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In the context of Australia I would imagine your sentiments hold weight..But I am not an Aussie and look at it from I guess a more global perspective …So I am going to ask you an honest question …No agendas ….Do you think if the Wallabies hit a winning streak at a fairly consistent level ….That the debate betwixt league and Union will end ….?
Let's celebrate rugby for its differences: Why imitating league is not the answer
In reality league and Union have coexisted quite happily for many decades ..The current apparant comparisons and tensions relatively new and imo are a manufactured pantomime by the media ..Both mainstream and social media ..As someone quite famous once said … Much ado about nothing !
Let's celebrate rugby for its differences: Why imitating league is not the answer
I’ve been around this site long enough to remember David Lords thought provoking cricket articles..A life well lived and constructive ….His passing is just a celebration of that ….
RIP, David Lord: Australian sports journalism icon was 'always thoughtful and thought-provoking'
No ..Its better because by various measurable metrics including crowd attendance and TV audiences it leads the pack..Also the most challenging due to travelling and vastly different climatic conditions ….Including high altitude challenges ..Things that used to work in Superugbys favor ..Its definitely not just me but their is quite a broad consensus on this ..But of course it has vastly increased significance to me personally because my team The Sharks participates .
Five things: Lesson Aussie rugby can learn from Kiwis - and why next month will determine whether SR gap has closed
Yes I think it is….On balance probably not as much as the URC which is fast shaping up to be the best global comp…But certainly on an equal footing with the Premiership or Top 14 ….. Certainly quality wise the SR teams need apologise to no one ….I definetely comes the business end of the comp will pay more attention to it …Right now just too much other rugby around ..
Five things: Lesson Aussie rugby can learn from Kiwis - and why next month will determine whether SR gap has closed
Well the problem I have is I am a south African..Already so much rugby to try follow..But I am always very interested in Aus , NZ and Argentian rugby..Truth is pointless asking me if it works or not for me…I have zero skin in the game and the only esoteric angle that keeps me even marginally interested is the PI teams…I am obviously also intrigued with the lets say unexpected performances of the Aus teams so far ……Maybe later in the comp it may become worth watching ..lets see..
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Five things: Lesson Aussie rugby can learn from Kiwis - and why next month will determine whether SR gap has closed
They certainly seem to be dominating this year both URC and The European Cup…But ….And this is my theory is that Leinster and Ireland ( virtually one and the same ) tend to peak too soon in both knockout and league rugby ..Are we seeing the same this time around ?…..For sure Jaques Nienaber will not or at least try not to let that happen but old habits die hard …Lets see ..I will watch with interest..
All Blacks star signs surprise short-term deal with Irish heavyweights
Despite on field animosities and rivalry we do look after our rugby guests here ..NZ or otherwise …South Africa has no
Royal family or ties to the Monarchy ..Sure we have tribal Chiefs and Kings etc …But they are a very different dynamic ..We compensate with travelling rugby fans and supporters …. They literally get the red carpet treatment everytime….Of course Barrett misses that ..Who wouldnt ? 😛
All Blacks star signs surprise short-term deal with Irish heavyweights
Smart move by Leinster ..Not just what he brings on the field but also attracting a whole new NZ audience of Barrett fans … Dont think he came cheaply tho.
All Blacks star signs surprise short-term deal with Irish heavyweights
I dont agree ..I dont follow much Superugy anymore as the Aus / NZ clashes have such an air of familiarity ..But when the PI teams make an appearance Im interested ..They may very well have inadvertantly rescued the tournament …
Five things: Lesson Aussie rugby can learn from Kiwis - and why next month will determine whether SR gap has closed
And French and Irish and England .. 😁 All 3 putting monster packs on the field …
Five things: Lesson Aussie rugby can learn from Kiwis - and why next month will determine whether SR gap has closed
Problem is Geoff that the collision doesnt necessarily have to be hard to reach the red card threshold ..Even potentially dangerous can be a red ..But you are quite correct in that it is a subjective process but then again from what Ive read and understand is that even the actual off field assesment by medical staff is in itself a fairly subjective hit and miss process …Another stumbling block is of course coaches abusing the HIA process to make strategic substitutions …Just adds further complexity to things ….
The Wrap: Crusaders' shot clock fiasco and shhh, don’t put the moz on Darby
What I am seeing from a distance is that Australia is still a force in World Rugby ..NZ domestic teams are really strong …Arguably the best in the World …So whats the problem ? …The so called false demise of Aus rugby sounds more like a predetermined mindset of the media than whats actually happening ….Bad administration does not necessarily equate to bad players ..Just ask us here in South Africa…..I sense Australian rugby is close , very close to a resurgence …. Need to be a bit more global tho..Isolation not always a good thing ..Remove retrictions on foreign based players now …..They will add huge value ..
The Wrap: Crusaders' shot clock fiasco and shhh, don’t put the moz on Darby
No you were not polite ..You were clearly facetious ..at least lets call a spade what it is ….Anyway the game is exciting in South Africa obviously because the team are on a winning curve . Conversely its in crisis in Aus because its not ….Dont blame Laws , refs , or whatever silly excuses you come up with..You have world class players but you guys ..yes YOUR admin selected Eddie…..As a previous poster noted ( Ben) there are 100 reasons Aus rugby is floundering but the Laws are not one of them…Ball is in your court ..Trust me on this ..World Rugby will continue quite nicely with or without you.
