You are right about some of those rediculous laws.
The RWC allows minnow teams to participate in the hope they improve like Japan has. If you are not interested don't watch.
I very much fear this RWC will be decided by refs. That redcard for Curry shows what can happen. Normally a side can win against a top tier side playing 14 men.
Also agree with most of your points, Korn.
But if we go back to the 80s style scrumming now...we'll have broken necks all over the place.
For me, the problem starts at the top. If they get officiating to a place where most people are happy, then that would sort most of the concerns.
I don't mind the bunker system, but what good isbit when guys like Curry get a red like the one last night? It smacks of rules overwriting common sense.
What happens if a stupid decision like that is made in a final?
Probably right on the scrumming as those guys back then weren’t as big and protein gym monsters.
I just want games to be competitive, I want there to be cliff hangers , never knowing if you can get the win. Isn’t more captivating when you watch a close contest.
I remember a while back, think Lomu stil playing, Australia went behind but that Australian team came back to win the game, first time is saw a one on one tackle. Think it was Mortlock hit Lomu on the chest and knocked him backwards of his feet. It changed the game and gave Australia motivation to beat New Zealand. Best game I ever watched and I’m not a fan of either.
It would also mean that the strongest team will be standing tall because player will have to play for 5 weeks straight against top teams.
As I recall it from the safety of the flyhalf berth, the old scrum was not a hit. The two packs engaged without any force and were not allowed to push until the ball came in. The ball had to be put in straight, which meant hooking was a skill….and getting a push on meant you had a chance of winning the ball ‘against the head’, a phrase I haven’t heard for years..
If the opposing pack was obliterated you got the ball not a penalty. Which was the equivalent of a turnover. Teams with a poor scrum still had a chance….in what other sport do you get penalized because your opponent is too good for you.
The modern scrum has evolved into a game in itself….and I agree the resets and time taken are a pain. Why reinvent something that was perfect?
I am very tired if these skew feeds. We want and need a contest at the set pieces. Union is becoming a worse sport for all of these watered down facets. I also saw the Boks throw 7 skew lineouts against Australia last year. It's just a means to put the ball back in play to the Church of the ELV.
Very few sports are what they used to be. Rugby is about the only thing I still watch, and then only barely. I watched some US Open tennis the past week but the constant grandstanding and fist pumping for the crowd after every single point in the men's game in particular just ended up irritating me. In the good old days they just got on with business and left the celebrations for when they'd actually won the match, not just a stupid point. Much like rugby, if you think about it. Back in the eighties they barely celebrated a try, now you win a penalty and the whole team starts hugging and ass slapping one another.
Rugby for me has been diabolical for some time. There was a shift post 2015, and the quality has never been there again. The only difference is that now Bok fans are happy with garbage. I believe that 99% of modern Saffers cannot think like a functional adult.
If anyone gets bored of Rugby...Kendo is waiting for you.
Such a quality sport.
I've been following it for a few years and it always impresses me.
As usual, with anything Japanese, there are levels upon levels to it.
Often times one has to watch it at 0.25 speed to see what happened though.
Haha I hope I'm in the 1%, Deus.
Kendo is indeed a quality and cultured sport. Also, You're definitely not an idiot Plum. I also don't actually know how old your are! I've long assumed myself to be the youngest member.
I'm 43, Deus.
But I've been told I am an immature soul ;)
You?
He's about your age Plum, maybe a few years younger...he's been posting with some of the guys on here from even before I joined the fun in 2008...
Better to accept that the 6Ns is the world cup.
Yup, the world cup is a joke.
So world rugby gave Tom Curry a 2 week suspension for his accidental head contact.
The worst part was that he got a red card in the first place.
Everyone knew it was ruining the game and the outcome of matches.
But they are to stubborn or chicken shit to do something about it.
Wher as you have Owen Farrell that has a history to tackle with the shoulder and he gets off.
World rugby need to get to a place where players accept the risk but also that World rugby shows that they are putting the protocol in place to ensure players get the care when they do suffer head contact.
I believe there should be 3 grades.
Watching that 95 final again. What amazes me the most compared to today was scrum speed. I can understand people moving to league.
it still would be a subjective test, difficult to proof intent..so we would still get bad calls...hopefully less though.
