Rugby

[RyanLeaf16]

Not a thing is on this Saturday morning and I just sat through an entire match of UCLA vs Navy in the Collegiate Sevens Rugby championship. I know nothing about Rugby, but, I enjoyed watching it. They did explain some of the rules throughout the match, but, I just wanted to know if any other VSNer watches or follows Rugby closely? Seems like a pretty enjoyable sport to watch, but, I would like to be more knowledgeable. Anyone want to explain the game a little more in depth for me?

[citizenerased]

Not really that complicated. Sevens Rugby which you watched is a kind of an Arena Football Equivalent of "proper" 15 man rugby, used as a way to promote the sport by playing 2 or 3 day tournaments in places mostly where Rugby isn't that big (Dubai, LA, Las Vegas, Hong Kong and so on).

Real Rugby is 15 man a side, 8 forwards and 7 backs. The forwards main purpose on attack is to win line outs and scrums (they are the ones involved), do the majority of the work in the rucks (those big piles you see form at the end of every tackle) and provide tight defence near the fringes of play. They also carry the ball, but they usually aim to make hard tough metres up the guts. Backs are the runners and kickers, playing much wider and more loose. Obviously smaller and faster, but possessing all the skills.

A Try (same as a touchdown, except you actually have to control of the ball and touch it on the ground) is worth 5 points. After you score a try, you take a shot at goal for the conversion (2 points), but you must take the kick in line to where the try was scored. If the other team penalises you, you can take a shot at goal from where the infringement occured (this is worth 3 points). You can also score from a drop kick (a kick from the hand that must touch the ground, like that Flutie field goal for the Patriots in 05 or 06) which is also worth 3 points.

I'm rubbish at explaining things, but thats the basics I guess. The easiest way to learn is just to watch. At the moment, probably the second biggest event outside of the Rugby World Cup is occuring, the Lions tour. This is where the best players from the National teams of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland are picked for the British and Ireland Lions, where they then tour one of South Africa (last in 2009, next in 2021), Australia (happening this year) and New Zealand (last in 2005, next in 2017). They only get together every 4 years, and each nation only gets a crack at them every 12 years so it's a big deal. The first test (of a three test series) was played last Saturday and was an absolute cracker, literally coming down to the last play of the game.

[calgaryballer]

It's a game I want to learn more of. I'm still trying to learn the differences between League and Union. Leeds has the Rhinos (who are top division League team) and Carnegie (a second division Union team), but it seems like the Rhinos are far better supported around town

[citizenerased]

General rule of thumb with Rugby and League in England is that the North play League while the rest of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland play/watch Union - obviously Soccer rules the roost everywhere bar Wales.

Outside of the London Broncos, I don't think there has ever been a Super League team south of Warrington while Sale (Manchester) and Newcastle are pretty much the only Union Clubs North of Leciester to do anything of note.

[calgaryballer]

General rule of thumb with Rugby and League in England is that the North play League while the rest of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland play/watch Union - obviously Soccer rules the roost everywhere bar Wales.

Outside of the London Broncos, I don't think there has ever been a Super League team south of Warrington while Sale (Manchester) and Newcastle are pretty much the only Union Clubs North of Leciester to do anything of note.

Makes sense. And I've noticed Newcastle aren't very good at Union either.

Rugby League World Cup is in Manchester (and England) this fall, I've been thinking of getting tickets for a couple games

[wr50l]

I hate the Lions. Take our best players, causing us to lose to damn Samoa, then don't even put them on the bench for the Tests.

Although the first game was excellent viewing in all fairness.

[wr50l]

Citizen, what was up with the All-Blacks? Don't try to tell me that was 3 good results against France. Sloppy execution all around.

[citizenerased]

I hate the Lions. Take our best players, causing us to lose to damn Samoa, then don't even put them on the bench for the Tests.

Although the first game was excellent viewing in all fairness.

Almost as many New Zealanders as Scots in the Lions squad.

And the first tests don't really matter, we are always rusty. We almost drew/lost against Ireland in Christchurch last year. We'll be right by The Rugby Championship as always. We play crap and still plow through early in the year, Australia lost their opening tests the previous two years to Scotland (lol) and Samoa (lol).

[citizenerased]

Also no McCaw, a one handed Carter for the third test only and Hansen blooding a bunch of young guns.

:upset:

[wr50l]

£40 on Australia at -115.

As one commentator put it ...

Basically Gatland has gone with the Welsh boys who he trusts, there are 10 of them in the starting XV. The one thing he can trust them to do is lose to Australia as Wales have lost 8 in a row to the Aussies. The Wallabies know these Welsh players and Gatland's gameplan all too well after last summer when they whitewashed them in a series down under. There is just nothing to be frightened of from an Australian point of view.

[calgaryballer]

£40 down the drain

[citizenerased]

Lolstralia.

[wr50l]

£40 down the drain

Yep fair enough Gatland played a blinder. Despite all the criticism he made so many gambles and they all paid off. Taking Corbisiero on tour despite injury and having him be the best prop on the field for 2 of the 3 games and then dropping the Northern hemisphere's generational centre for the final Test and having the selection pay off is just stuff that tours are made of. Fantastic.

[citizenerased]

Cracker of a semi final last night, especially the second half. Chiefs knocking out the Crusader (lol) and their douchebag coach (Fuck Todd Blackadder).

Masaga try at 5:08 and the Dagg try (especially) at 7:45 worth the watch alone.

[Slateman]

Watching the Rugby 7s tournament in Dubai

Dear lord, we are awful at this. The US can't tackle for shit. Why the fuck aren't we getting some college DB who didn't make it to the NFL and getting him to play this game?