playing the Eagles shortly. Support the agendas of exposing lower tier Internationals to Tier 1 rugby as a whole but USA lost to Uruguay. It is said it is to promote rugby in the States but methinks it will probably do the opposite effect with a likely 50 plus beating. This is terrible mismatch.
The USA will never embrace rugby. The NFL is just too big. Even baseball is dying from an aging fanbase. Some countries just don't have the culture for certain sports. In America rugby is seen as a sport for lesser athletes, less professional. Hard to argue given how rigorous the NFL is. Most rugby players in SA alone would fail a combine in rugby. The aptitude tests alone would be a massive hurdle.
We need to build a bridge for countries that like rugby. Romania, Georgia et al, ee should be developing them. Rugby has improved a lot in that structures and knowledge at lower levels have improved massively. The big three are no more. I posted an in depth thread about rugby in other territories, I'll have a look for that and possibly bump it.
You know Moolaa the Boks would never win by that margin….we would take our foot off the gas. In a way it’s what makes the ABs a tough opponent but it’s also a bit ruthless.
AB's playing the Eagles is nothing but a good thing especially for the American players.
Sure they know they will get smashed but I bet it will be something they cherish and will only make them better.
I remember when our soccer team got to play Brazil, they were pumped and thought it was the greatest thing to happen to them even though they knew they wouldn't get with a bulls roar of beating them.
If you never give the minnows a look at the big time then you can't expect anything to change can you.
Good point Sader, ie
"I remember when our soccer team got to play Brazil, they were pumped and thought it was the greatest thing to happen to them even though they knew they wouldn't get with a bulls roar of beating them.
If you never give the minnows a look at the big time then you can't expect anything to change can you" .
It’s ruthless all right Moz.Really thought they would keep it under 100 but they went for it in the end.
I can remember NZ playing Argentina in 1997 in Wellington. We were up 93-8 with a few minutes to go and it was when Fitzy was in his prime and the refs gave him respect (most of it undeserved I might add!).
Fitzy said to the ref in about the 78th minute something like “let’s call it a day eh?” And the ref said “ok” and called full time!!
That was to save the Argies the embarrassment of having a ton put on them.
Had a heart of gold did Fitzy……
On the otherhand, it was an overkill and complete mismatch as I believe that it was an Eagles B team (or so I read...don't know if this is entirely true), with a lot of their key players absent overseas...so in this case and context, this is bad planning...just taking it too far.
You don't humiliate people like this and expect a positive result, very clumsy. Sometimes it appears World Rugby has no clue how to promote the game.
The problem isn't the humiliating result, it's the gap between encounters. These teams need consistent exposure to make the experience more productive. Most of the time they don't even have a second test to strike back. Looking at how Georgia man-handled us, they'd have benefitted from a second test.
Certainly want tier 2 sides to play tier 1 one sides, especially Georgia, also amazing talent for such a poor country with little resources. Yes they most definitely would have improved on their first encounter if it was not for this strange flu
They produced one of best forwards of all time, Mamuka Gorgodze not so long ago.
Yes I do believe rugby will get better in USA, never forgot Todd Clever, a top class player that played Super Rugby for Lions and Top League in Japan and also Newcastle Falcons. They just need several like his calibre.
Nice to hear that Dr Win but are'nt you in the diplomatic call
Yes, in a different way there are always better ways of approaching controversies afterall you seem to be the only poster here that handles our friend Beeno in a better way... haha.
