Did anybody else get themselves psyched up for the Rugby Union World Cup in 2011, only to be bitterly disappointed as to how unskilful most games were, and how boring the football was?
Did anybody else keep telling themselves during the one sided pool matches that it would eventually be good come the elimination rounds, only to be thoroughly underwhelmed?
Like a man waiting for the pub to open for three hours, hanging out desperately for a beer, only to be told that the only drinks served are low alcohol, cost $10, and there is a maximum of two per customer…Oh and the pub will be closed in a half hour.
On the contrary, I expected nothing in the Rugby League World Cup of 2008, and was surprised with how entertaining the football was.
Kind of like turning up to a mate’s house expecting turps and not wanting to drink, only to be served the finest vodka from scantily clad women spontaneously engaging in mud wrestling.
As of 2013, I now expect something, and it is not letting me down.
I am enjoying the Rugby League World Cup far more than any Rugby Union World Cup in recent memory.
This might seem bizarre to some. But let me explain to you why I see it thus:
Firstly, an event does not have to be more commercially successful for me to enjoy it more.
Secondly, both the quality and quantity of football is superior across the board, and I do not feel as though I am being shortchanged by conservative coaches obsessed with results.
Thirdly, I do not really buy the argument that rugby union is some type of global leviathan as compared to rugby league, thus making the rugby league world cup irrelevant.
As to the first point, a common talking point from rugby union commentators is that “nobody cares”.
But clearly the players care, the matches have attendances in the many tens of thousands and the TV ratings are reasonable. France will have it’s biggest rugby league crowd in decades when they play New Zealand.
So what do they people truly mean when they say “no one cares” about the Rugby League World Cup?
They really fear that it will begin to attract the same level of media coverage and interest that the Rugby Union World Cup presently receives.
After all, the modern growth of rugby union in Australia has been based on nothing more than the perception that international rugby union represents the only opportunity for us to pit our rugby football culture (union and league) against other nations.
So basically they are just trying to scuttle the event by creating a prejudiced attitude meant to influence the uninformed.
This is not unlike the American propagandists that managed to convince significant amounts of Americans that there were weapons in Iraq.
Or the alpha bitch in a dog pack trying to socially isolate another female that the alpha male has turned his attention on.
If you fall for it, than there is not much to say to you.
I would not even want to share how I perceive something with you, I would rather just buy off the alpha bitch in the pack, or failing that, just ignore you. Because hombre, you have given away your dignity to gossips.
Suffice to say, professional gossips with an agenda telling me that “no one cares” is not enough to convince me that I should not bother caring.
And it sure as hell does not convince that the Rugby Union World Cup is superior to the Rugby League World Cup any more than superior sales of “Souljah Boy” will convince me that I should listen to that rubbish instead of Snoop Lion or Joy Division.
Now to the quality and quantity of football.
It is well documented on this site and others that a game of rugby league has more than 60 minutes of football whereas a game of rugby union will likely have only half of that.
This does not matter if that half is really good quality, but the argument has to continue to be made that the quantifiably superior game of rugby league gives you more plays to watch for the time spent watching.
As to the quality, while it was charmingly naive during the amateur days of the Rugby Union World Cup to describe the champions as the world champions, it has become a little bit embarrassing in the professional era to do so when these world cups make it impossible for NRL players to participate.
Could you imagine a Baseball World Cup without Americans competing because they are unwilling to adapt their rules to allow them to compete?
While winning it would still be a laudable achievement, there is a serious lack of credibility.
The entire Kangaroo outfit and many others in the NRL (apart from perhaps Sam Thaiday) would be automatic first picks for rugby union international back lines apart from the All Blacks and a few other great players here and there in other teams.
The Rugby League World Cup has the same credibility problem without the All Blacks competing. Maybe the Kangaroos versus All Blacks game will be feasible at some point in time.
I do not think that it is any exaggeration to suggest that outside of the New Zealand Rugby Union, a fluctuating amount of 65% to 85% of the best rugby football talent (i.e. the skills of running hard and skilfully, perspicacious passing and tackling hard) reside on a near permanent basis in the NRL.
Therefore, when I am watching the Rugby League World Cup, I am seeing better players in more plays per game than I am watching in the Rugby Union World Cup.
Finally on the third point. The so called “international, global game” of rugby union.
The only significant rugby football nation that competes in the Rugby Union World Cup that does not compete in the Rugby League World Cup is South Africa.
If it realistic that only three nations (Australia, England and New Zealand) can win the Rugby League World Cup, it is equally realistic that only five nations (the mentioned nations as well as France and South Africa) can win the Rugby Union World Cup.
