The Rugby Thread

[pharvey]

Well, I'm managing to get on the Internet occasionally, but no chance of watching any streams - bandwidth simply not good enough, and likely the sites are banned anyway (even the VPN sites are banned! ).

Never-the-less, it does at least mean I can keep up with the scores and reports....

Dangerous to write the Springboks off at any time, but the form The Blackness are in at the moment, you can only see one result...... and I suspect with a Bonus Point.

Aus vs The Pumas should be an interesting one though - The Green & Golds will certainly be pumped up after their win last week and looking to follow it up with home advantage. Tha Wannabe Falklanders are not to be underestimated though.



Now for someone to look out for in the coming years (you've got to love the hand-off(s))..... When the time comes, I wonder which'll be the first nation/union to get him on a plane and get him a club for the required "Residency" period..

"A young rugby player in Canberra is captured on camera dominating a junior tournament last weekend, scoring multiple tries and knocking all challengers flying. Eight-year-old Meaalofa Te’o was filmed by Moroni Martin playing for his team the Doveton Steelers from Victoria. The team later won the tournament."

For video see following link: -

[PeteC]

Well, I've got NZ and the Pumas as winners this weekend. The latter I really struggled with but in the end.....blah, blah, blah. I'll probably get it squarely in the end! About 30 minutes here for the New Zealand, South Africa kick off. Pete

[PeteC]

The 2017 Super Rugby fixtures.

http://www.superxv.com/fixtures/

http://www.superxv.com/2017-super-rugby ... -revealed/?+

[PeteC]

A funny thing happened at the office......The NFL is in progress and I've watched pieces of about 6 games now. When a runner goes into the endzone and scores, I find myself tensing up and yelling to myself, "ground the ball..." I think I've gone through some kind of Rugby metamorphosis. Pete

[arcadianagain]

A funny thing happened at the office......The NFL is in progress and I've watched pieces of about 6 games now. When a runner goes into the endzone and scores, I find myself tensing up and yelling to myself, "ground the ball..." I think I've gone through some kind of Rugby metamorphosis. Pete

Your re-education is complete

[PeteC]

A funny thing happened at the office......The NFL is in progress and I've watched pieces of about 6 games now. When a runner goes into the endzone and scores, I find myself tensing up and yelling to myself, "ground the ball..." I think I've gone through some kind of Rugby metamorphosis. Pete

Your re-education is complete

Still a way to go. I'm not comfortable being able to see fouls when they happen, and at the same time the ref does. In truth, rugby is like watching a train wreck at times and very hard to be fast enough to see things.

On the other hand, my ability to see NFL fouls is the best it's been in my life....slower game and more linear to my eye now. Pete

[PeteC]

Are there two deliberate styles of coaching?:

1) Pass, pass, pass and get the ball to the outside as soon as possible and as many times as possible.

2) Ram the ball up the middle over and over again.

Granted I don't watch Aviva matches that often but when I do it seems it's always #2, the entire game. Many times it's a short pass to the next man in line who is already standing in front of 3 huge defenders and gets hammered within a nano second. Almost like the passer thinking..." better you than me mate...".

Whereas, watching NZ, OZ, SAF, the French it's always style #1 at least for the first three mentioned, and 50-50 for the French.

Perhaps many coaches are saddled with too much bulk and not enough speed, but it seems to me there are different schools of coaching. Pete

[PeteC]

2023 World Cup

Italy has withdrawn; "It leaves France, South Africa and Ireland in the running to host the 2023 tournament, with Japan hosting the next World Cup in 2019."

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/sports/ ... into-touch


France and SAF already seem to get a lot of rugby notoriety and tournaments. My vote goes to Ireland. Pete

[pharvey]

France and SAF already seem to get a lot of rugby notoriety and tournaments. My vote goes to Ireland. Pete

Though my gut feeling is it will go to the Jaarpies..... Funnily enough, was working with 4 devout South African rugby supporters in Iran - their (totally unbiased) opinion being the same (i.e. it will go to the homeland)!!

[EDIT] If Ireland do get it, I'm sure the WRU and Beelzibub (or the "Red Rosettes" as some would prefer) will take a share......

