Want some scrappy, hard fought rugby games before the Super Rugby season kicks-off? Look no further, the 2012 Six nations tournament is about to start.
Muddy rugby pitches, cold or wet weather at best – cold and wet IS the norm -, historico-political rivalries or personal issues at club level, all these make every six nations tournament unique.
Sold out stadiums are ‘de rigueur’, crowds are vociferous and passionate and whether you are a Paddy, a Jock, a Taffy or a Southern French-man travelling to Paris to support the troops, you are going to sing, no matter what.
Every Wallaby, All Black or Springbok who have had the chance to play at Murrayfield, Twickenham or Cardiff are adamant: we don’t have the same passion down under. Fair enough. We will keep the 6 Rugby World Cups and leave you the passion.
More seriously, are we less passionate, or less expressive should I say, because of our culture, weather and overall laidback attitude?
Or is it our rather positive rugby philosophy which makes a rugby match at Eden Park or Sydney’s ANZ Stadium so different than a game in Dublin?
Bit of both really as it’s a catch 22 situation: rugby is what it is because of its environment, culture, rivalries etc but at the same time its very own philosophy shapes the crowds, atmosphere etc.
Generally speaking, you play rugby in the south to enjoy yourself, have fun with your mates, run the ball etc. In the northern hemisphere, you play rugby because you want to show others you are tough, or prove yourself you are, and also because you don’t mind a bit of aggro on the pitch.
You’re tall or big or even big AND tall? Excellent! You will play in the tight five as being tough, aggressive and ruthless is primarily what we will ask you to be!
France’s lock Fabien Pelous recently gave an interview in which he said that violence was part of rugby and that as a junior they were fighting pretty much every weekend.
Same with Canadian Jamie Cudmore who started playing rugby as a teen because he loved fighting and he could do so on rugby pitches without getting arrested.
Martin Johnson, Steve Thompson and many more, mainly in the forwards, are no different: they like their rugby ‘hot and spicy’.
The recall of French prop David Attoub in France’s Six Nations squad after serving a record 70-week ban for eye-gouging Irishman Stephen Ferris proves again that you are never too much of a villain for the sport.
True, the arrival of professionalism in northern hemisphere rugby has changed this, to some extent. Yet, for many players and for supporters who are or were rugby players themselves at amateur level, rugby is a tough, physical sport where games are won first and foremost up front, and should remain so.
European fans expect nothing less from their players and their way to ‘ask for it’ is to sing and make the atmosphere as daunting as possible for the opponent. Players will repay with aggro on the pitch.
Here in the south, we want tries, speed, flick passes, offloads and big hits, too. We want a show, and that’s what we get from our players. Nothing wrong with that. It’s just different.
And there is room in this world for both, as a 9-3 battle in the mud between 30 desperate Irish and Englishmen at Twickenham can be as enjoyable as a 38-24 show between the Blues and the Reds at Eden park.
It’s called diversity and that’s what makes rugby the sport it is.
Snobby Deans
Guest
Wouldn't the main difference be that one is an Internation competition involving test rugby, and the other is a provincial tournament?
Rugbug
Guest
Its not new news but it seems the South Africans are upping the pressure to allow another team into the competition and are looking to to lobby NZ and Australia in March I personally don’t think they are capapble of fielding another competitive team they struggle with the teams they currently have and Australia and New Zeland should not be subjected to their politics. The only aspect of their proposal that I do like though is a complete round robin format as the current system is unfair and allows for pity finalists. Here is a link to a story posted on Stuff today http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/6346247/South-Africa-Expand-Super-Rugby-to-16-teams
peterlala
Guest
You would have to compare the 6N to the former Tri-nations. Super Rugby can't be compared with 6N.
ilikedahoodoogurusingha
Guest
Only been to Murrayfield once....1984 when Scotland beat France to win the Grand Slam for the first time since 1925.....what a night in Edinburgh that was, starting with the "Grave Diggers Arms" pub!!
Bearfax
Guest
Pleased to hear it. Love the way the Argies play and it will enhance the game in South America. Now for the Pacific Is (think of a team combining Fiji...the 7s regular champs, Tonga and Samoa....awesome players) and Japan (they're improving every World Cup...just need the competition and a few more hefty forwards)
Cattledog
Guest
Yep, and we wouldn't have to put with those as thick as two short planks!