Sure there are other nations competing in the Rugby Union World Cup that might have a “Cinderella Story” (the rest of Britain) but that is also true of the nations in the Rugby League World Cup that have been beefed up by NRL players.
For example, did Italy really beat England? They are doing far better than their rugby union team could ever hope to and have far better players.
International rugby union might have more depth than rugby league, but not by that much.
Even less when you consider that it plays second fiddle to football in England, Scotland and France. Third fiddle in Ireland to Gaelic football and soccer.
The only significant nations where it is the no one sport are among white South Africans (are they a nation?) and New Zealand.
There are less people in those nations combined than in the rugby league dominant states in Australia.
Thanks for reading, I hope that you have enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing this.
Patrick
Roar Rookie
Apologies for the tardiness of my reply. Would consider union as it has evolved as the novelty game compared to the original rfu rules of 1871. Tactical competitive lifting? A bit ridiculous. Rl and American ???? football closer to the spirit of the original game.
Patrick
Roar Rookie
Apologies for the tardiness of the response Rob9. What were the "fundamentally flawed" statements that you were referring to? I am pretty sure I backed it all up :thumbup:
breeze
Guest
Rugby league claiming its best world cup tournament how long did that take wait a minute since 1954 was the first one.So now Rugby league fans come out it & say it better than the Rugby union World cup in your dreams. Splitting the NRL & Super league just to make a world cup is pathetic Channel 9 & fox sports had no interest in this little tournament. I don't want to waste my breath on the facts on why Rugby union will always remain on top of Rugby league globally!! I played both games both have tremendous players that can transition between both codes especially the backs but union is far more challenging as its more of a complex game its like playing chest. Rugby league is really simple its like playing touch football except tackling with with intent & emphasis on angle running in easy words 5 tackles kick the ball repeat for 80 minutes & in between some individual brilliance like touch football. Rugby union is another beast altogether there's a lot more involved in scrums, line outs, rucks, field possession like kick in play , mauls its the complete game the game played in Heaven.
Jake
Guest
It was crap? That's not what you're mum said she loved it it's funny league fans always have to bag union to make themselves feel better about there minor sport
Junior
Guest
League is a great sport, no doubt about it. But to be honest, look at the structure of the fixtures and how the finals template looks. It is a mess, the least they could have done was put in a extra 2 teams ( 1 each for pools C and D) so that instead of having the top 3 from pools A and B and only 1 from pools C and D, that each pool had the top 2 battling for a spot to be in the Grand Final.
supertrooper
Guest
judging by how long it took SBW to come to grips with rugby union and how long it took brad thorn to feel comfortable in his role as a union forward , i would say your assertions lack credablility , to whit, get a grip son your talking out your derriere
supertrooper
Guest
um er could it be because your useless at it
david
Guest
You dont think that has something to do with League only played in the North among working class industrial towns, and Union being played in a city with 8 million people plus large metropolis city nearby, Birmingham, seriously comparing Rugby Unon International crowds to league ones, isnt objective.
david
Guest
theyre alot of Tongans in NZL
david
Guest
Cmon Paul, Rugby League fans jealous of Union, I think Australian Union fans are frustrated that the Walabies suck, there is hardly any depth in Australian Rugby, and the NRL is the best domestic competition in Rugby football, the interest in the wallabies is spiralling, more people care about SOO then the wallabies playing the all blacks in an inevitable defeat, Rah Rah fans brag about their International presence when theyre are are only around 5 million players world wide and Europe makes up over half of that, that their are 480,000 Rugby League players in Australia, to around 90,000 Rah Rah players, better crowds better ratings, the Kangaroos who are much more succesful then the wobblies, look you Rah Rah fans can have your internationals where the all blacks and the spring boks beat everyone, I honestly (and i speak for most League fans here) couldnt give a stuff about Rugby internationally, you have your internationals, im fine with Rugby League being the premier Rugby code in Australia
david
Guest
its a bit hard when League dominated Union, until a pack of murdering facists come in and say you cant play this sport any more, hardly Union taking over by themselves.
david
Guest
haha, kk then, did you ever stop and think, that most League players have played union before, the generalization of the ruck being hard is an over statement, because i guarantee you, Rugby Leagues toughest forwards, would pawn the international Rugby scene, guys like Gallen, Smith, Tamou, Watmough, Fifita, Pritchard, would all be good loose forwards in Rugby.
david
Guest
cmon Seb, me and you both know thats not true
david
Guest
To be honest Aaron and coconut, if Slater was eligible for the All blacks and played union, he would make the team, he is one of the most athletic and all round skilled players ive seen in either code, in hes hay day, he would make the side, dont worry about that.
