Roar Rookie
Joined March 2011
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There was a time in recent televised history when channels had a timer at the bottom of the screen to illustrate how much time…
Now nine rounds of the Super Rugby season have been completed, the contenders are beginning to rise to the top and the 'also ran'…
With the World Cup commencing in just over two months, there are a lot of things that need to be finalised and put into…
The world of rugby changed when the IOC (International Olympic Committee) accepted rugby back into the Olympic fold. Since 1924 when rugby was axed…
After reading an interesting article in a rugby magazine recently, the question was asked what was considered the superior and better club competition? I'll…
[caption id="attachment_40520" width="300" caption="N.S.W Waratahs Benn Robinson scores a try despite pressure from the Queensland Reds Scott Higginbotham and Van Humphries during their Super…
When is it time to call it quits? It all depends on who you talk to. In the world of rugby, this time can…
It always seems this way for every World Cup. The All Blacks are considered the best team and will take Webb Ellis, but even though they dominate in the pool stages, they stumble at the knock-out stages.
The World Cup brings out the best in teams and sometimes the unexpected happens. Who would have thought that Argentina could beat France twice in one tournament in 2007? Who would have thought that Tonga almost rolled South Africa (losing by 5 points) in 2007?
I agree that the All Blacks are the best and a team that sets the bench mark, but I also strongly believe that it’s the team on the day that wins the game. The Wallabies beat the All Blacks last year with a relatively inexperienced team and show the most potential to win it.
This year is as open as it has ever been but you can be sure of one thing, if New Zealand don’t win the cup in New Zealand, there will be anarchy in the streets.
All Blacks are far and away the best team
“An NFL team member mostly has one job and focuses on that job – a kicker is a kicker and nothing else”. I had stated mostly, there are the odd few additional responsibilities that they have to do. I should justify what I said by adding, that in relation to a game of rugby, a kicker is not involved in the whole game. They are part of special teams and are called up when a special play is needed. On the other hand, a rugby player is required to be part of the whole game and has to focus on all aspects of the game as well as kicking. Sure, a NFL kicker may be required to hold the ball, or even make a tackle or block, but these are rare situations but are not their prime responsibilities.
Does rugby's scoring system need changing?
That is my argument played out in the match. Quade Cooper was the obvious skillful kicker while it has been known that Giteau’s kicking ability has been questioned, even at the Wallaby level. A more skillful team (try-scorers and kickers) should be rewarded with points and so it was.
Does rugby's scoring system need changing?
@Ben.
You are correct with the scoring system in NFL – 6 points for a touchdown and 1 for the extra point. This promotes attacking football to an extent, but the field goal attempt is still worth 3 points and a team can attempt a field goal at any time if they feel as though they are in range.
The argument doesn’t lie in the points system – rather with skills being rewarded with points. A rugby kicker is spends a lot of time getting there skill up and, in my belief, deserves to be rewarded with such skill & dedication.
A rugby kicker has to achieve all the team’s adjectives as well as get their kicking ability up. An NFL team member mostly has one job and focuses on that job – a kicker is a kicker and nothing else.
Does rugby's scoring system need changing?
I agree rugby seems to have become soft but you have already mentioned why there is “over penalising”. Rugby Union wants to keep the sport ‘family orientated’ and have all ages take part in it as well as keep sponsors happy. Sponsors and broadcasters bring in the money and if these factors begin to wain then rugby will begin to lose all that it is trying to build for. Rugby Union is controlled on an international basis with other countries, besides Australia, making a blanket ruling and this includes what the IRB perceives as dangerous and not part of the game.
League is a harder and tougher sport, but as it has been proven, really only two, maybe three, countries play league at top level (Australia, New Zealand and England/Britain). The governing body of league would only really focus on satisfying these country’s desires. Union, on the other hand, have to keep more than the Southerners happy, they have to keep the Northerners happy too. It’s widely regarded that the Northerners are never happy with the Southerners decision to modify or change rugby a la ELV’s and now referee law interpretations.
I’m sure that if the rules were only to be applied to the Southern teams, things maybe a little more aggressive and ‘tougher’ but the law applies to all participants in the Union code, therefore, what may seem legitimate to us may have been vetoed by teams up North. The law is the law and has been designed this way to try and grow the sport at grass roots and keep the investors and cash cows happy. As fans, we have little say on how rugby is run in any country and the only way that we can really get a change in the game is to stop buying tickets, stop buying tv subscriptions to watch the games, and soon the Unions will listen to the fans, as the stadiums will be empty and no subscriptions will force broadcasters to offer games for free.
If you truly want change, hit the Unions where it hurts – ticket sales and tv subscriptions – then the fan can dictate the direction of the game.
Super Rugby weekend re-cap
Because the judiciary backed up the referee’s decision with a ban. If the judiciary had any doubt in the referee’s original decision, they would not have imposed a ban and let Sidey play in the next round.
Super Rugby weekend re-cap
The judiciary hearing has resulted in a three week ban for Sidey. The punishment is fair as it was his first offense and his clean record was taken into account. This proves that the referee made the correct decision at the time.
Super Rugby weekend re-cap
It ultimately comes down to a referee’s discretion. The way that most referees would look at it is that if the tackler realised that he had taken the player beyond the horizontal and tried to abort the tackle in a responsible and safe manner, a yellow card would be sufficient but Sidey showed no attempt to abort the tackle. Sidey continued with the tackle and followed through by deliberately driving Ndugane into the ground causing the neck area to make contact with the ground first. This would be considered a malicious and dangerous tackle and red carded.
The referee was new to Super Rugby as it was his 2nd or 3rd as an official but his decision to red card Sidey was correct.
Super Rugby weekend re-cap
In relation to the Force vs. Sharks game. The red card the Sidey was handed was fair and in no way controversial. The tackle was a clear tip and dump style. To take the player through the horizontal is considered dangerous and malicious and a red card was the only option that the referee had. Law 10.4 (j) would apply to this example.
Super Rugby weekend re-cap
Rugby players will always get injured as it is a contact game, but they are injured, in the majority of circumstances, because they have put themselves in an awkward position. The law prohibits reckless clearing out and is carded and fined (Bakkies Botha vs. British & Irish Lions 2009). Some players are unlucky and get injured every year but other players stay the course and only pick up bumps and bruises. Some men that spend their time in the contact area are hardly injured – McCaw, Matfield, Waugh, and the likes of others.
It is a contact sport and athletes realise to avoid injuries, training is important to build strength and resilience. In my personal experience, I’ve played at an amateur level (granted it’s not pro, but rugby nonetheless) for 25 years and all I’ve had is a broken nose due to an accidental head clash.
Is rugby now the world's most dangerous game?