butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Do you like men running into brick walls and forgetting both the ball and their brain on evidential, empirical, or what basis?
Dwain Chambers to have a go at rugby league
- Thread starter strung out
- Start date
Paulie Tandoori
shut it you egg!
the basis that am a season ticket holder and enjoy going along nearly every week.
you?
you?
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
No, i don't like that.
Paulie Tandoori
shut it you egg!
?????butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Never mind, you going friday?
Paulie Tandoori
shut it you egg!
we've got leeds rhinos on sunday, in 5th round of challenge cup. so we will be there.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
Sorry, meant monday. Play offs.
Paulie Tandoori
shut it you egg!
play-offs don't occur until September/October time??? monday/friday/what??
rugby league is a great game and i get so annoyed by naysayers such as yourself.
rugby league is a great game and i get so annoyed by naysayers such as yourself.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
What do you want a medal for loving a dying game. I love union, i'm w/c - i come from an area where alllyou hear about is union. It's not Wales either. If you're happy to say say union is a m/c game then be prepared to get naysayed back. Which make a postive!
Paulie Tandoori
shut it you egg!
no, am simply reacting to bone-headed criticism of a game that i love. bollocks to a 'dying' game, its the largest growth sport amonst s/e school children for eg. league is where its at maaaaaaannnnnnn! 
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
I'm on about LUFC play offs btw
Paulie Tandoori
shut it you egg!
LUFC???? one minute its dwain chambers, next minute is butchers it seems.......
league is tops, believe it man
league is tops, believe it man
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
no, am simply reacting to bone-headed criticism of a game that i love. bollocks to a 'dying' game, its the largest growth sport amonst s/e school children for eg. league is where its at maaaaaaannnnnnn!
It's only played meaningfully in a dwindling handful of areas though, isn't it? Bits of Australia, bits of northern England plus London, even smaller bits of New Zealand and, oh, Bridgend in South Wales
.It's a growth sport amongst s/e schoolchildren in the same way that soccer is a growth sport amongst American schoolchildren. It will never translate into widespread, global appeal, or to a sudden growth in s/e groundhumping teams. Kids in Wales train to league rules as well as union when they're little. They all go on to play the one, true code afterwards, though.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
They've already been doing just that behind the scenes i believe.
mattie
missing in inaction
Why don't they just pack up union, play league, and have done with it?
Complete derail, but any thoughts on what the law changes will do to rugby? I think the collapsing of the rolling maul idea is dreadful, aside from getting yards it's a means of sucking in defenders (admittedly mainly forwards) and making space for others - I was under the impression the law changes were supposed to promote a more free-flowing game, not sure how this particular rule accomplishes that.
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
You're right. We're witnessing the leagueification of RU. What is bizarre is that union doesn't need fixing. Bumper crowds, bumper TV audiences, more marketability than ever before, more money flowing through the game than ever before; growing in reach and numbers every year across the board from developed to developing nations.
What's even odder is the fact that *no* union fan wants the ELVs, few players or coaches want them (Graham Henry and Gatland off the top of my head - I'm sure there are many more) and few national unions (with the exception of the fucking Aussies) want them. So why the fuck are the IRB kowtowing to the bloody ockers when the latter are evidently trying to change the laws of the game to suit the fact that they are shit scrummagers and are the only union currently losing ground to their league counterparts?
As for the changes, some rules are ok, such as not being able to kick straight for touch from a pass back into your 22, some rules are marginal, such as uneven numbers at the lineout (I don't understand what this would do, or why) and some are plain shite, such as collapsing mauls, allowing handling on the deck and awarding the team who doesn't take the ball into a ruck a free kick if the ball becomes unplayable.
I don't watch any S14, but apparently there's a lot more tap and goes, the ball is in play for longer, but then there are a lot more scrums in the last quarter as players get to tired to really open up.
It does seem that the inevitable outcome of that will be a depowered scrum and far more identikit players of a similar size and build, and less of the physical extremes (such as good old Adam Jones style props or Ian Evans style second rows) which make union so unique and so great (IMO)
What's even odder is the fact that *no* union fan wants the ELVs, few players or coaches want them (Graham Henry and Gatland off the top of my head - I'm sure there are many more) and few national unions (with the exception of the fucking Aussies) want them. So why the fuck are the IRB kowtowing to the bloody ockers when the latter are evidently trying to change the laws of the game to suit the fact that they are shit scrummagers and are the only union currently losing ground to their league counterparts?
