NH International Rugby
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@MiketheSnow said in NH International Rugby:
** Seen Pivac is bleating in the press.**
Bad form.
Submit your report, await the findings, then air you grievances in public.
What should be more worrying is we were unable to run a practiced move off first phase ball all match.
That is all coaching , not refereeing
He's certainly going off on one regarding the Biggar being taken out in the air thing Mike, what was your take on it? There was definitely contact before he landed but to me it looked as though he had unintentionally jumped into the England player. A penalty would have been harsh IMO. Overall I feel Poite had a pretty good game.
@Catogrande said in NH International Rugby:
@MiketheSnow said in NH International Rugby:
** Seen Pivac is bleating in the press.**
Bad form.
Submit your report, await the findings, then air you grievances in public.
What should be more worrying is we were unable to run a practiced move off first phase ball all match.
That is all coaching , not refereeing
He's certainly going off on one regarding the Biggar being taken out in the air thing Mike, what was your take on it? There was definitely contact before he landed but to me it looked as though he had unintentionally jumped into the England player. A penalty would have been harsh IMO. Overall I feel Poite had a pretty good game.
Trying to see a slow-mo of it.
Poite was all over the place with scrums otherwise a good match.
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France trounce Italy with great try from Italy and impressive power, pace and guile from France.
England v France should be a cracker.
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@MiketheSnow said in NH International Rugby:
** Seen Pivac is bleating in the press.**
Bad form.
Submit your report, await the findings, then air you grievances in public.
What should be more worrying is we were unable to run a practiced move off first phase ball all match.
That is all coaching , not refereeing
He's certainly going off on one regarding the Biggar being taken out in the air thing Mike, what was your take on it? There was definitely contact before he landed but to me it looked as though he had unintentionally jumped into the England player. A penalty would have been harsh IMO. Overall I feel Poite had a pretty good game.
@Catogrande said in NH International Rugby:
@MiketheSnow said in NH International Rugby:
** Seen Pivac is bleating in the press.**
Bad form.
Submit your report, await the findings, then air you grievances in public.
What should be more worrying is we were unable to run a practiced move off first phase ball all match.
That is all coaching , not refereeing
He's certainly going off on one regarding the Biggar being taken out in the air thing Mike, what was your take on it? There was definitely contact before he landed but to me it looked as though he had unintentionally jumped into the England player. A penalty would have been harsh IMO. Overall I feel Poite had a pretty good game.
Agreed. Poite is pretty OK generally but I find him a bit inconsistent - can be brilliant one game and utter crap in others.
My reading was that Pivac was concerned that Poite refused to speak with AWJ about the incident, which if true is a very fair complaint. But as Mike sez, absolutely wrong to complain about it in public.
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Would like to see this from a different angle
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@sparky said in NH International Rugby:
New Welsh 7, James Botham, is Lord Botham's grandson.
I can't get over "Lord Botham". Sounds (and probably looks now) like a character from Blackadder.
@nostrildamus said in NH International Rugby:
@sparky said in NH International Rugby:
New Welsh 7, James Botham, is Lord Botham's grandson.
I can't get over "Lord Botham". Sounds (and probably looks now) like a character from Blackadder.
His only parliamentary contribution so far has been to ask for cash for grassroots Cricket. Hope he continues to use his role in the House of Lords to remind law-makers what a huge role sport plays in the lives of so many UK residents.
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@Catogrande said in NH International Rugby:
@MiketheSnow said in NH International Rugby:
** Seen Pivac is bleating in the press.**
Bad form.
Submit your report, await the findings, then air you grievances in public.
What should be more worrying is we were unable to run a practiced move off first phase ball all match.
That is all coaching , not refereeing
He's certainly going off on one regarding the Biggar being taken out in the air thing Mike, what was your take on it? There was definitely contact before he landed but to me it looked as though he had unintentionally jumped into the England player. A penalty would have been harsh IMO. Overall I feel Poite had a pretty good game.
Trying to see a slow-mo of it.