Dublin Dave
Guest
Here's some more interesting statistics which proves that the Six Nations is a more open expansive game which favours teams that attack and try to score tries over those who invest in a metronomic kicker. Since the war there have been 708 games in the Five or Six Nations. (the incongruous number refers to the fact that two games didn't take place 40 years ago this season because of the aftermath of Bloody Sunday in Ireland). In those 708 games there have only been 43 in which the team which scored more tries lost. That's 6 % of the time. The number of occasions on which a team outscored its opposition by two tries and lost: a mere 10, ie 1.4%. Here's another one to ponder. Of the 25 seasons between 1947 and 1971 in which the try was only worth three points there were 11 matches when the team which scored more tries lost. (4.4% of matches) In the 21 seasons between 1972 and 1992 when the try was worth four points, there were 13 matches in which the team scoring more tries lost. (6.25% of matches) In the 18 seasons from 1993 to now when the try has been worth five points, there have been 19 such matches. (7.6% of matches) On this evidence, if we want to further encourage teams to score tries to win matches we should DROP the value of the try back to three points. We might even consider restoring the drop goal to four points. :) (Lies, damn lies and statistics, eh?)
Derm
Roar Guru
Some statistics and myth-bashing. For those Roar rugby fans who might not have seen a Six Nations match before, it might be useful to know that tries are actually scored in matches, and not all matches are decided by penalty kicks as some posters on here might believe. The myth of low scoring penalty ridden matches dates back to the 70s and 80s. Since then, teams have managed to cross the try-line on a few occasions. Australian fans may have become confused on this point because the Wallabies managed to get to the semifinal of the World Cup by scoring just one try in three matches against Irleand, South Africa and New Zealand, and thought every other team plays like this. They can rest easy. For the record, since the start of the Six Nations, and also since start of professional game in 1995, the number of matches in which only penalties were scored each season looks like this. Scotland and England dominate the list appearing in 7 of the matches, with 5 of them against each other. 2011 None 2010 One - Sco 15-15 Eng 2009 None 2008 One - Sco 15-9 Eng 2007 One - Sco 21-9 Wal 2006 Two - Sco 18-12 Eng and Irl 15- 9 Sco 2005 None 2004 None 2003 One - Irl 15-12 Fra 2002 None 2001 None 2000 One - Fra 9-15 Eng 1999 None 1998 None 1997 None 1996 Two Sco 9-18 Eng and Fra 15-12 Eng 1995 One - Eng 24-12 Sco So, out of 180 matches in the Six Nations, only 7 have involved only penalties scored. And out of 230 5N/6N matches since 1995, only 10 have been decided by penalties only. When you look for the mythical 9-3 score line beloved of SH fans, the number of 5N/6N matches in the same period where both teams scored less than 10 points is zero. The lowest scoring match was in 2005 - Wales 11-9 England The highest scoring was ten tries in 2006 Fra 43 - 31 Ireland. Whilst a 43-31 scoreline is a relatively low-scoring match in Super Rugby terms, apparently there was very little mud on the pitch that particular day in Paris which may explain the high numbers. ;)
Ben S
Roar Guru
Btw, two quick points: (i) Not sure you've got any reason to be too cheerful after what the Wallabies dished up during the WC; (ii) Philandering? Really? Thought not...
Samvandamn
Guest
Maybe there should be a font for sarcasm then people would not have to put up with condescending rants from posters like yourself.
SAMURAI
Guest
Argh, I am very very jealous of your Saturday! Even if some Six Nations are low-scoring matches (Even with no tries), the intensity is definitely better than most Tri-Nations games, it's absolute trench warfare. Enjoy the match!
SAMURAI
Guest
I hate to say this, but to me personally the awe of the haka is fast disappearing, probably because I see it seven/eight times a year.
allblackfan
Guest
Bear, it will be a full strength Argentine Test side in the RC this year featuring their best available players (IRB is taking steps to ensure Argentina's best players will be released)
Cattledog
Guest
Mate, it's late. Most got the sarcasm...you didn't. Never mind, I'm sure posters can revert to single syllables when they see Samvandamn!
Ben S
Roar Guru
But there aren't that many differences between the rugby played. That's just outdated stereotype.
Ben S
Roar Guru
Did I take a bottle of nasty pills from the chap who starts off with the same old incorrect 'us and them', yawnfest... again? Anyhow, I'm not being grumpy. I guess that didn't come across via the net.
Bearfax
Guest
Sorry. I'll just move this bit of granite out of the way. I may have it wrong but isnt it another Oz team with Pac Is and Argentines in it, not a full team from Argentina. I may have missed the news if what you are saying is correct and get a new set of earphones for the piece of granite.
Samvandamn
Guest
Um, NH do so well in World cups????????? RWC Winners by Hemisphere; SH: 6 NH: 1 Were you drunk or high when you wrote that statement?
Football United
Guest
The history of the 6 nations is just unsurpassable and with it being played in conjunction to the regular season, the lead in to the competition is fantastic. Will be at murrayfield this saturday for my first game up here!
Football United
Guest
what crap, australians don't sing because they are lazy