Boomshanka
Guest
Based in Melbourne, but find myself cruising around Australia and New Zealand for work. Try to catch up and connect with what's happening in the local sports scene as I'll spend a fair bit of time in pubs and hotels. Am constantly amazed at the disconnect between ground roots support and what the media would have us believe all in the name of persuasion. I do find New Zealand people and its media to be more accepting of other sports (than say Victoria). Australian sport is getting worse with lower investment thanks to the media who pillage sport for its own ends. If the media actually paid what the sport is worth instead of relying on dodgy legislation (to protect and prop up FTA networks) then sport would do better. It can be argued that since England cricket sold to subscription TV, they have been able to invest in grass roots, and hence now dominate the Aussies. The same can be said of all professional sports except Australian codes which must rely on what corrupt and dying TV Networks can pay. Interesting to see that New Zealand soccer was able to freely sell TV rights to its world cup play off (which it couldn't do under Australian laws). Enjoy the respectful coverage of your sport in New Zealand (no matter what it is) and take comfort in the fact that sport on this side of the ditch is struggling with under investment and the public here are shafted with wall to wall betting ads. Again, wish you a good weekend.
Emric
Guest
You're right. Let me modify my statement. League in New Zealand during the early to mid 1990's was good. I as a young teen often would go to games at Fraser Park with my mates and dad. In the last 10 years or so the sport has become very boring to me. In my opinion the laws have taken the good aspects of the game out to give more and more advantage to the attacking team Boomshaka really New Zealand rugby mining League? I'd laugh but I think your actually being serious. Either way I wish you a good weekend. You can watch the kiwis kill whatever poor team is forced to play them in the world cup, and I will watch a good game between France and the All Blacks (We might actually lose this game). Boom are you living in Melbourne?
Boomshanka
Guest
Emric Your earlier post said "I personally have always found league very boring" then you go onto say "I used to be an avid league fan". It can't be both. You then appear to blame NZ Rugby League for attempting to mine union. I'd put it to you as a kiwi growing up in the 80's that it was Union who then mined league for young talent. In the mid 80's, I had school mates who played league yet had to play for the school first fifteen over their local club. This was further compounded when the local rugby league club wanted to start a league team in our high school. It was extremely evident at the time (and we're talking shorty after the dark days of the 81 Springbok tour) that every conceivable road block was put up from "no qualified teachers" through to "no other teams exist to play against". So brought up in the days when "if one didn't support the tour, then how can you call yourself a kiwi", never endeared me to the game. I've enjoyed some union games over the years, but prefer league as a more consistent rewarding experience.
Emric
Guest
Boomshanka I used to be an avid league fan and die hard rugby fan. I then realized that New Zealand league lived and developed on what talent it could by from the All Blacks and NPC teams. League in New Zealand was prepared to strip mine rugby purely because it could afford to do so, and it wasn't even the New Zealand League NPC teams doing this it was the Australian League teams from the rich ARL. I realized League was a game not for me when the rules evolved not to make the product better but to take the competition out of the game. In saying all that I am still a kiwi and I want my nation to win. I will support the Kiwis even if I don't watch the League World Cup I guess its each to their own in this case. I would have loved to have gone to the NPC final I watched it on TV. You are right the NPC has been hurt badly by Super Rugby but its slowly making a come back of course the RS is still popular and sells out games.
Boomshanka
Guest
Emric A couple of weeks ago I spent my hard earned cash and sat in Wellingtons Westpac Stadium for the ITM cup. The inter provincial final used to be a big event and I was blown away to find, even with $NZD20 seats, the stadium was less than half full despite full on hype over the previous week. Even the mighty Canterbury v Auckland game was not full (which years ago would have been chocka) the previous week had $6 seats and bring your child free. In my opinion the ITM final was the biggest borathon I'd seen in years. Multiple attempts at a scrum with "pause touch engage" followed by three more attempts and then the eventual penalty is hardly riveting stuff. Like you say, we're all entitled to our own opinions. I'm about to head off to the RLWC in the next few days. Having been in New Zealand during the RUWC, I'll make up my own mind thanks. Maybe you should start watching a game or two, instead of showing your ignorance and fear of Rugby League. The world is a better place for variety and I'm glad I don't have to watch it through the eyes of a NZRFU fixated media in New Zealand or the AFL fixated media here in Melbourne. The coverage and the games have been excellent to date and with the main contest about to start - nothing is going to upset me for the next few weeks. And who isn't enjoying watching the USA come from nowhere. This is a great tournament.
Emric
Guest
I personally have always found league very boring - but we are all entitled to our personal opinions