Poite was all over the place with scrums otherwise a good match.
@MiketheSnow said in NH International Rugby:
@Catogrande said in NH International Rugby:
@MiketheSnow said in NH International Rugby:
** Seen Pivac is bleating in the press.**
Bad form.
Submit your report, await the findings, then air you grievances in public.
What should be more worrying is we were unable to run a practiced move off first phase ball all match.
That is all coaching , not refereeing
He's certainly going off on one regarding the Biggar being taken out in the air thing Mike, what was your take on it? There was definitely contact before he landed but to me it looked as though he had unintentionally jumped into the England player. A penalty would have been harsh IMO. Overall I feel Poite had a pretty good game.
Trying to see a slow-mo of it.
Poite was all over the place with scrums otherwise a good match.
Mako drops scrum but Lee still standing -- and Wales penalised. He didn't know what was going on.
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@MiketheSnow said in NH International Rugby:
Would like to see this from a different angle
On forst look I could see anything but if you pause that and go frame by frame it is definitely a case of 'please explain'.
Genge doesn't appear to be off balance or falling, no one looks to be pushing him from behind but he certainly moves forward and makes head to head contact while they are on their knees. -
Geez, it will seriously devalue the tournament if one of the finalists can't even field a 1st XV. Bloody clubs!
Legal threat: France set to field 2nd XV for England Autumn Nations Cup Final
Following a threat of legal action by France's Top 14 clubs, unhappy at the lack of consultation over the revised calendar created in response to the coronavirus pandemic and fearful of the risk of injuries to key men, it was agreed that their France stars could make only three appearances during the six Tests that now constitute Les Bleus' end-of-year schedule. France started the international window with a warm-up win over Wales, a week before the Covid-interrupted Six Nations resumed. Of the matchday 23 that day, only fly-half Matthieu Jalibert, an unused replacement, survives among the 31-man squad for the December 6 game at Twickenham. -
Great to see that Fiji still gets to play a test after all their COVID problems.
Flying Fijians to play Georgia (Sun 6 Dec 2020 - 1.00am NZT - Sky Sport 1)
1 Peni Ravai
2 Samuel Matavesi
3 Mesake Doge
4 Tevita Ratuva
5 Temo Mayanavanu
6 Johnny Dyer
7 Mesulame Kunavula
8 Albert Tuisue
9 Frank Lomani
10 Ben Volavola
11 Nemani Nadolo
12 Levani Botia
13 Semi Radradra
14 Josua Tuisova
15 Kini MurimurivaluReserves
16 Tevita Ikanivere
17 Haereiti Hetet
18 Samuela Tawake
19 Chris Minimbi
20 Manueli Ratuniyarawa
21 Simione Kuruvoli
22 Seru Vularika
23 Waisea Nayacalevuhttps://www.fijirugby.com/latest-news/cotter-names-flying-fijians-team-for-georgia-match/
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@Machpants Yep, normally they should beat Georgia easily, but now, I'm not so sure.
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@sparky said in NH International Rugby:
All over. Wales were brave. England were powerful and street smart. Wales 13 England 24.
You forgot the most important part.
The most uninspiring test match of the last few years. And there have been some shockers.
Dull, dull dull.
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@sparky said in NH International Rugby:
All over. Wales were brave. England were powerful and street smart. Wales 13 England 24.
You forgot the most important part.
The most uninspiring test match of the last few years. And there have been some shockers.
Dull, dull dull.
@MajorRage said in NH International Rugby:
@sparky said in NH International Rugby:
All over. Wales were brave. England were powerful and street smart. Wales 13 England 24.
You forgot the most important part.
The most uninspiring test match of the last few years. And there have been some shockers.
Dull, dull dull.
Yes, apart from England's defence and some flashes from France this competition has been the very definition of dull. I've really not been enthused about anything. I will watch the final but probably won't bother with any of the other matches.
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@MajorRage said in NH International Rugby:
@sparky said in NH International Rugby:
All over. Wales were brave. England were powerful and street smart. Wales 13 England 24.