Again, just went through the fixtures for the weekend and there is absolutely no decent games on at all. Looks like all the tier one teams are playing the minnows this weekend.
You didn't enjoy last night's game between France and Uruguay, KC? Perhaps you should look for another sport to watch. Just a thought.
If you play Fantasy Rugby then you'll not only have an interest in every game, you'll be cheering on individual players within that team.
Both Fantasy comps have a limit on the number of players you can pick from each team so you have to spread your selections out over multiple teams and you generally have a keen interest in just about every game. It will also keep you interested in the one-sided games because those are the games where you can really pick up big points if you choose the right player.
The Superbru fantasy game has no budget but is quite tight on transfers.
The Rugbyworldcup.com game has no limit on transfers but has a tight budget.
Both are very competitive and would have kept you interested through all the games if you'd bothered to join.
Yup another weekend of boring rugby. What's the point of teams getting thrashed.
It is clear, the professional teams are putting the smaller teams to the sword. It is painful to watch.
The only worth while game was the Fiji Vs Georgia game. Surprised Aus lost against Fiji.
That said, no real games to look forward until the quarters.
Maybe Scotland Vs Ireland
Then, finally the quarters. But we have the boring Walsh, England and Fiji in the other quarters.
So it will only be games with Fr,NZ, SA and Ir worth watching
The game itself has been regulated into oblivion. Skills have regressed, teams all use the basic structures and have become largely palette swaps. The increase in space between attack and defence has resulted in more and more structures based on layers to create screens to run aimlessly out wide. Individuals with intelligent running skills are not rewarded. Rugby union has become one of the worst sports at its core, and it's officiating is heavily a "I'll scratch your back and you scratch mine". The SARugby becomes a free agent and the rugby landscape changes, and they suddenly become the least penalised team in world rugby. It's a farce. The game is not even a shadow of what it was. The IRB hasn't made any good decisions in over 20 years.
Agree Lemur, the screens is one thing that I'm really against. Create so much obstruction and teams like Ireland get away with it. To much emphasise has been put on speeding up th game. They're turning the game in into rugby league.
But the need to stop playing these minnows. It is not advertisement. It is evident not that the Northern Hemisphere teams have become professional, that teams like Georgia or even Italy with 2 professional teams can't compete.
I see Mark Kohane and Zelim Nel also support a 12 team world cup..
World rugby has done nothing for the other teams. The USA is not even in the comp and they are meant to host the world cup.
It is a real joke.
Not to mention some teams not even playing some weekends. Like Ireland this weekend.
It use to be about testing your squad with mid week games.
Oh well, 2 more weeks before it will he worth watching
Then, finally the quarters. But we have the boring Walsh, England and Fiji in the other quarters.
The whole contest is a farce. Pakie, you can't tell me you enjoyed watching Kiwis vs Italy. Now and then they can put a strong fight but they always lose by two tries and often have 50 points clocked against them.
There is a big jump from the 10th ranked team to those sitting at 11 and 12. I mean Italy and Samoa.
Fiji right now is sitting at 8 and Argentina at 9. Where as Argentina can beat the top tier teams. Fiji beat a really poor Australian team. Argentina has consistently beaten the top tier countries.
World rugby needs to figure out what professionalism is and what amateur rugby is.
There are talks that the Jaguars are going to be playing super rugby again. but it makes no sense just having one team.
Each region needs to developed a robust professional system that has strong grass roots rugby.
If you can contract enough players from age 18 and up and make sure that there is enough coipition and ensuring that quality games are being played, then maybe you'll see more teams compete.
But world rugby is chasing the occasional fan that only rocks up during the World Cup and not looking after the die hard rugby fans. Those who go to cold wet stadiums to support their team. No mater if they are bottom of the table.
Rugby is a sport you love from age group. Those countries need to develop the love of the game at grass roots. Different sport, but look at what happened to the cricket in the West Indies. They were the best team for decades, but basketball showed up and kids starting play more basketball.
When you go to these countries like Argentina, Chile and Romania. How many kids play touch rugby in the streets or parks like we use to do.
