RBS Six Nations 2010

As for the field basketball, how else would you term a scoreline like Lions 65, Waikato Chiefs 72? That's just shite rugby.

As neither of those teams are Australian ............ It was diabolical.

I struggle with the anti southern hemisphere propaganda put out by the likes of Stephen Jones. What's the agenda? (that's a question I ask myself, I don't expect anyone but his mum would know)

Well, do you pay attention to Spanky? Do we? He's only a journalist after all.

I don't think there's any doubt that SH rugby is generally of a higher standard than up here at the moment (why that is, that's the question), but equally I simply don't like the push to de-power the forwards that has been on the agenda a lot of the time, simply so the Australian game can compete with League. That's not our problem.

It's not about de-powering the forwards, it's about making sure the game is entertaining for the spectators and enjoyable for the players.

Although in countries where soccer is teh most popular code, and deemed entertainining even though 90 minutes can produce nothing that even looks like a goal, a penalty-kick-fest as played by many NH teams could be classed as the height of a good time.

I'm not saying games need to be pointfests, but given that a penalty kick can take 90 seconds to happen, plus the assoiciated hoo-ha from the referee, if you get a dozen in a game, then you're looking at over 20 minutes where NOTHING HAPPENS. Plus the associated scrum reset issues that plague the game when teams (The Lions as an example from Friday nights match v the Brumbies) seem to have no idea of what to do in a scrum wasting another 20 minutes of the match.

I simply don't like the push to de-power the forwards that has been on the agenda a lot of the time, simply so the Australian game can compete with League. That's not our problem.

The rule allowing the pulling down of the maul was ridiculous. Don't know anyone who though it was a good idea. Pleased that it's gone.

Honest to God I can't think of anything else put forward seriously from here that sought to somehow "depower" forwards.

Zat, there was nothing wrong with the entertainment level, anywhere apart from in Australia, where the game was losing out to League. In fact the game two or three years ago was in rude health - now, after the introduction of the ELVs it's a kickfest, and boring as hell.

The point is that there was an assumption that back play = entertainment. We don't agree up here, we like forward play as well.

The rule allowing the pulling down of the maul was utterly insane, thankfully they've seen sense.

There never was any kind of case for the introduction of the ELVs anyway. The game was growing, the facts were that very few games were ever won by the side scoring the fewest tries (IRBs own figures) and crowds were on the rise.

Some of the changes were unintentional. I have to say I don't remember anyone predicting that the change to prevent kicking to touch from a pass back into the 22 would be so disastrous as its turned out, most thought it was a reasonable idea.

But one of the big ideas that absolutely de-powered the forwards was to change penalties into free kicks at the scrum. Mad idea, utterly, totally idiotic - and thankfully point blank rejected up here.

Mick Sawyer wrote:

As for the field basketball, how else would you term a scoreline like Lions 65, Waikato Chiefs 72? That's just shite rugby.

As neither of those teams are Australian ............ It was diabolical.

I struggle with the anti southern hemisphere propaganda put out by the likes of Stephen Jones. What's the agenda? (that's a question I ask myself, I don't expect anyone but his mum would know)

Stephen Jones is a qunt. I still remember him having to describe the Aust victory of the Lions in 2001 after spending months saying how superior the Lions were. It was probably the worst moment if his life. The qunt.

As for the current state of Rugby - it is mostly unwatchable at the international level. League craps all over it for entertainment (as well as physicality). The Unionistas may well spruik how their sport is a "broad church that caters for all body types" but fark me if I want to spend hours watching short fat men hug and lie on each other or weedy backs big it up because they can pot 50m goals.

Rugby is a fundamentally flawed game for the professional era.

JGK wrote:

Mick Sawyer wrote:

As for the field basketball, how else would you term a scoreline like Lions 65, Waikato Chiefs 72? That's just shite rugby.

As neither of those teams are Australian ............ It was diabolical.

I struggle with the anti southern hemisphere propaganda put out by the likes of Stephen Jones. What's the agenda? (that's a question I ask myself, I don't expect anyone but his mum would know)

Stephen Jones is a qunt. I still remember him having to describe the Aust victory of the Lions in 2001 after spending months saying how superior the Lions were. It was probably the worst moment if his life. The qunt.

As for the current state of Rugby - it is mostly unwatchable at the international level. League craps all over it for entertainment (as well as physicality). The Unionistas may well spruik how their sport is a "broad church that caters for all body types" but fark me if I want to spend hours watching short fat men hug and lie on each other or weedy backs big it up because they can pot 50m goals.

Rugby is a fundamentally flawed game for the professional era.

Indeed. Just as 20/20 is far more entertaining than test cricket.

I can add skill if you like.

Nothing wrong with league. But union is a far superior game to my eyes. Or at least it was until the ELVs promptly ruined it. I actually agree partially with JGK that it's a mess right now. Boring kicking, all because idiots thought it needed changing.

The new rules are pretty shitty as far as I can see . . .has ruined forward play

It never ruined fore play. The new rules just call for tighter restrictions.

piss off smerky you're embarrassing wales with your comments on the great game

I respect the game.

how can you respect something you have no farkin idea about?

I don't judge my own knowledge of rugby and cricket, although with this forum being full of experts, you're always tested about the most succinct details.