Always remember that rugby is a simple game
Roar Pro By bruski, 8 Aug 2009 bruski is a Roar Pro
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- 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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August 8th 2009 @ 7:33pm
bruski said | August 8th 2009 @ 7:33pm | Report comment
Nice result…
August 8th 2009 @ 10:07pm
lauboy said | August 8th 2009 @ 10:07pm | Report comment
Bruski,
you think 26 out of 31 points from the boot of one man represents the perfect style of rugby?
Hardly!
It’s effective and it wins games — as an AB supporter, I can’t argue with that!
But any team that keeps its discipline has a very good chance of beating this Boks side.
It seems to be a Boks tactic to provoke with their physical approach (how Bakkies Botha has not spent more time in the grandstands in the last two years is a mystery to any non-Bok fan — and there’s far more of them). They are not especially subtle, or clever, at hiding their transgressions on the field.
I’ve been pretty much dismayed by the performance of the ABs in their last three games. Their composure/attitude has been off the mark. But they will come right.
Then we will see …
August 8th 2009 @ 11:16pm
Working Class Rugger said | August 8th 2009 @ 11:16pm | Report comment
Even Looser
The Randwick vs Manly game was the perfect example how Rugby should be played. Randwick bounced back from a very lacklustre game against Uni. The pace frenetic. And how about Sekope Kepu. Hugely athletic Prop. Why the hell isn’t he in South Africa.
August 8th 2009 @ 11:45pm
allblack said | August 8th 2009 @ 11:45pm | Report comment
On the comeback from injury