Ladies and gentlemen, I have something important thing to tell you. If you follow my game, rugby union, you will be part of the best thing ever.
You will be enthralled with the power of bulldozers, the grace of gazelle and the intellect of a scientist. There’s only one condition. You need to play it first.
Because if you have not, you will see it only as 1500 kilos of meat grinding each other into the dirt. You will scratch your head thinking these players are so stupid, they don’t know how to push the ball out of a scrum.
The pile of people who coagulate after a tackle will look an excuse for young men to stomp on each other. The ball again, is irrelevant.
If you have not played it, this jumping competition called a lineout is a total waste of time. The ball again, is being thrown sidewards and not really going anywhere. You may also wonder why only seven players run with the ball in hand. Well, eight if you add a Wallaby backrower…
You may wonder why these guys can’t just run and just tackle.
The answer, my friend, is because rugby is a game within a game. It is the fight for the right to run and tackle. This fight is intellectual at the highest level. The coaches and players connive and scheme the best way to win, one skirmish at a time.
Rugby has many forms of skirmish – Scrums, rucks, mauls, kicks, decoys and the pick and go. Choose your weapons, because your opponents will choose theirs. There is no other game like it.
Just like true war, the plan goes out the window when the whistle blows. The game is won by the leaders on field, who are left on their own for 80 minutes to think, skirmish and fight for themselves.
What fight? On second look, it still looks like slow moving meat across a 100-metre by 70-metre patch of mud.
Unfortunately, it takes more than one article to show you. It might take thousands actually. Each skirmish is its own game. Its own law, and it all happens in a split second. In fact you won’t be surprised to find the odd rugby back looking at skirmishes, scratching their heads.
So, it’s too quick. It happens too often even for ‘expert’ live commentators to make any sense off. Unfortunately, after games are over and scores have been etched into history, nobody bothers to mark and analyse the skirmishes which actually won the games.
I do not have the budgets of SANZAR or ARU to show you the highlights or careful analysis. I do not have the teams of astute (and unbiased) researchers. But if I did, you would see how days, weeks, years and decades of hiring, training and development culminate into split-second successes.
You will see how scheming and planning are combined to usurp a better team on the field.
In any case. Trust me. Just because.
Apparently this works for a few rugby administrators, coaches and players. But if SANZAR and ARU use some of their budgets and volunteers to help analyse, research and present, then I assure you that you would be entrapped by the most glorious game in the world.
In fact, if they spent a bit of money to promote that the game exists, it would be a start.
Until then, I can only hope and pray to the high heavens you will come around. Because as demonstrated by various administrations in Australia, nothing else seems to work.
Marlins Tragic
Guest
Agreed, look at the size of the comps in U14 up, our district now has to play as a combined club from U14 up & it may well have to happen at u13 next year for our current U12 teams across the district.
Marlins Tragic
Guest
You ought to see the size of the Canterbury U13's in the SJRU comp, they are men! Same club that Skelton played for.
RobC
Roar Guru
Here's the kind of thing that NFL recently did with tech, that Rugby should do. Not expensive if you partner with the right Co. But will revolutionalise the game, wrt popularity and understanding of the game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6SAcCeY5A8
RobC
Roar Guru
thanks DaniE. Totally agree
DaniE
Roar Guru
But late I know, but right on RobC. Never played the game (but came close once!) but fell in love with it the first time I saw it. A game that should be for everyone regardless of shape or class.
Sean T
Guest
Thanks very much Rob, ill certainly look into it.
Billy Bob
Guest
Sheek, a sombre note that explains others that you have made. One point I'd like to question regarding our rugby leaders. You said 'none' of them are willing to express the game as it should be. I question this idea. Is it none of them? Or is it them 'as a collective' that fail to make the game sing as it did to us in the seventies, eighties and nineties? It seems to me that the issue is cultural essentially, that is it concerns the social norms, behaviours and expectations, not just individual ones. And on that basis I question the idea that 'none' of rugby's cultural leaders are looking to express the real game.
Harry Jones
Expert
Rugby is like chess, too, in that you always have to make a move. The next set piece. A restart. Etc. And....you pick the best of worst options a lot.
RobC
Roar Guru
bring back Scott Allen!
Owen
Guest
There is investment, and it's global investment. By keeping it's link with Super Rugby and the Wallabies Australian Rugby is looking at almost doubling it's annual revenues in coming years. Rugby is in for exponential growth from then on with markets Europe, East Asia and the Americas enjoying both massive growth in rugby support AND economic winds are picking up too. From a modest 40million per year deal this time, the ARU deal may be in the region of AUD100million the next time. Markets overseas such as Japan, Singapore, USA, Argentina, and all of Europe love watching Super Rugby and love to see the Wallabies. As income grows, so will the ability to attract star players and produce a top product that can compete with Rugby League and AFL internally to get back fans and draw local talent. We all know that is is a matter of time before Su'per Rugby grows to a point where it becomes even more 'conference based' and this is indeed a good thing for everyone. NZ and Australian teams playing eachother in a home and away leage meeting the champions from Africa and the Americas conference is where Super Rugby is heading. The money in that league is enourmous. The demands on player travel will be low because only finals series will require massive travel. Most games will be against Australian/NZ or Asian teams.
Yes!!
Guest
I agree 100% with everything you have just said!!! Bring on the post match analysis!!
swamprat
Roar Pro
I've always thought Of Aus as a RL and AFL Country with Union a large but minority sport. The difficulties the ARU are facing now are more a reality check .
pat malone
Guest
there are some parts of Cape Town i wouldnt want to be in at night
Harry Jones
Expert
Yes, I really do. I know they CAN raise a flag, but it's so rarely done. Maintaining the correct offside space between the backlines makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE in how a game looks
RobC
Roar Guru
cheers tinman. The good news is, you are much younger and more attractive than you will be, ten years+ from now. Enjoy it!
RobC
Roar Guru
My pleasure. Happy you liked it Allanthus
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks SeanT. You're comments are v revealing. Also, your thoughts are beyond that of an average 18yo. Im pretty sure a bunch of oldies like us would like to hear more. I think you should share more of your thoughts through an article. Click here: http://www.theroar.com.au/contribute/ 100% agree re grassroots. It is what this game is all about. My first article here: http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/05/04/aru-needs-focus-grassroots-rugby/
RobC
Roar Guru
The King is the one with the statue: http://www.leaguefreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/9WallyLewisStatueBanner.jpg
Squirrel
Guest
It's a great game that is expanding in a lot of countries but is on its last legs in Oz. 2016 will be the deathnell of grassroots rugby and the crowds will die for s15 and wallaby games as domestic participation in syd and Brissy collapses. ARU well done, I suppose as long as the amigos continue to get massive contracts all is well.
RobC
Roar Guru
I guess you caught the clermont munster match. I thought it was awesome