You forgot the most important part.
The most uninspiring test match of the last few years. And there have been some shockers.
Dull, dull dull.
Yes, apart from England's defence and some flashes from France this competition has been the very definition of dull. I've really not been enthused about anything. I will watch the final but probably won't bother with any of the other matches.
@Catogrande said in NH International Rugby:
@MajorRage said in NH International Rugby:
@sparky said in NH International Rugby:
All over. Wales were brave. England were powerful and street smart. Wales 13 England 24.
You forgot the most important part.
The most uninspiring test match of the last few years. And there have been some shockers.
Dull, dull dull.
Yes, apart from England's defence and some flashes from France this competition has been the very definition of dull. I've really not been enthused about anything. I will watch the final but probably won't bother with any of the other matches.
Do you think that without the large crowds, the singing, the atmosphere that a lot of what makes the 6N - tension, drama, struggle, tribalism - is completely lost?
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@Catogrande said in NH International Rugby:
@MajorRage said in NH International Rugby:
@sparky said in NH International Rugby:
All over. Wales were brave. England were powerful and street smart. Wales 13 England 24.
You forgot the most important part.
The most uninspiring test match of the last few years. And there have been some shockers.
Dull, dull dull.
Yes, apart from England's defence and some flashes from France this competition has been the very definition of dull. I've really not been enthused about anything. I will watch the final but probably won't bother with any of the other matches.
Do you think that without the large crowds, the singing, the atmosphere that a lot of what makes the 6N - tension, drama, struggle, tribalism - is completely lost?
@junior said in NH International Rugby:
@Catogrande said in NH International Rugby:
@MajorRage said in NH International Rugby:
@sparky said in NH International Rugby:
All over. Wales were brave. England were powerful and street smart. Wales 13 England 24.
You forgot the most important part.
The most uninspiring test match of the last few years. And there have been some shockers.
Dull, dull dull.
Yes, apart from England's defence and some flashes from France this competition has been the very definition of dull. I've really not been enthused about anything. I will watch the final but probably won't bother with any of the other matches.
Do you think that without the large crowds, the singing, the atmosphere that a lot of what makes the 6N - tension, drama, struggle, tribalism - is completely lost?
It certainly doesn't help but in all truth, most of the rugby has been pretty turgid. England put 6 tries on Georgia for instance and I'm struggling to remember any of them. Some of the French play was pretty good and May's long range try v Ireland was also good. Apart from that, England's defence has been bloody impressive but not much of a spectacle. A bit more atmosphere would have made for a bit more tension but I'm not sure it would have improved the product overly.
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@Catogrande said in NH International Rugby:
@MajorRage said in NH International Rugby:
@sparky said in NH International Rugby:
All over. Wales were brave. England were powerful and street smart. Wales 13 England 24.
You forgot the most important part.
The most uninspiring test match of the last few years. And there have been some shockers.
Dull, dull dull.
Yes, apart from England's defence and some flashes from France this competition has been the very definition of dull. I've really not been enthused about anything. I will watch the final but probably won't bother with any of the other matches.
Do you think that without the large crowds, the singing, the atmosphere that a lot of what makes the 6N - tension, drama, struggle, tribalism - is completely lost?
@junior said in NH International Rugby:
@Catogrande said in NH International Rugby:
@MajorRage said in NH International Rugby:
@sparky said in NH International Rugby:
All over. Wales were brave. England were powerful and street smart. Wales 13 England 24.
You forgot the most important part.
The most uninspiring test match of the last few years. And there have been some shockers.
Dull, dull dull.
Yes, apart from England's defence and some flashes from France this competition has been the very definition of dull. I've really not been enthused about anything. I will watch the final but probably won't bother with any of the other matches.
Do you think that without the large crowds, the singing, the atmosphere that a lot of what makes the 6N - tension, drama, struggle, tribalism - is completely lost?
To echo what @Catogrande said, the press have picked up on how dull it has been as well. Not just Internations but also some of the club games.
