Six Nations Rugby 2015

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GrumpyGregry

Here for rides.
It is a hyperthetical question to see if the enjoyment as a spectator was down to the game or the occasion
Well. I've been to many H Cup finals all over Europe. The most boring as a spectator was at Murrayfield between two French clubs. No interest in who won. Went for the 'occassion' and there wasn't one.

The most memorable was Leinster's back from the dead performance in Cardiff in 2011. 22 - 6 and buried, out of it, at HT. 27 unanswered points in second half. I was a neutral fan that time too. Most astounding game of rugby I've ever seen.

Go figure. I think it often depends more on the spectator, and their attachment to a side, than on the game itself. The 6N rivalries, especially, for my generation, Wales vs England, means if they played on the local rec people would care. A lot.
 
I like it all these days - memories of fitness passed (or should that be past?) :smile:
Plenty of talking points, but what about being caressed by this youngster, after 60 minutes or so of nip and tuck? :ohmy:
Uini Atonio of France. 6' 5 and a half" and 24 stones. Probably would need @Piemaster to turn him around!
uini-atonio-lors-de-son-premier-match-en-equipe-de-france_2219709_800x400.jpg
 

david k

Hi
Location
North West
Well. I've been to many H Cup finals all over Europe. The most boring as a spectator was at Murrayfield between two French clubs. No interest in who won. Went for the 'occassion' and there wasn't one.

The most memorable was Leinster's back from the dead performance in Cardiff in 2011. 22 - 6 and buried, out of it, at HT. 27 unanswered points in second half. I was a neutral fan that time too. Most astounding game of rugby I've ever seen.

Go figure. I think it often depends more on the spectator, and their attachment to a side, than on the game itself. The 6N rivalries, especially, for my generation, Wales vs England, means if they played on the local rec people would care. A lot.
I think the answer is it can be both. I like to watch Everton live although I find football boring, were I live rugby league and prefer to watch it on tv as I can see more. I watch nearly every game of league on tv, so I watch a lot of it
The best games I've seen were two semi finals at Widnes in 1989 and 1991 , fantastic, all standing, couldn't mive singing non stop, I think the game was good but I cannot remember

If 80,000 watch England v Wales in rugby league I recon everyone would enjoy it as much as rugby union, therefore I feel these are as much about the occasion as the sport
 

MrGrumpy

Huge Member
Location
Fly Fifer
Don`t think it`s just me but watched the Wales v England on Friday night and could not help but think these guys are doing more than pumping iron in the gym??!!
 

Cubist

Still wavin'
Location
Ovver 'thill
Don`t think it`s just me but watched the Wales v England on Friday night and could not help but think these guys are doing more than pumping iron in the gym??!!
But don't forget that in the developing elite game youngsters are being selected for progression based on body types. Take a prop for example. In the team I coach the props we play now have been props since U11, some earlier. You can tell an endomorph a mile away, especially if you also know their parents, and they are unlikely to end up as wingers. An endomorph doesn't need fancy pills, potions or extra hormones to put weight on, and with the right mix of diet and training you can build a prop from the ground up. My lad is a meso/endo hybrid, taller than yer average prop for his age, in fact he started on the second row as he was head and shoulders above the rest at age twelve, thirteen. Now "only" six foot tall and 17st 8lb or so his hours of work in the gym mean he packs massive amounts of muscle. Loosehead at club level, but a hooker for the District team. County U17 props this year are all 6'2" or so. We know one of the county centres. He's 6'5" and superbly built. He puts in a huge amount of training to remain fit enough to play at that level, and has diet and fitness mentors through his academy.

I'm not saying there isn't the possibility that some are tempted to use steroids, but the players we see progress to representative level all have huge amounts of drive, heart and most importantly, balls. They love the physical aspect of the game, and are conditioned warriors, collision-ready, thriving on contact and aggression. You can't get that through a syringe.
 

MrGrumpy

Huge Member
Location
Fly Fifer
and you you can see why there is now concern about head injuries, guys are effectively running into a brick walls, if the players are getting bigger and bigger.
 
But don't forget that in the developing elite game youngsters are being selected for progression based on body types. Take a prop for example. In the team I coach the props we play now have been props since U11, some earlier. You can tell an endomorph a mile away, especially if you also know their parents, and they are unlikely to end up as wingers. An endomorph doesn't need fancy pills, potions or extra hormones to put weight on, and with the right mix of diet and training you can build a prop from the ground up. My lad is a meso/endo hybrid, taller than yer average prop for his age, in fact he started on the second row as he was head and shoulders above the rest at age twelve, thirteen. Now "only" six foot tall and 17st 8lb or so his hours of work in the gym mean he packs massive amounts of muscle. Loosehead at club level, but a hooker for the District team. County U17 props this year are all 6'2" or so. We know one of the county centres. He's 6'5" and superbly built. He puts in a huge amount of training to remain fit enough to play at that level, and has diet and fitness mentors through his academy.

I'm not saying there isn't the possibility that some are tempted to use steroids, but the players we see progress to representative level all have huge amounts of drive, heart and most importantly, balls. They love the physical aspect of the game, and are conditioned warriors, collision-ready, thriving on contact and aggression. You can't get that through a syringe.

Pinched from another thread
Looking at the UK Anti-Doping webpage there does seem to be some emerging themes in terms of the sports which have people who are banned
http://www.ukad.org.uk/anti-doping-rule-violations/current-violations/search

And I don't mean to imply anything other than there is clearly a problem somewhere. With two boys competing in sports to a reasonable level, I know how hard they've worked to get there and how aware they are of what they need to do. Once you reach a certain standard all that coaching knowledge drops in behind you.
 
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OP
OP
Pro Tour Punditry
Anyway, I shall be popping along to watch the Scotland v Wales U20s on Friday evening, and have managed to convince my younger daughter and 2 of her friends that it would be a good idea to go...although I imagine when the time comes that I'll be there alone due to them finding something more interesting to do.
 
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threebikesmcginty

Corn Fed Hick...
Location
...on the slake
Anyway, I shall be popping along to watch the Scotland v Wales U20s on Friday evening, and have managed to convince my younger daughter and 2 of her friends that it would be a good idea to go...although I imagine when the time comes that I'll be there alone due to them finding something more interesting to do.

I went to a football match with a mate and his kid one time, towards the end of the match she said "have the teams swapped ends?". Mind you, it was Everton v Coventry.
 
OP
OP
Pro Tour Punditry
Anyway, I shall be popping along to watch the Scotland v Wales U20s on Friday evening, and have managed to convince my younger daughter and 2 of her friends that it would be a good idea to go...although I imagine when the time comes that I'll be there alone due to them finding something more interesting to do.

That was an excellent game of rugby, and the girls all managed to last the whole match without any complaining - and said they enjoyed it.

A 36-34 home win :becool:

I'll see if I can get some pics posted later.
 
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