As for the changes, some rules are ok, such as not being able to kick straight for touch from a pass back into your 22, some rules are marginal, such as uneven numbers at the lineout (I don't understand what this would do, or why) and some are plain shite, such as collapsing mauls, allowing handling on the deck and awarding the team who doesn't take the ball into a ruck a free kick if the ball becomes unplayable.
I don't watch any S14, but apparently there's a lot more tap and goes, the ball is in play for longer, but then there are a lot more scrums in the last quarter as players get to tired to really open up.
It does seem that the inevitable outcome of that will be a depowered scrum and far more identikit players of a similar size and build, and less of the physical extremes (such as good old Adam Jones style props or Ian Evans style second rows) which make union so unique and so great (IMO)
rapattaque
At fighting weight
Idiot.
mattie
missing in inaction
Jesus, forgot about the handling a grounded ball in the ruck law*. What it will achieve apart from allowing people to kill quick ball is beyond me. And encouraging defending teams to make the ball unplayable is not a good way to go.
* If I've read that rule correctly.
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
I know. It's a total ball killer's charter.
What's interesting for me is that as a Welshman, my team would probably have more to gain than most from the ELVs. We're pretty shit scrummagers, haven't a clue how to maul or how to defend against them, and frequently come off worse at the breakdown. We also have a load of props, such as Rhys Thomas, who are rubbish scrummagers but fantastic in the loose, and could be converted into highly successful ELV-era front row forwards quickly and easily. (The likes of Sheridan or Adam Jones would be the first to go).
It would give us a pronounced advantage over teams like England or the Saffas, at least for the first few years after introduction.
Still don't fucking want them, though
What's interesting for me is that as a Welshman, my team would probably have more to gain than most from the ELVs. We're pretty shit scrummagers, haven't a clue how to maul or how to defend against them, and frequently come off worse at the breakdown. We also have a load of props, such as Rhys Thomas, who are rubbish scrummagers but fantastic in the loose, and could be converted into highly successful ELV-era front row forwards quickly and easily. (The likes of Sheridan or Adam Jones would be the first to go).
It would give us a pronounced advantage over teams like England or the Saffas, at least for the first few years after introduction.
Still don't fucking want them, though
rapattaque
At fighting weight
League is better. Simple.
A: Their are almost twice as many tackles and hits in league as in Union. Averaging over 300 a game against 100-150 a game respectively.
B: The ball spends between 10 and up to 25 minutes longer in play in League matches than in Union.
C: League is a fast paced hard hitting brutal and brilliant game contested by extremely fit and resiliant athletes.
D: Union is contested, in this country, by ruddy faced overweight private school boys, slowly... and is followed by tossers (this is not prejudice this is fact
I know which i prefer!
A: Their are almost twice as many tackles and hits in league as in Union. Averaging over 300 a game against 100-150 a game respectively.
B: The ball spends between 10 and up to 25 minutes longer in play in League matches than in Union.
C: League is a fast paced hard hitting brutal and brilliant game contested by extremely fit and resiliant athletes.
D: Union is contested, in this country, by ruddy faced overweight private school boys, slowly... and is followed by tossers (this is not prejudice this is fact
I know which i prefer!
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
Quite right. That's why it's played by fewer people, watched by fewer people and taken up by fewer people globally than it's shithouse counterpart
If watching slabs of meat repeatedly smack into each other really, really hard is your idea of fun, then you go right ahead. I'd prefer to watch the likes of Shane Williams evading tackles like a slippery salmon than two gurt northern fuckers go head-to-head like male Caribou in rut.
Does this include the time spent humping the turf?
Fixed it for you
D: Union is contested, in this country, by ruddy faced overweight private school boys, slowly... and is followed by tossers (this is not prejudice this is fact
I will pay handsomely for you to come and deliver a keynote speech to my local, working class Welsh rugby club on this very subject. Name your date
Me too
mattie
missing in inaction
I know. It's a total ball killer's charter.
What's interesting for me is that as a Welshman, my team would probably have more to gain than most from the ELVs. We're pretty shit scrummagers, haven't a clue how to maul or how to defend against them, and frequently come off worse at the breakdown. We also have a load of props, such as Rhys Thomas, who are rubbish scrummagers but fantastic in the loose, and could be converted into highly successful ELV-era front row forwards quickly and easily. (The likes of Sheridan or Adam Jones would be the first to go).
It would give us a pronounced advantage over teams like England or the Saffas, at least for the first few years after introduction.