Some reasonable articles on how to make the games more exciting and loads of praise for Nigel Owens reversing possession when teams use "caterpillar" rucks to slow things down.
Example from James Corrigan in the Daily Telegraph. The last para is telling.
"To think, some punters might have paid £100 a ticket to watch one of these Autumns Nations Cup matches. Jonny May’s heroics on Saturday were worthy of an entrance fee, but the rest of it? Mega dull.
It comes to something when Wales’s excruciating victory over Georgia was not the low point of the weekend. That came at Murrayfield on Sunday, when France beat Scotland in a kicking battle that booted any idea of a spectacle deep into touch.
Apart from the rolling maul, is there anything more tedious than a box kick? Ping pong unmerrily along.
And when teams used to encroach into their opposition’s half was not the intent to attack rather than merely to pen in their rivals and force the penalty? The defence coaches have a crushing grip on proceedings and, criminally, they are being assisted by the laws.
That is why we should cherish the May moments, because the way the modern robotic game is heading, individualism will soon be lost, sacrificed according to that great textbook of conformity. Face it, the overwhelming majority of England v Ireland was turgid. The home back row did not allow the visitors to play, while the home side, itself, had no intent to play. The Red Rose marches on triumphant; the entertainers are all but redundant. May’s miracle was not in the gameplan. They would have won anyway.
Granted, the rugby Championship has enjoyed some exciting passages, with that wonderful underdog tale of Argentina overcoming the mighty All Blacks the other week. But if you were unlucky enough to watch Saturday’s draw between the Pumas and the Wallabies, you will testify that the fall to earth was as defunctive as it was rapid. Blame the weather, they told us. Except that does not always wash.
Remember when an international match used to be a treat on the calendar. Now there are so many, you approach them saying: “Jeez, not another one.” The fanless atmosphere is exactly what these borefests currently deserve.
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@junior said in NH International Rugby:
@Catogrande said in NH International Rugby:
@MajorRage said in NH International Rugby:
@sparky said in NH International Rugby:
All over. Wales were brave. England were powerful and street smart. Wales 13 England 24.
You forgot the most important part.
The most uninspiring test match of the last few years. And there have been some shockers.
Dull, dull dull.
Yes, apart from England's defence and some flashes from France this competition has been the very definition of dull. I've really not been enthused about anything. I will watch the final but probably won't bother with any of the other matches.
Do you think that without the large crowds, the singing, the atmosphere that a lot of what makes the 6N - tension, drama, struggle, tribalism - is completely lost?
To echo what @Catogrande said, the press have picked up on how dull it has been as well. Not just Internations but also some of the club games.
Some reasonable articles on how to make the games more exciting and loads of praise for Nigel Owens reversing possession when teams use "caterpillar" rucks to slow things down.
Example from James Corrigan in the Daily Telegraph. The last para is telling.
"To think, some punters might have paid £100 a ticket to watch one of these Autumns Nations Cup matches. Jonny May’s heroics on Saturday were worthy of an entrance fee, but the rest of it? Mega dull.
It comes to something when Wales’s excruciating victory over Georgia was not the low point of the weekend. That came at Murrayfield on Sunday, when France beat Scotland in a kicking battle that booted any idea of a spectacle deep into touch.
Apart from the rolling maul, is there anything more tedious than a box kick? Ping pong unmerrily along.
And when teams used to encroach into their opposition’s half was not the intent to attack rather than merely to pen in their rivals and force the penalty? The defence coaches have a crushing grip on proceedings and, criminally, they are being assisted by the laws.
That is why we should cherish the May moments, because the way the modern robotic game is heading, individualism will soon be lost, sacrificed according to that great textbook of conformity. Face it, the overwhelming majority of England v Ireland was turgid. The home back row did not allow the visitors to play, while the home side, itself, had no intent to play. The Red Rose marches on triumphant; the entertainers are all but redundant. May’s miracle was not in the gameplan. They would have won anyway.
