Re: Anyone going to watch the RU World Cup? : Wed Oct 07, 2015 9:42 am  

Bobby_Peru wrote:

My comment was based on the media coverage (especially 5 live) of Burgess being dropped, none of the other 8 players were mentioned.

That's the price of being a high publicity, highly paid RL convert though. Bound to make the headlines but I don't think he is the scapegoat.

Re: Anyone going to watch the RU World Cup? : Wed Oct 07, 2015 11:51 am  

I don't really care if Burgess is a scapegoat or not. If he ends up branded a union failure he'll be more likely to return to league, which will be a good thing. In a dreamworld he'll sign for Wires! I don't blame players for switching codes for the money, challenge or whatever, nor do I waste any of my time "hating" union. They're two different sports, with their own merits and faults, but I would prefer to see the best players playing league, as I'm sure everyone on here would.

Re: Anyone going to watch the RU World Cup? : Wed Oct 07, 2015 11:53 am  

Dropkick Murphy wrote:

I don't really care if Burgess is a scapegoat or not. If he ends up branded a union failure he'll be more likely to return to league, which will be a good thing. In a dreamworld he'll sign for Wires! I don't blame players for switching codes for the money, challenge or whatever, nor do I waste any of my time "hating" union. They're two different sports, with their own merits and faults, but I would prefer to see the best players playing league, as I'm sure everyone on here would.

I feel exactly the same. I would love him at the Wire.

Re: Anyone going to watch the RU World Cup? : Wed Oct 07, 2015 12:11 pm  

Wires71 wrote:

mark_m wrote:

But...it is the greatest game. Skills and athleticism are far superior. Anyone who saw the NRL GF can have no doubt of that surely? I have seen mistakes in these RU games that you wouldn't get at U9s junior RL.

Indeed the things that hold the game back at most levels is the fact that is very tough to play it, increasingly so for the professionals and a cynical, underdog attitude.

We need more confidence and inclusion in our sport.

I don't disagree with you Mark. Skill and athleticism is high, as it is with Gaelic Football, Aussie Rules etc, but that is not enough to get the crowds flocking in.

Playing devils advocate I could point out what I believe are the negatives of league. That being formulaic and predictable, repetitive and tactically simplistic in nature.

Do we really believe that there are millions of RU fans watching that would turn to RL if only they were aware of it and had seen a game?

Absolutely not but you are then factoring in the media bias (which IS real), the prejudice and snobbery heaped on our game allied to (mainly Southern) ignorance and our own wallowing in our negative self image and we immediately on a poor footing. We are the very worst people at promoting our game without doubt.

I have seen signs of more free-flowing rugby of late, witness what has happened in some of the better Super 8 games and the NRL final winning play. Long may it continue.

Re: Anyone going to watch the RU World Cup? : Wed Oct 07, 2015 1:16 pm  

Dropkick Murphy wrote:

I don't really care if Burgess is a scapegoat or not. If he ends up branded a union failure he'll be more likely to return to league, which will be a good thing. In a dreamworld he'll sign for Wires! I don't blame players for switching codes for the money, challenge or whatever, nor do I waste any of my time "hating" union. They're two different sports, with their own merits and faults, but I would prefer to see the best players playing league, as I'm sure everyone on here would.

I have no 'hatred' of Union whatsoever, I am just relaying the facts as they have been broadcast.

Re: Anyone going to watch the RU World Cup? : Wed Oct 07, 2015 1:27 pm  

mark_m wrote:

Absolutely not but you are then factoring in the media bias (which IS real), the prejudice and snobbery heaped on our game allied to (mainly Southern) ignorance and our own wallowing in our negative self image and we immediately on a poor footing. We are the very worst people at promoting our game without doubt.

I have seen signs of more free-flowing rugby of late, witness what has happened in some of the better Super 8 games and the NRL final winning play. Long may it continue.

Media Bias
Is it not simply that RU is of more interest and relevance to more people in the UK than League and so it's higher up the media priority in reporting? Top flight RL is only played in the NW of England and has no international appeal to speak off. RU is played in England, Scotland, Wales and has the draw of a World Cup and a thriving international scene.

wallowing in our negative self image
Bang on. We seem to be obsessed with RU and be "outraged" by what we believe to be injustice rather than just focussing on making our own sport more of a spectacle and tacking the dwindling live attendances.

Re: Anyone going to watch the RU World Cup? : Wed Oct 07, 2015 2:15 pm  

Wires71 wrote:

Media Bias
Is it not simply that RU is of more interest and relevance to more people in the UK than League and so it's higher up the media priority in reporting? Top flight RL is only played in the NW of England and has no international appeal to speak off. RU is played in England, Scotland, Wales and has the draw of a World Cup and a thriving international scene.

wallowing in our negative self image
Bang on. We seem to be obsessed with RU and be "outraged" by what we believe to be injustice rather than just focussing on making our own sport more of a spectacle and tacking the dwindling live attendances.

I think the tone of some of the media reporting and the whole witch hunt surrounding Sam Burgess shows a distinct bias....

Re: Anyone going to watch the RU World Cup? : Wed Oct 07, 2015 2:37 pm  

I think the problem that the home nations teams have is that there is no place for thinking outside the box or individual flair especially where the international games are concerned. They all seem to schooled in going through the "phases" even if there is a gaping hole in their opponents defence & the kicking game is still the be all & end all of the game, whether the punts into touch or the reliance on goal kicking. The emerging nations are so much more inclined to run with the ball & from our point of view better to watch. Another problem that RU gets bogged down with is the obsession with technical infringements at line outs & scrums & at times the games seem to be more about the ref. We could, however, learn from their use of the video ref.

[Uncle Rico]

Re: Anyone going to watch the RU World Cup? : Wed Oct 07, 2015 3:06 pm  

ninearches wrote:

I think the problem that the home nations teams have is that there is no place for thinking outside the box or individual flair especially where the international games are concerned. They all seem to schooled in going through the "phases" even if there is a gaping hole in their opponents defence & the kicking game is still the be all & end all of the game, whether the punts into touch or the reliance on goal kicking. The emerging nations are so much more inclined to run with the ball & from our point of view better to watch. Another problem that RU gets bogged down with is the obsession with technical infringements at line outs & scrums & at times the games seem to be more about the ref. We could, however, learn from their use of the video ref.

Agree with this and specifically the kick and phase analysis.

I had the 'pleasure' of reading Guscott's appraisal of the Australian defeat. In short and amongst other things, blame was laid at England playing to an RL style where passing and keeping the ball alive through offloads gave the advantage to Australia because their top flanker could overturn the ball, or gain a penalty as the ball carrier was isolated hanging on to the ball as opposed to being under a heap of his mates, or having someone booting it up field...you know proper rugby.

Re: Anyone going to watch the RU World Cup? : Wed Oct 07, 2015 4:04 pm  

mark_m wrote:

I think the tone of some of the media reporting and the whole witch hunt surrounding Sam Burgess shows a distinct bias....

Completely agree with you Mark.