Now back in God's Country, looking forward to a weekend stacked full of rugby!! The dog by my side, a case of beer cooling in the fridge and the LHG out shopping for the afternoon with MIL..... absolute heaven!!

As a side (and bizarre) note, the one game of rugby I got to watch in Iran was Hong Kong Premiership Rugby and Naxisis vs Valley (my team whilst in China)!

[PeteC]

A Whole New Ball Game

"Barefoot country boys scrum down on a rugby adventure that has captured the public's imagination".......

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/special ... -ball-game

[pharvey]

A Whole New Ball Game

"Barefoot country boys scrum down on a rugby adventure that has captured the public's imagination".......

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/special ... -ball-game

BIG, BIG HAND to the man!! I'm very biased, love the sport and have been lucky enough to meet guys like this during my travels with work (none rugby related). I make some pathetic attempts at trying to promote rugby, but nothing like these guys - wish I could do a bit more.

That said, Iran has a few extra "Under 11's" and an extra rugby ball (sorry.. it was Welsh!)

[pharvey]

Not too sure what to say over the weekend's rugby.....

The Blackness - A very, very frightening team! No-one on earth to stop them at the moment (aside from "God's Own" - how could "Beelzibub's Squad" compete? Sorry ).... Tee hee!!

"The Crims" IMHO threw all away - Jaarpies taking the game with the boot of Steyn, hell of a player, and the "Go To Guy" IMHO.......

The "Prediction League"... Well, a 4-way tie for first (and Pete still there)..... One Round to go - let's see!!

The other one for me (HUGE RUGBY DAY) was Gloucester vs Bath - Strong supporter of Bath (and a great win), but huge performances for the Welsh players for Gloucester! Ross Moriarty, James Hook and Hibbard (massive performance)...

[PeteC]

I agree about NZ, and I'm afraid watching them is not as exciting as it was, as it seems predictable. They'll get complacent (maybe) down the road and then viewing will improve if they are fighting for a win. Pete

[pharvey]

All to play for in the final round of the Rugby Championship - well in the HHF Prediction League at least!!

Four-way tie at the top with RZR ( ), DubaiDan, Pete and myself on 13.5 pts - followed by Oz on 11.5 pts. Big Boy, Iron Jack, Dai and Hutchy take the remaining four spots.

Next up The Jaarpies play host to The Blackness in Durban (why not in J'burg with the advantage that gives them......), and The Argies playing host to our cousins Down-under.

[pharvey]

Disgraceful scenes at a Rugby League match this weekend : -

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... sage-field

[EDIT] Just remembered that you lads (and lasses) in Hua Hin/Thailand are unlikely to be able to access the wonderful and intellectual paper that is "The Daily Mail".... Therefore: -

"Mass brawl erupts on the pitch as rugby league spectators battle each other after a game that saw one side relegate the other with the last kick of the season
Fans from both sides invaded the pitch after the dramatic ending to Saturday's £1million Game in Hull
While some celebrated, fights broke out across the pitch as fans clashed
Men and women can be seen punching, kicking and exchanging insults
Two men have been arrested after a mass brawl following the Super League's dramatic Million Pound Game between Hull KR and Salford Red Devils.
Supporters from both teams invaded the pitch at full time - some to celebrate the last second Salford victory, but others to fight.
Salford fans can be seen embracing their hero players who clinched victory as they shake hands and commiserate with Hull players.
But the shocking footage taken from one of the stands then shows men punching other men, and women getting involved in the horrific scenes.
One man can be seen kicking one man in the head as he is laid out on the floor.
Others fight in groups knocking each other to the floor.
Another man can be seen carrying a child through the middle of the clash.
Women are seen in the dramatic footage chasing after one man attempting to punch him in the head.
One woman appears to try to jump on a man's back before shouting at him as he walks away.
A shirtless man is seen shouting at a woman in a camel coat as the pair make hand gestures to each other, surrounded by police and crowd control.
The brawl then carried out on the streets nearby."




At least the "Union Hooligans" tend to be players rather than supporters ( )!! ...... Sorry, poor joke and not to make light of the matter

That said, why is there such a difference between Rugby League supporters, Wendyball supporters and Rugby Union supporters........ and yes, before anyone "has a pop" I do accept the trouble makers are in the minority.