Granted, the rugby Championship has enjoyed some exciting passages, with that wonderful underdog tale of Argentina overcoming the mighty All Blacks the other week. But if you were unlucky enough to watch Saturday’s draw between the Pumas and the Wallabies, you will testify that the fall to earth was as defunctive as it was rapid. Blame the weather, they told us. Except that does not always wash.
Remember when an international match used to be a treat on the calendar. Now there are so many, you approach them saying: “Jeez, not another one.” The fanless atmosphere is exactly what these borefests currently deserve.
@Victor-Meldrew In an extremely rare moment for the British rugby press, Corrigan is absolutely spot on with everything he's written there.
I think the players are too big/strong.
All Blacks channel had the last 10 minutes of the 2010 Boks match in Jo'Burg where the AB's scored two tries to take the game. The rugby was simply much much better to watch.
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@junior said in NH International Rugby:
@Catogrande said in NH International Rugby:
@MajorRage said in NH International Rugby:
@sparky said in NH International Rugby:
All over. Wales were brave. England were powerful and street smart. Wales 13 England 24.
You forgot the most important part.
The most uninspiring test match of the last few years. And there have been some shockers.
Dull, dull dull.
Yes, apart from England's defence and some flashes from France this competition has been the very definition of dull. I've really not been enthused about anything. I will watch the final but probably won't bother with any of the other matches.
Do you think that without the large crowds, the singing, the atmosphere that a lot of what makes the 6N - tension, drama, struggle, tribalism - is completely lost?
To echo what @Catogrande said, the press have picked up on how dull it has been as well. Not just Internations but also some of the club games.
Some reasonable articles on how to make the games more exciting and loads of praise for Nigel Owens reversing possession when teams use "caterpillar" rucks to slow things down.
Example from James Corrigan in the Daily Telegraph. The last para is telling.
"To think, some punters might have paid £100 a ticket to watch one of these Autumns Nations Cup matches. Jonny May’s heroics on Saturday were worthy of an entrance fee, but the rest of it? Mega dull.
It comes to something when Wales’s excruciating victory over Georgia was not the low point of the weekend. That came at Murrayfield on Sunday, when France beat Scotland in a kicking battle that booted any idea of a spectacle deep into touch.
Apart from the rolling maul, is there anything more tedious than a box kick? Ping pong unmerrily along.
And when teams used to encroach into their opposition’s half was not the intent to attack rather than merely to pen in their rivals and force the penalty? The defence coaches have a crushing grip on proceedings and, criminally, they are being assisted by the laws.
That is why we should cherish the May moments, because the way the modern robotic game is heading, individualism will soon be lost, sacrificed according to that great textbook of conformity. Face it, the overwhelming majority of England v Ireland was turgid. The home back row did not allow the visitors to play, while the home side, itself, had no intent to play. The Red Rose marches on triumphant; the entertainers are all but redundant. May’s miracle was not in the gameplan. They would have won anyway.
Granted, the rugby Championship has enjoyed some exciting passages, with that wonderful underdog tale of Argentina overcoming the mighty All Blacks the other week. But if you were unlucky enough to watch Saturday’s draw between the Pumas and the Wallabies, you will testify that the fall to earth was as defunctive as it was rapid. Blame the weather, they told us. Except that does not always wash.
Remember when an international match used to be a treat on the calendar. Now there are so many, you approach them saying: “Jeez, not another one.” The fanless atmosphere is exactly what these borefests currently deserve.
@Victor-Meldrew said in NH International Rugby:
@junior said in NH International Rugby:
@Catogrande said in NH International Rugby:
@MajorRage said in NH International Rugby:
@sparky said in NH International Rugby:
All over. Wales were brave. England were powerful and street smart. Wales 13 England 24.
You forgot the most important part.
The most uninspiring test match of the last few years. And there have been some shockers.
Dull, dull dull.
Yes, apart from England's defence and some flashes from France this competition has been the very definition of dull. I've really not been enthused about anything. I will watch the final but probably won't bother with any of the other matches.
