Slammin Sam

[Venod]

spoken like a true fan of RL

I am actually a fan of both games, I played League my older brother played Union, I have two grandsons who play League, one who plays Union and a grandaughter who plays Union, for me as a spectator the scrums in Union can ruin a good game I would much prefer if like League it was just a means of restarting the game, I don't have sufficient knowledge of all the laws but (depending on the Ref) there is a lot penalties conceeded around the Ruck sometimes the commentators are not sure whats going on so some of the rules must be open to interpretation.

I will keep a look out for a Sevens game, do they televise any ?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I am actually a fan of both games, I played League my older brother played Union, I have two grandsons who play League, one who plays Union and a grandaughter who plays Union, for me as a spectator the scrums in Union can ruin a good game I would much prefer if like League it was just a means of restarting the game, I don't have sufficient knowledge of all the laws but (depending on the Ref) there is a lot penalties conceeded around the Ruck sometimes the commentators are not sure whats going on so some of the rules must be open to interpretation.

I will keep a look out for a Sevens game, do they televise any ?

Scrum is just a way to restart the game after one team has made a trivial error in play. So trivial an error that the founding fathers decided, correctly imo, that a contested restart is what is needed and not a handover of possession to their opponents.

Why assume that the commentators know what is going on? Brian Moore is the only pundit who is a qualified referee and he's only qualified to ref my local club's Extra B's. In TV rugby the interpretation will be around materiality. As in "that was a clear offense but did it make a difference?" if yes, penalise, if not play on, which is what folk have come to see/do and manage it e.g. at next line out "seven I saw what you did at that ruck. try it again and if it affects play I'll ping you."

The IRB Sevens are always on TV when they are on.


And the Rio Olympics...

 

[GrumpyGregry]

For televised games with miked up refs, the commentators would do well to STFU when the ref is explaining the call made.

And the TV pepople don't know the refs signals, even though they are in the Law book, so continually put the wrong explanation on the screen.

 

[Wafer]

And I forgot to add, don't take kindly to criticism.

My experience of rugby chat on these forums, which I think is the only place I encounter RL fans, is that RL fans are the ones who go on about how RL is superior to RU, not the other way round. So I literally did fix your statement for you.

 

[david k]

Yeah, after taking the drastic approach of moving to the other side of the world to take on the challenge of playing a different sport with some similar skill sets and the aim of playing for England, he decided to go back to what he knows because he doesn't want to spend another 18 months learning how to be a 6...

He got what he wanted from Union, played for England, got a world cup experience in a bigger sport.

Completely understand Hooper not wanting him back in the changing room, there's at least 1 player there who deserved his spot in the rwc squad more than he did (and also came from RL), who had not just had a half decent game or 2 at centre but been consistently good there over a period of time and already played well for England. More importantly Burgess has shown a lack of willingness to fight for the shirt (Bath or England), which for guys who've been at Bath a long time can't be very nice to hear. He doesn't represent the promise of his arrival, either he completely underestimated what it would take playing prem rugby union, or he got exactly what he was after and is now done with it, either way it doesn't reflect too well on him regardless.

On the flip side, David Denton is a very good signing, already a good international flanker and we'll never know if Burgess would ever have been as good as Denton already is.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/1736450.stm

Mmm, pot calling kettle

 

[david k]

My experience of rugby chat on these forums, which I think is the only place I encounter RL fans, is that RL fans are the ones who go on about how RL is superior to RU, not the other way round. So I literally did fix your statement for you.

By suggesting ru is better, oh the irony

Lots of hatred for league down your way

 

[david k]

Let's be honest, what Sam said was he tried Union, it was rubbish so he's gone back to a better game, let's stop sitting on the fence

 

[Wafer]

Mmm, pot calling kettle

Your point?

By suggesting ru is better, oh the irony

If you think my edited version of that statement says RU is better, you need to learn to read. And yes you're one of the RL fans I referred to.

 

[david k]

Your point?
If you think my edited version of that statement says RU is better, you need to learn to read. And yes you're one of the RL fans I referred to.

Need to learn to read? How old are you, 5? and if you don't see the point of the link or the irony you need to revisit this whole saga

By your own admission your only knowledge of league is through a cycling forum, hardly come with an informed view and therefore your cheap shots will be discarded

 

[david k]

I visit the Sotuh West of England regularly and the hatred for league is amazing. I also visit Wales were they respect it massively, they are always asking me how teams are getting on, why does bath, Somerset, Exeter etc hate so much?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I visit the Sotuh West of England regularly and the hatred for league is amazing. I also visit Wales were they respect it massively, they are always asking me how teams are getting on, why does bath, Somerset, Exeter etc hate so much?

The Rugby fans, ime, in those places also hate Wendyball. Another entirely different sport that shares a common ancestor with Union. So what?

Because I love Union, and like League, does that mean I have to love or like Aussie Rules or American Football too?

 

[Wafer]

Need to learn to read? How old are you, 5? and if you don't see the point of the link or the irony you need to revisit this whole saga

By your own admission your only knowledge of league is through a cycling forum, hardly come with an informed view and therefore your cheap shots will be discarded

But I haven't said, suggested, hinted at or implied that Union is better than League. So either your just ignorantly trying to put words in my mouth, or your the one with the comprehension problems.
I don't really have anything to say about Mike Ford leaving a long term contract not long after signing it, that sounds like a crappy thing to do, feel free to criticize him for it, make fun of him laying into Burgess for doing the same thing if you like, it doesn't alter anything regarding my thoughts on what has happened with Burgess.

You wonder why you see hatred for League while declaring League the better game and your the one calling me ironic?!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

shoots with no principles ply their trade in both codes.

 

[Aperitif]

In summary, everyone has their preference. Mine is for skill, and there is a lot on display for any given rugby league match - with more emphasis on the ball being 'visible' - which appeals. When the ball can be seen doing this in a Union game - whizzing up and back, being offloaded etc - the watchers are well pleased. ("Time in play" stats play a part here...) Removing the static bits - scrum and lineout - would subtract from the 15 a side game. The only thing I would like to see is the clock stopping once the set piece is called, and the clock back on when the ball has departed the scrum or is 'in motion' at the lineout; lineout drives being limited to, say, ten seconds - before everyone has to separate and retire behind the ball.
And yes, I think it is ironic that Mike Ford did a very similar thing to that of Sam Burgess...started in one place and broke his contract after being invited to go for another job. That's the world of work, and how one wants to do one's best, I guess. Just because work happens on a rugby pitch doesn't make the 'loyalty' any stronger.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

In summary, everyone has their preference. Mine is for skill, and there is a lot on display for any given rugby league match - with more emphasis on the ball being 'visible' - which appeals. When the ball can be seen doing this in a Union game - whizzing up and back, being offloaded etc - the watchers are well pleased. ("Time in play" stats play a part here...) Removing the static bits - scrum and lineout - would subtract from the 15 a side game. The only thing I would like to see is the clock stopping once the set piece is called, and the clock back on when the ball has departed the scrum or is 'in motion' at the lineout; lineout drives being limited to, say, ten seconds - before everyone has to separate and retire behind the ball.
And yes, I think it is ironic that Mike Ford did a very similar thing to that of Sam Burgess...started in one place and broke his contract after being invited to go for another job. That's the world of work, and how one wants to do one's best, I guess. Just because work happens on a rugby pitch doesn't make the 'loyalty' any stronger.

It's been tried, in the Laws labs in SA about 10 years ago. It left the players, young fit sports science students, unable to complete 80 mins of play and was abandoned.