When Rugby Union Used To Be Good...

Oh those were the days ! 

Yes, the slow developing layers with slow thinking, passive running mules who can't pass more than one foot away. Yes, dopey, skilless, and boring, just like you Saffex! 

No team in world rugby today could have pulled off those moves on attack, or imposed such ferocity. 

Anaerobic fitness is clearly better. Skills across the board for every test nation are inferior. The current players are nowhere near as physical. Scrumming, lineouts, rucking... it's all far, far worse. The ELVs gifted more space, which resulted in layers, and more passive running. It's boring. The moves of the All Blacks in this video could never be executed by today's teams. The turnstile defenders of today could never stop it.  

Boring? Right now, according to you, our best players, and the best players in the world, are players with no instincts, no intuitive grasp of basic concepts. Just mindless running into open space, and when there is no space, mindless shuffling of ball into dead-end static phases. We've never had an era of rugby with so little flair, so little intelligence, so little excitement. The physical confrontation is muted. We don't have the bite to contact that we used to have, as though they are all anticipating another mindless reset into frantic chicken running. Rugby is boring. 

Oh you break my dear little heart Saffex. Coming from any other man, that might have been brushed off, but from you? The scars will be carried wearily to the end of my days. Do allow me a moment to absorb the fullness of this lament... 

Well, I didn't take your gender identity into account. Sorry if I came across as transphobic. We're all here for you Saff. 

The science of recovery has taken over. With them playing 3X more rugger its about stretching, plasters, physio, medication, top notch surgeons with latest pins. Also lying on the field to recover properly after a knock, concussion tests. 

I have alsi noticed more higher judo tackling these days too,attempting to rip the ball out.

Now it's more about one's rugby career than playing for country. More houses and jets like Messi.

 Imagine another series with flour bombs, sleeping in cold change rooms with just mud, blood and guts. 

Yes Captain Classens and his Springboks went through difficult times in NZ but stuck to the task of representing the Springboks under very trying circumstances.

But as life goes on times and values plus sport have to adapt or die.

Memories of the past times in sport and highlights of the greats in action will last forever.

Changes are sometimes necessary to improve play and protect players all at a cost of progress I guess.

But sport fans will never change....we want to win.

Money, money and more money is the game now.