Do you think that without the large crowds, the singing, the atmosphere that a lot of what makes the 6N - tension, drama, struggle, tribalism - is completely lost?
To echo what @Catogrande said, the press have picked up on how dull it has been as well. Not just Internations but also some of the club games.
Some reasonable articles on how to make the games more exciting and loads of praise for Nigel Owens reversing possession when teams use "caterpillar" rucks to slow things down.
Example from James Corrigan in the Daily Telegraph. The last para is telling.
"To think, some punters might have paid £100 a ticket to watch one of these Autumns Nations Cup matches. Jonny May’s heroics on Saturday were worthy of an entrance fee, but the rest of it? Mega dull.
It comes to something when Wales’s excruciating victory over Georgia was not the low point of the weekend. That came at Murrayfield on Sunday, when France beat Scotland in a kicking battle that booted any idea of a spectacle deep into touch.
Apart from the rolling maul, is there anything more tedious than a box kick? Ping pong unmerrily along.
And when teams used to encroach into their opposition’s half was not the intent to attack rather than merely to pen in their rivals and force the penalty? The defence coaches have a crushing grip on proceedings and, criminally, they are being assisted by the laws.
That is why we should cherish the May moments, because the way the modern robotic game is heading, individualism will soon be lost, sacrificed according to that great textbook of conformity. Face it, the overwhelming majority of England v Ireland was turgid. The home back row did not allow the visitors to play, while the home side, itself, had no intent to play. The Red Rose marches on triumphant; the entertainers are all but redundant. May’s miracle was not in the gameplan. They would have won anyway.
Granted, the rugby Championship has enjoyed some exciting passages, with that wonderful underdog tale of Argentina overcoming the mighty All Blacks the other week. But if you were unlucky enough to watch Saturday’s draw between the Pumas and the Wallabies, you will testify that the fall to earth was as defunctive as it was rapid. Blame the weather, they told us. Except that does not always wash.
Remember when an international match used to be a treat on the calendar. Now there are so many, you approach them saying: “Jeez, not another one.” The fanless atmosphere is exactly what these borefests currently deserve.
I don't doubt the rugby has been turgid. My point is this: has the rugby always been turgid, but appeared better quality due to the presence of crowds making it otherwise compelling viewing?
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@Victor-Meldrew said in NH International Rugby:
@junior said in NH International Rugby:
@Catogrande said in NH International Rugby:
@MajorRage said in NH International Rugby:
@sparky said in NH International Rugby:
All over. Wales were brave. England were powerful and street smart. Wales 13 England 24.
You forgot the most important part.
The most uninspiring test match of the last few years. And there have been some shockers.
Dull, dull dull.
Yes, apart from England's defence and some flashes from France this competition has been the very definition of dull. I've really not been enthused about anything. I will watch the final but probably won't bother with any of the other matches.
Do you think that without the large crowds, the singing, the atmosphere that a lot of what makes the 6N - tension, drama, struggle, tribalism - is completely lost?
To echo what @Catogrande said, the press have picked up on how dull it has been as well. Not just Internations but also some of the club games.
Some reasonable articles on how to make the games more exciting and loads of praise for Nigel Owens reversing possession when teams use "caterpillar" rucks to slow things down.
Example from James Corrigan in the Daily Telegraph. The last para is telling.
"To think, some punters might have paid £100 a ticket to watch one of these Autumns Nations Cup matches. Jonny May’s heroics on Saturday were worthy of an entrance fee, but the rest of it? Mega dull.
It comes to something when Wales’s excruciating victory over Georgia was not the low point of the weekend. That came at Murrayfield on Sunday, when France beat Scotland in a kicking battle that booted any idea of a spectacle deep into touch.
Apart from the rolling maul, is there anything more tedious than a box kick? Ping pong unmerrily along.
And when teams used to encroach into their opposition’s half was not the intent to attack rather than merely to pen in their rivals and force the penalty? The defence coaches have a crushing grip on proceedings and, criminally, they are being assisted by the laws.
