Rugby union premiership : Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:16 pm  

It's been along time since I watched a club rugby game of union. I watched the rugby on itv4 last night and was surprised at how fast and skillfull the backs were, and how the forwards have changed over the years into strong running forwards. Of course there were still the perplexing penalties and some boring trundling "phases" but you know.......

I think superleague needs to pull up it's socks as the only thing we had over union, a skillfull vibrant domestic league, is being eroded away and quickly.

God I feel dirty now.... Brrrrrrrr

Re: Rugby union premiership : Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:18 pm  

Heretic! burn him!

Re: Rugby union premiership : Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:23 pm  

I know I know but the thing is. I think I'm right this time. It was enjoyable! WTF have I just said

Re: Rugby union premiership : Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:27 pm  

Union is without doubt 'better' than league now in this country. In Australia it's probably about equal, but the GP over here makes Super League look like the amateur competition it is.

Union is without doubt the future.

Re: Rugby union premiership : Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:33 pm  

Arghhhhhhh I feel like a spy in the camp starting a coup

Re: Rugby union premiership : Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:35 pm  

TheJudge wrote:

Arghhhhhhh I feel like a spy in the camp starting a coup

One good game doesn't make an enjoyable sport.

Re: Rugby union premiership : Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:36 pm  

TheJudge wrote:

Arghhhhhhh I feel like a spy in the camp starting a coup

We should get Sale to move into the new ground and call them 'Sale Saints' and watch them instead of the boring one phase rugby we're being conned with on a weekly basis.

Re: Rugby union premiership : Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:37 pm  

To be honest I have also watched the heineken cup and even the Irish, and le frogs are throwing it around.

Re: Rugby union premiership : Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:53 pm  

The Gloucester v Bath game was described as one of the best games in years, and it did look very good on the highlights shown.

Both sides were prepared to give the ball some air.
It however reminded me a bit of late 1980's RL in that there was structure to it, but it lacked the defensive intensity and organisation of modern day RL. Hence some really good looking trys got scored, but when you analysed them, the defence looked pretty week.

The other games however were quite dour.

The interesting thing i noted from the programme was the way they edited out the scrums and lineouts.
Only a couple were shown throughout the programme, yet we are told these are intrinsic parts of union that the fans love to watch. Clearly the TV editors disagree, and know that "Touch, Hold, Engage" is just about the biggest turnoff going.

Re: Rugby union premiership : Mon Mar 07, 2011 11:03 pm  

So is superleague now too defence driven?

In our search for a perfect game have we ruined the one thing we always had over union, fantastic try's and great entertainment?

Can you really point out to me a winger that has REAL pace in the SL or are we coaching the explosiveness out of the kids in favour of a "solid and dependable" winger.

You could take Kevin Penny as a case in point. Fantastic in attack, suspect in defence so cast aside by many a SL club