Rugby is losing the long-term battle: What World Rugby must learn from Australia before it's too late
I agree with some if your points but firmly disagree on others BF ..
1.Yes !
2.Yes !
3. Australia and NZ in particular have a huge track record of inventiveness and innovation ..But ….That has now passed on to South Africa with Erasmus and co..7 to 1 bench splits , 4 scrumhalves one match , Traffic lights , water boys 😁 ..Instead of complaining find your own mojo ..
4. Yes! ….But Im afraid slomos and TMOs here to stay …Despite all noise they protect refs in the social media age much more than we realise against the other one million refs with keyboards .
5. Yes! …SH rugby has so much to offer ..So stop squeeling and get on with it ..
Rugby is losing the long-term battle: What World Rugby must learn from Australia before it's too late
South Africa are recruiting a whole new audience …And its huge…And….It comes from a community with previous high levels of animosity to rugby…..Its not just cosmetic ..Its real…If i wear my Bok shirt to the mall every second person says hi to me …It might just be ..might….The Sport of Rugby Unions single greatest achievement anywhere in its history..
Rugby is losing the long-term battle: What World Rugby must learn from Australia before it's too late
Brendan ..The biggest crowds in not just the URC but also all other global comps have been in SA . So not just Test Rugby…..Yes dissapointing crowds so far in The European championship, but many non rugby reasons for that..SA fans just havent bought into this comp ..Not sure why ..Might need time..Just thought I will throw that in ..But full agreement your post ..Rugby is doing just fine ..
Rugby is losing the long-term battle: What World Rugby must learn from Australia before it's too late
World Rugby is in rude health and requires no lessons from Australian Rugby …
It is not in competition with league either …The two codes have coexisted for a long long time ….All talk of Rugby Union having to make compromises to match league just ridiculous ..Speed up the game , change the cards , diminish the tmo , reduce the bench ..Make players tired ….These are just self serving suggestions and should be viewed from whence they come…My favorite tho …De power the scrum ….seriously ..South Africans know just why thats on the table …In a golden age for SA front rowers The likes of recently retired The Beast ..then Malherbe , Nche , Mbonambi , Kitshoff , Marx , Koch….These are once in a generation players and in an all time 20 greatest ever list of SA front rowers they will all make the cut ..Their reward …Change the Laws …Union is doing just fine ..Its biggest threat is not league ……Its those believing constantly manipulating The Laws will create advantage …Brian Moore now calling for a reduced bench to neutralise the size of French and South African forwards in the European Championship..May I remind him the England pack that got massacred in the WC final 2019 was actually heavier than South Africa’s ..Jean Kleyn a capped Irish International when joining the Bok squad publically said in an interview with Jim Hamilton that he could not believe the insane amount of work Boks put into scrum preparation …Boks reward from those not willing to do the same …Change the Laws …Thats rugby unions biggest threat ..Not league..
Rugby is losing the long-term battle: What World Rugby must learn from Australia before it's too late
For sure Jimmy ..Bismarck was a better hooker than John but Johns ability to play multiple front row spots was pure gold ..Then his leadership….But sooo many players at that time here in SA seemed in agreement that Bismarck was the real hard nut in SA Rugby ..And his parents naming him after a German Battleship ? They must have seen something in him the day he was born 😁
Finding the right kind of violence: Why rugby has never been harder to play
East African Safari…Unregulated course ..Zero spectator control..Many deaths many unreported or documented …Another hazard for the drivers and codrivers …Wild animals …..
Finding the right kind of violence: Why rugby has never been harder to play
Yes ..I didnt share the same respect for Bakkies as a hard man that so many others did..Most of his dirty stuff were cheap shots ….Ironically he was a very good rugby player ….played hard for sure and much more skillful than gets credit for but his modus operandi of throwing punches at props and hookers while their arms were bound hardly Victoria Cross stuff is it ..
Finding the right kind of violence: Why rugby has never been harder to play
I will check it out thanks ….but gotta say those old rally days sometimes pretty darned dangerous for spectators too..
Finding the right kind of violence: Why rugby has never been harder to play
I played here in South Africa and yet despite perceptions to the contrary it was very seldom dirty ..Think the law of Retribution had much to do with that ….Watched an interview recently of Victor Matfield almost bragging how his playing partner Bakkies Botha kept punching England prop Matt Stevens until he ( Stevens) left the field ..This was a regular thing with Botha against opposing front rows ..Anyway a Bulls vs Cheetahs SR match first scrum Cheetahs hooker Bismarck Du Plessis said to Botha ..Throw one punch and Im going to kick you in the face and I dont care if I get sent off ..Bakkies never threw the punch ..Thats my point .
Finding the right kind of violence: Why rugby has never been harder to play
Enjoyable read ..I recently watched an interview of ex F1 driver Jody Scheckter and he was asked how he felt about safety and being so exposed in his cars in the 70s ..” We never thought about it …We just wanted to race F1 ” His reply ..I played all my rugby in the 70s and 80s ..The violent era…But we never thought about it like that ..Just wanted to play rugby …Despite the lack of on field controls we still knew exactly where the line was and were very aware when we crossed it…..I think despite the complexities of the modern game , thats exactly how players feel today too..
Finding the right kind of violence: Why rugby has never been harder to play
I did Micko ..First one we were not allowed to partake in and your second win we watched on with our team already back home…I cared plenty 😂 😂
Let's celebrate rugby for its differences: Why imitating league is not the answer