That is why we should cherish the May moments, because the way the modern robotic game is heading, individualism will soon be lost, sacrificed according to that great textbook of conformity. Face it, the overwhelming majority of England v Ireland was turgid. The home back row did not allow the visitors to play, while the home side, itself, had no intent to play. The Red Rose marches on triumphant; the entertainers are all but redundant. May’s miracle was not in the gameplan. They would have won anyway.
Granted, the rugby Championship has enjoyed some exciting passages, with that wonderful underdog tale of Argentina overcoming the mighty All Blacks the other week. But if you were unlucky enough to watch Saturday’s draw between the Pumas and the Wallabies, you will testify that the fall to earth was as defunctive as it was rapid. Blame the weather, they told us. Except that does not always wash.
Remember when an international match used to be a treat on the calendar. Now there are so many, you approach them saying: “Jeez, not another one.” The fanless atmosphere is exactly what these borefests currently deserve.
I don't doubt the rugby has been turgid. My point is this: has the rugby always been turgid, but appeared better quality due to the presence of crowds making it otherwise compelling viewing?
@junior said in NH International Rugby:
@Victor-Meldrew said in NH International Rugby:
@junior said in NH International Rugby:
@Catogrande said in NH International Rugby:
@MajorRage said in NH International Rugby:
@sparky said in NH International Rugby:
All over. Wales were brave. England were powerful and street smart. Wales 13 England 24.
You forgot the most important part.
The most uninspiring test match of the last few years. And there have been some shockers.
Dull, dull dull.
Yes, apart from England's defence and some flashes from France this competition has been the very definition of dull. I've really not been enthused about anything. I will watch the final but probably won't bother with any of the other matches.
Do you think that without the large crowds, the singing, the atmosphere that a lot of what makes the 6N - tension, drama, struggle, tribalism - is completely lost?
To echo what @Catogrande said, the press have picked up on how dull it has been as well. Not just Internations but also some of the club games.
Some reasonable articles on how to make the games more exciting and loads of praise for Nigel Owens reversing possession when teams use "caterpillar" rucks to slow things down.
Example from James Corrigan in the Daily Telegraph. The last para is telling.
"To think, some punters might have paid £100 a ticket to watch one of these Autumns Nations Cup matches. Jonny May’s heroics on Saturday were worthy of an entrance fee, but the rest of it? Mega dull.
It comes to something when Wales’s excruciating victory over Georgia was not the low point of the weekend. That came at Murrayfield on Sunday, when France beat Scotland in a kicking battle that booted any idea of a spectacle deep into touch.
Apart from the rolling maul, is there anything more tedious than a box kick? Ping pong unmerrily along.
And when teams used to encroach into their opposition’s half was not the intent to attack rather than merely to pen in their rivals and force the penalty? The defence coaches have a crushing grip on proceedings and, criminally, they are being assisted by the laws.
That is why we should cherish the May moments, because the way the modern robotic game is heading, individualism will soon be lost, sacrificed according to that great textbook of conformity. Face it, the overwhelming majority of England v Ireland was turgid. The home back row did not allow the visitors to play, while the home side, itself, had no intent to play. The Red Rose marches on triumphant; the entertainers are all but redundant. May’s miracle was not in the gameplan. They would have won anyway.
Granted, the rugby Championship has enjoyed some exciting passages, with that wonderful underdog tale of Argentina overcoming the mighty All Blacks the other week. But if you were unlucky enough to watch Saturday’s draw between the Pumas and the Wallabies, you will testify that the fall to earth was as defunctive as it was rapid. Blame the weather, they told us. Except that does not always wash.
Remember when an international match used to be a treat on the calendar. Now there are so many, you approach them saying: “Jeez, not another one.” The fanless atmosphere is exactly what these borefests currently deserve.
I don't doubt the rugby has been turgid. My point is this: has the rugby always been turgid, but appeared better quality due to the presence of crowds making it otherwise compelling viewing?
The entertainment of Turgid rugby is all about the intensity. Crowds are a very big part of that intensity.
