you think makes a good style of Rugby? I think there is a lot of confusion with people watching League then wondering why Union is not so pass orientated. The point I make is that you see the AB’s throw it around and loose the game of Rugby as you must protect the ball and build pressure and possession.

The Sprigbok’s on the other hand play a superior brand of Rugby which is great. Not many teams can beat the Springboks the way they are playing at the moment. I really hope that Australia can show them up tonight but it will be a tough task.

If the Wallabies can show a little restraint with their flair and up the aggression across all contests then they really will have a chance.

Bruski

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Even looser said | August 8th 2009 @ 6:55pm | Report comment

Apologies for being off topic -
1. Any word on how the Wallaroos went against Samoa?
Some reports had the game scheduled for Friday and pretty sure others said they play today.
But there’s been very little news except for the fact Gits sister is playing. Good but what about the others? What about the score? How are they travelling etc.
There’s our team too and they need to know that we give a toss.

2. Todays game covered by the ABC was Manly v the Wicks. Played at pace for the full 80 and very entertaining stuff. I was rivited to the screen. Good stuff! Randwick too good for the blokes North of the bridge. None the less I thought both teams played well.
The Ratu report – He actually had more of a go at running over blokes today and it very nearly worked until he came up against some small Manly player who took him high and brought him to earth with a thump. But at least he had a go. But I do wish he hadn’t ‘had a go’ when it came to his lame effort at a field goal. Wrong place, wrong time & just a reallycrappy effort anyway. The other good news is that he managed to score a try & then convert it. So he can kick ‘em.
Thank God for the ABC.

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Even looser said | August 8th 2009 @ 6:58pm | Report comment

From the ARU website – Wallaroos beat Samoa 87-0.

” The Paper to Paper Wallaroos have qualified for the 2010 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England after securing the Oceania position in the draw by beating Samoa 87-0 in a must win qualifier.”

Well done to the girls. Go you good thing.

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