I can tell you know why Ireland is succeeding is because they built a great league in Dublin and in summer for people to play tag rugby. Kids at school start playing it and now they have enough fans and players that really love the game. But that took 20 years to develop. They had great summer tag rugby festivals. Really great atmosphere and people of all skill and genders could join in together.
So, that is what world rugby needs to do. Focus on the grass roots.
Those in SA my remember the Bakers mini cricket we use to play at school. Or those orange plastic rugby balls we ran around with. My first rugby ball as a kid was that orange rugby ball.
I would do a dive pass from the ground to my friends at the age of 6. just loved it. No word of kicking a soccer ball around.
Time for a changing of the guard at world rugby head quarters. To many amateur blazer buddies. Living of free tickets and enjoying those corporate boxes that they forgotten how to grow the game
Rugby is growing though.
Just not quickly enough.
Guess what's the second fastest growing sport...
E-Sports.
Rugby is the 7th fastest growing sport.
As someone that played a lot of sport from the age of 7 until my late 30s...even I find it difficult be sure that E-Sports isn't more fun.
The problem is that sport is trapped in reality, video games aren't. Even with a disability, people can compete at the highest level. There are no refs to make bad calls, you don't need a field...or even any friends. Just click 'start match' and there will be someone somewhere ready to play against you.
I think it's going to be more and more difficult for sport to complete.
Personally, I think a balance is vital. Sport offers you things that computer programs can't. Dealing with loss(in public), fear, pressure, physical exertion, people(face-to-face)...being competitive online doesn't provide one these experiences.
But the problem is, how does one convince a kid that he needs to suffer a lot for something and there may not even be any reward at the end?
I do see some something else emerging though. It doesn't help sport in general much but there is a trend that most of the popular gamers with the biggest online streams/channels are also keeping very fit. They're competitive online and apparently gym bunnies the rest of the time.
Playing devil's advocate for a moment, I have to say, I never want sport to die....but one can't complain if kids are doing something mentally challenging , and shown to raise IQ, while also keeping fit and exercising regularly.
The fat ass gamer eating junk food is very rare these days.
One could probably write a thesis on why gaming and fitness culture, two such unlikely partners are, against all odds, seemingly finding each other.
Anyway, it's terrible for tradition, but objectively speak, there are some pros to the way the world is moving.
Just my two cents on a slow Sunday.
Sorry guys, I just don't get this concept of a Rugby World Cup being a "joke" or boring.
It is the RWC, something we wait 4 years for. How on earth can you not be enjoying it???
Come on Bokke!
The world cup has been good for me so far.
Having the best teams play each other early in the tournament is a novelty. (Ire/Boks&Fr/ABS)
The only drawback, is that best 4 teams play each other in the quarters, instead of the semi's.
If the Boks go through in the quarters, I wont be complaining though.
The likes of Scotland etc have improved, which means that the likes of Romania (lower tier 2 at best) would stand less of a chance. I would say that in terms of quality, the Boks have not been a top 5 side for 8 years.
"Sorry guys, I just don't get this concept of a Rugby World Cup being a "joke" or boring.
It is the RWC, something we wait 4 years for. How on earth can you not be enjoying it???
Come on Bokke!"
Ja, what a joke...everyone wanting to go straight to the quarters...a bit daft IMHO.
Rugby Union has regressed Draht.
No it hasn't...rugby is befok, but some just don't get it.
Regarding the lesser teams, I bet if you asked the players they wouldn't miss it for the world.
I remember years ago our soccer team played Brazil and we got done but the players before and after were saying it's the biggest game they would ever play and if the minnows never get to play the top tier games how are they supposed to advance.
Sure it's not fun to watch an oppent get pumped but these games need to be played in my opinion.
It's necessary for the big teams to play the smaller teams every 4 years...I don't get the tears.
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Wow, got all excited about this years World Cup but to be honest with you. I’ve been completely put asleep. No, I mean it, I literally fell asleep in both Fra vs NZ and Eng vs Arg. I barely got through the first half. Neither did I have anything to drink. It has become so predictable. Constantly penalties for dumb technicalities. The are several bug bears I have, especially around inconsistencies.