The Rugby Union Thread

eSully

Btw, late to the conversation on this but I would love to see the Rugby season moved to spring/summertime. I'm sure there's all types of logistics reasons for why it can't happen but I think it would definitely benefit NH rugby.

lloyd

eSully said:

lloyd said:

tbm said:

lloyd said:

We're going to get destroyed. Regardless of who plays, playing this tour at the end of this season is crazy.

Yeah, I think the summer after RWC should be tour free. Ireland are doing 3 tests in SA. It'll be carnage.

Ouch, could well be worse!

I'd take SA over a tour to NZ at the end of the season anyday. Plus Ireland only have the 3 tests. Don't Wales have a friendly against England lined up before the tour and playing the Chiefs during

Yeah we play England for no fucking reason (money) at all in May. It's ridiculous.

lloyd

eSully said:

Btw, late to the conversation on this but I would love to see the Rugby season moved to spring/summertime. I'm sure there's all types of logistics reasons for why it can't happen but I think it would definitely benefit NH rugby.

The only reasons I've heard for it not happening are tradition (not good enough), that it's described as a "winter sport" (who cares), and the fact that people might want to play cricket too (again not good enough for me).

It needs to happen, not least to get into line for a global season with the SH to avoid these tours at the end of a long season.

I can't see any reason to not do it personally. 

eSully

lloyd said:

eSully said:

Btw, late to the conversation on this but I would love to see the Rugby season moved to spring/summertime. I'm sure there's all types of logistics reasons for why it can't happen but I think it would definitely benefit NH rugby.

The only reasons I've heard for it not happening are tradition (not good enough), that it's described as a "winter sport" (who cares), and the fact that people might want to play cricket too (again not good enough for me).

It needs to happen, not least to get into line for a global season with the SH to avoid these tours at the end of a long season.

I can't see any reason to not do it personally. 

From a lower league point of view don't a lot of teams share grounds with the local Cricket team, I know my old team did. But yea I agree, from the point of view of the professional setups there shouldn't be any particular reason why it couldn't be moved. You could argue the sports channels like BT and Sky could encourage it. It would be in their interests to have Rugby step into the lull that happens when the football season ends. 

lloyd

eSully said:

lloyd said:

eSully said:

Btw, late to the conversation on this but I would love to see the Rugby season moved to spring/summertime. I'm sure there's all types of logistics reasons for why it can't happen but I think it would definitely benefit NH rugby.

The only reasons I've heard for it not happening are tradition (not good enough), that it's described as a "winter sport" (who cares), and the fact that people might want to play cricket too (again not good enough for me).

It needs to happen, not least to get into line for a global season with the SH to avoid these tours at the end of a long season.

I can't see any reason to not do it personally. 

From a lower league point of view don't a lot of teams share grounds with the local Cricket team, I know my old team did. But yea I agree, from the point of view of the professional setups there shouldn't be any particular reason why it couldn't be moved. You could argue the sports channels like BT and Sky could encourage it. It would be in their interests to have Rugby step into the lull that happens when the football season ends. 

I'm not sure how many teams share a pitch with cricket grounds, I don't recall ever playing on a cricket ground to be honest. It could be a problem like you say but one that could be solved I'm sure.

I was never a fan of playing (and training) in the cold and wet, playing on the wing at shitpatch level meant seeing the ball once a half, if you were lucky with even a slight breeze or drop of rain.....

eSully

@lloyd, check out the conditions for the Ponty Vs Merthyr game at the weekend, not a game for wingers  )

lloyd

eSully said:

@lloyd, check out the conditions for the Ponty Vs Merthyr game at the weekend, not a game for wingers  )

6-5 on a muddy pitch...Reminds me of the old days!

crunchman

Personally if it comes down to a choise of cricket or rugby, cricket wins every time.  If they want me to keep watching rugby don't schedule it against cricket.

It's all very well wanting to make the game faster but that won't play at most rugby clubs around the country.  There are a lot of people who enjoy playing the game the way it is currently played.

Just accept that the SH has a different calendar.  It will actually play into our hands it we can produce a half way competent team.  The World Cup is at the end of the season for the SH teams.  They have the same issues with fatigue etc that we do with summer tours.  If the NH can produce a decent team for a World Cup it's in our favour.

eSully

crunchman said:

Personally if it comes down to a choise of cricket or rugby, cricket wins every time.  If they want me to keep watching rugby don't schedule it against cricket.

Would it make that big a difference, considering a rugby match is 80 minutes and cricket matchs go on for days wouldn't you be able to enjoy both?

Btw, I never mentioned the SH calendar. Just expressing my opinion that it would be a move I'd support. I think a game like rugby suits better weather, it would make for more entertaining games for fans. Can't see it happening though.

lloyd

crunchman said:

Personally if it comes down to a choise of cricket or rugby, cricket wins every time.  If they want me to keep watching rugby don't schedule it against cricket.