Still don't fucking want them, though
Sheridan's better than you might think in the loose, and Stevens is in awesome form at Bath - his offloading is quality. Still, take your point, Wales' strengths are in open field - amongst the usual suspects Byrne is maturing nicely and Williams has jumped up to truly world-class, a shoe-in for the Lions. The law changes would certainly hurt England quite a bit - but perhaps we might actually give the backs a proper shot once in a while? There's some quality in there, but they only get the ball as a last resort.
mattie
missing in inaction
League is better. Simple.
A: Their are almost twice as many tackles and hits in league as in Union. Averaging over 300 a game against 100-150 a game respectively.
B: The ball spends between 10 and up to 25 minutes longer in play in League matches than in Union.
C: League is a fast paced hard hitting brutal and brilliant game contested by extremely fit and resiliant athletes.
D: Union is contested, in this country, by ruddy faced overweight private school boys, slowly... and is followed by tossers (this is not prejudice this is fact
I know which i prefer!
So you don't think it's a bit one-dimensional? In union it's necessary to work an opening, in league it just seems to be break a tackle and leg it.
rapattaque
At fighting weight
No, i agree it is a simple sport, which is why I like it. Union has it's tactics and strategy and I appreciate that. But I prefer watching League because I prefer watching fast, exhilarating sport, I like watching tackles and tries, not standing around with hands on hips!
League was designed to be more exciting, and is. IMhumbleO.
mattie
missing in inaction
Fair enough. I'd argue about the 'designed to be exciting' bit - running into tackles isn't necessarily exciting - but I'll concede some forward play in union can be a little bit spectator-unfriendly (especially for relative newcomers to the sport).
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
Aye. There is some quality coming through in the England back line. In Strettle and Danny the Tranny you have two nailed on line breakers. In the latter you have somebody who (theoretically, let's not forget) can control a match at the highest level. Still don't think you have many top quality options at 9, mind, (though Ellis can do a job) and you're fairly weak at 12, 13 and 15.
As you say, it's getting the bloody thing to them that's the challenge, as much as them knowing what to do with it once they've got it. What Jonno does now is going to be very interesting. Will he actually try to shift England's focus to a faster offloading game in anticipation of ELV changes, and to maximise new strengths he finds behind the scrum?
rapattaque
At fighting weight
"If watching slabs of meat repeatedly smack into each other really, really hard is your idea of fun, then you go right ahead."
Yes it is.. an I'd rather watch slabs of meat than mounds of fat!
"Does this include the time spent humping the turf?"
As opposed to 10 overweight men rolling around on the floor grabbing each others bollocks for minutes at a time without a (rugby) ball in sight???!
"League is a fast paced hard hitting brutal and brilliant game contested by people like Andy Farrell and Leslie Pepsicola, both of whom have been exposed for the talentless shite they truly are when called upon to play god's own game"
I think you've altered this. I was almost too stupid to notice because I like league and not 'God's own game' (!!!!). Jason Robinson? Leslie Vainikolo?
"I will pay handsomely for you to come and deliver a keynote speech to my local, working class Welsh rugby club on this very subject. Name your date "
Yawn, I'll check my diary.
Yes it is.. an I'd rather watch slabs of meat than mounds of fat!
"Does this include the time spent humping the turf?"
As opposed to 10 overweight men rolling around on the floor grabbing each others bollocks for minutes at a time without a (rugby) ball in sight???!
"League is a fast paced hard hitting brutal and brilliant game contested by people like Andy Farrell and Leslie Pepsicola, both of whom have been exposed for the talentless shite they truly are when called upon to play god's own game"
I think you've altered this. I was almost too stupid to notice because I like league and not 'God's own game' (!!!!). Jason Robinson? Leslie Vainikolo?
"I will pay handsomely for you to come and deliver a keynote speech to my local, working class Welsh rugby club on this very subject. Name your date "
Yawn, I'll check my diary.
bendeus
Bellend Tagline Generator
Leslie Pepsicola?? Fast paced?? Hard hitting? Brutal?? Brilliant??
Can't catch, can't run, can't sidestep, can't do fuck all except for run into people very, very hard and jump for garryowens against wee fellas half his size. Best your code can offer??
Shithouse!
Jason Robinson I'll give you, but he converted in a different era. There don't seem to be that many cross-code success stories these days. Could that be because all the traffic is going towards union, and the league boys - I've just mentioned Farrell and Vainakolo - just can't cut it in a sport which requires more speed of thought and action and more all round athleticism?
Dying sport. Poor dabs
rapattaque
At fighting weight
Leslie "5 trys on his debut in another code" Vainikolo.
