Do we love rugby primarily because we enjoy the score? Deep statistics? The technique of the tighthead? The precise aim off the tee?
Is it only the love of winning or losing? Do we love rugby because we follow the uncertain fortunes of our beloved team?
Is it the admiration? A sport we played, some better than others, but almost nobody able to match even one small moment as great as the ones routinely created by the ghostly Ben Smith. Do we marvel at how much better they are than us?
No. There is also just the sheer beauty of the sport.
And what is the most beautiful part of it, to you?
Is it the zip of the perfectly spiraled pass? Or the genius of the bullet cut-out across two channels?
Is it a burst and break across those rigid modern lines of defence? The raw anger of that moment: helter skelter, the carrier trying to see his support, the cover tacklers bursting over fallen bodies, leaping to arrest the jailbreak.
Is the crafty offload from the palm, around the hapless tackler who went too low; feeding a man in flight on a lovely line? Don’t we all say words like “lovely” to describe these moments? Or even “beautiful!” Or “brilliant!” Haven’t you heard a stadium gasp?
Or is it the geometric cross-kick, intersecting the field with a surprising verticality?
Is it a grim scrum, in the last minute, to secure the victory, or steal it at the death? Every man knowing his place, feeling his fulcrum, committed, bloodied, and shouting a last word of encouragement, before the collective grunt. The man at the back on each side, waiting and then slingshotting himself into the gap, and the flanks hanging on to the big units, ready for mayhem.
Most would not say a maul is beautiful, but when it rolls? When it is acting like a battering ram? No?
What about the long, winding try with six, seven, ten passes; all of them little miracles? The dive at the end? The joy of his friends? The roar of the crowd?
Or do you see the tackle – that quintessential rugby thing – as beautiful? I do. The lowering, the raising, the explosion. Crunching through that little backline player who dares to come into the DMZ. The sound-smack-sweat of it.
Or is the lineout? That skyscraper set piece, where the flop-armed behemoths launch and hang and play like lean polar bears catching fish. And do you find the take or the steal prettier? Or the hesitant feed down to the tiny 9?
Or is the lonely turnover artist; like David Pocock, gaining a pedestal stance, and enduring the cleanout thugs?
And don’t forget that 40-metre drop goal for the win; the strike, the look, and the spinning ball.
What do you find beautiful about rugby?
Vic
Guest
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eh4qDqe0wuQ# https://youtu.be/2eMCnJHMtZ8 Joggie Jansen Gerhard Viviers
davSA
Guest
I have to endorse your comment Slav . Sadly when ( and it will again this season ) things are written about the SA rugby set up and the coach etc. I find myself out of necessity being super critical . Do I feel better for it . Absolutely not. I do however feel enriched reading this kind of article , the great comments and enjoy my own small contribution. Much appreciated all.
Sam
Guest
Touche Sheek! After which the said cup can be drained and half-filled again.. .
Harry Jones
Expert
Good point, Sheek, about the interesting amateurs.
Harry Jones
Expert
you and i are the only drop goal people
ads2600
Guest
The French & South Africa cheerleaders for me, just gorgeous?
Harry Jones
Expert
Thanks, Slav!
Colin Fenwick
Guest
Now this boy could slither. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSWq45VufaI
Andrew
Guest
"What is the most beautiful sight in rugby?" I miss the days of Puff Divies astute comments. He was after all an ambassador for not only rugby but ballerinas and not to forget the plight of clowns as well.
Ruckin' Oaf
Guest
I do love the counter haka's too, When the AB's play Tonga or similar.
Bfc
Guest
Fiji (or the BaaBaas..) on counter-attack...everybody cheers...
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
Joel Stransky & Jonny Wilkenson's drop goals in extra time of WC finals were a thing of beauty! Even though I'd support the Wallabies over England now.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
When a team or player surprise with an unexpected play . When I played, the butrrflies in my stomach before the game.
piru
Roar Rookie
They're definitely easier to shank but I only remember one Shepherd horror in the years he played in Perth. As for accuracy, if you get another 15 m out of your kick, what does it matter?
Springs Old Boy
Guest
All of it I agree.. The flyhalf who is so calm under pressure and seems to do everything in slow motion, all the time in the world at breakneck speed... and the best of these flyhalves Ive seen at Schoolboy level... actually Matt Toomua was one of them.. circa 2007 The most exciting Rugby match ever ? Springs Old Boys v Windhoek in June 1977 ..
sheek
Roar Guru
Sandgroper, There's no such thing as half full or half empty, it still requires more shiraz.
RedandBlack
Guest
Well not the technique of a tighthead - as an old loosehead I can assure you those guys are ALWAYS illegal. For me as a spectator it would be in the read of a Carter/Mert's/Larkham - so much that makes the game what it is starts there. Sure the lads up front set the scene and maybe the winger finishes it but the 1st 5 is rugby's quarterback and if you are watching a great one you are having a good day.
The Battered Slav
Guest
One more thing, Harry this is just an awesome article. The amount of whinging that goes on on these pages gets really quite tiresome, but the reason everyone is here is because they love rugby. It's nice to hear about the things that make our game great rather than reading yet another article about the things that need fixing. Sure that type of discussion has its place and is important to have, but there seems to be an unhealthy focus on what's wrong with the game and the things that make it great get lost in a sea of complaining. Great work, as always, and the contributions in the comments have been top notch. Thank you sincerely boet.
Sam Figg
Roar Rookie
This is perhaps one of the most beautifully written pieces on this website and i'm genuinely at a loss as how i could explain the brutal beauty of Rugby any clearer than you have. Truly well done. The only aspect i'd add would be "the battle of the animalistic and unprotected man against man, acknowledging fear and facing it regardless. Accepting pain for ambition and exhaustion for success. Then after a whistle to immediately transform back to an accountant, lawyer, teacher or father' That's why i love rugby.
Sandgroper
Guest
Hey Sheek Your glass being half empty will eat away at your spirit. Lighten up mate.