It's all very well wanting to make the game faster but that won't play at most rugby clubs around the country.  There are a lot of people who enjoy playing the game the way it is currently played.

Just accept that the SH has a different calendar.  It will actually play into our hands it we can produce a half way competent team.  The World Cup is at the end of the season for the SH teams.  They have the same issues with fatigue etc that we do with summer tours.  If the NH can produce a decent team for a World Cup it's in our favour.

I don't get the scheduling issue-there's game clashes across all sports and between sports every weekend.  You can't watch every sports fixture that happens.

The change in the game needs to be made for the top teams to improve, I've played at low standards with teams that were excellent with ball in hand and played fluid running rugby and the opposite.

Lower league changes are unimportant to a certain degree, by the time players are 16/17 and not at pro clubs then they will never (unless some extreme circumstances happen) be pro rugby players, the lower leagues are welcome to play any way they wish. People can continue to play the game as they want to it's just that it will be played in much better conditions, which is conducive to improving all skills not just fancy dan flash shit from the white boot wearing pretty boys.

The SH adjust their calender in WC year. It ends a month or two earlier. So they have the same opportunity for rest and recuperation-as well as playing less games through their season.

eSully

lloyd said:

Lower league changes are unimportant to a certain degree, by the time players are 16/17 and not at pro clubs then they will never (unless some extreme circumstances happen) be pro rugby players, the lower leagues are welcome to play any way they wish. People can continue to play the game as they want to it's just that it will be played in much better conditions, which is conducive to improving all skills not just fancy dan flash shit from the white boot wearing pretty boys.

I think it wouldn't be an issue in the Pro12 but for England and France where there's promotion and relegation then a move would probably need to be pushed down through the leagues.

eSully

Kinda brings it back to Toulon's boudjellal suggestion of having a NH version of European Super Rugby. It's the only way it would work I think. 

lloyd

eSully said:

lloyd said:

Lower league changes are unimportant to a certain degree, by the time players are 16/17 and not at pro clubs then they will never (unless some extreme circumstances happen) be pro rugby players, the lower leagues are welcome to play any way they wish. People can continue to play the game as they want to it's just that it will be played in much better conditions, which is conducive to improving all skills not just fancy dan flash shit from the white boot wearing pretty boys.

I think it wouldn't be an issue in the Pro12 but for England and France where there's promotion and relegation then a move would probably need to be pushed down through the leagues.

I mean in terms that they don't affect the top leagues/internationals or the standards to any great degree, the season change has to change top to bottom though, the benefits come from elite players playing in better conditions throughout their career-age 5 onwards basically. I meant that the lower leagues will continue to play how they want in reply to crunchman's comment about people liking playing the way they do now.

We do need a pan European league tournament in order to improve-players improve playing against good players, the higher standard of each game magnifies it. 

kjdowd

Watson sent off for a dangerous challenge in the air last night, apparently. Maybe something be needs to sort out...

lloyd

He was on the ground, runs into the guy, tries to pull out but it's too late, the guys hits the deck from a great height. Reckless but no intent-right result last night IMO.

Rocker

Very interesting:

http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/35961499

How about it guys?

lloyd

Id like to see it but would be surprised if any of the lower teams won a play off against any of the 6N teams. They are light years behind, Georgia are the exception but I'm not sure how they'd do vs Italy this year. We need to bring the teams up by funding them out of the 6N coffers and sending coaches and expertise out there. Romania, Russia, Spain etc are a generation or two away from being competitive. Think we missed the boat with Canada a few years ago. The US would be a better addition, they could perhaps do something with the increased interest and revenue.

koneguitarist

Marler got a hefty fine and banned for two games, not surprised at ban, but quite a heavy fine, which I wonder if he or his employer will pay? Hopefully that's an end to it.

lloyd

I'm not really concerned about Marler now, it's done, and the punishment is about right if it's 2 weeks, but not sure what the mitigation is? The apology perhaps? He's been stupid and faced the consequences-should have been in that tournament really, he should miss England games rather than club ones but I digress. The real issue is how the 6N dealt with what is in the laws a racist offence on the pitch. I'm glad WR stepped in and said the process followed was unacceptable. I know everyone here thinks it's PC gone mad but what's good for the goose is good for the gander, racism against anyone is either acceptable or it's not. I'm glad WR have put a marker down and I hope this is the last we hear about shit like this.

scrumhalf

Holy crap.

Wasps losing 11-24 to Exter in the European Cup quarter-final with 15 minutes to go. Two tries, the last by Charles Piutau leading to Jimmy Gopperth's injury-time conversion to give us a 25-24 victory.

What a game.