The skill of Rugby Union

If you check the OP everyone will find I didn't want this to turn into a league vs Union post. It did though, I kinda new it would as some cannot resist. I did want someone who loves union as I love league to tell me the reasons why you love it, the finer points of the game so I could watch the match and see a bit more into it. League and union are chalk and cheese they only share the same ball.
 
Have to say having watched the last two weekends of six nations has made me yearn even more for the Super 15 rugby I've been watching lately.
Yes the weather is better but i think overall the skills are higher, which is borne out by the dominance of the Southern hemisphere teams.
So if you can try to catch some super 15 action next weekend, just remember the first games will be on Sky at 6.30 friday morning from NZ
 
6inchcup said:
utter tosh,league is a faster more skillful game than union,the rules were changed and the scrum cant be contested as such so the need for overweight forwards is long gone,the game is about possession and scoring tries NOT just about kicking,saw the highlights on the news this morning from the 0ne try in the game against wales and scotland,one try and that was a bit of a fumble,watch the games played in australia and tell me that isn't a fast skillful game,notice the england set up has a ex league star as its couch and you can see the influence in the ball playing.
Click to expand...

league is cracking game, Union has learnt alot in recent years.

To say it is more skillful is absolute nonsense. The reason more trys may be scored in league is that there are 4 less players on the pitch, you make a line break in league you will score, they also play in the summer, when it is drier & firmer !!!

Both sets of codes contain proper athletes, and body shape. as per foxy's post. has changed massively in union in the lat 10 years.

It will be interesting if new pitches like at Saracens will make a difference to quality. because what was served up this weekend was rubbish. I don't get this one for the purists nonsense
 
drawboy said:
If you check the OP everyone will find I didn't want this to turn into a league vs Union post. It did though, I kinda new it would as some cannot resist. .
Click to expand...

But when I, as a non rugby expert, say how great I found my first union international you make it clear that union is clearly rubbish in your opinion
 
I use to be into my rugby league when Fulham had a team in the 80's and it is a much quicker pace. I also watch a bit of union. I use to go to Richmond when they were PL and now watch London Irish. I can see plus and minus points for both codes but truth be told I'm a sports fan and so enjoy most sports particularly live
 
The only winner in this year's Six Nations has been the weather, and because of it it's proved to be very poor viewing. Drier pitches lead to more open, quick rugby but this year is a write off.

I find it difficult to say why Union is better because of the rule changes since I stopped playing. Scrums used to be more skillful, albeit more dangerous than now - and the not straight feeding is spoiling the opportunity to strike against the head. Scrums by decent scrummagers used to be more than just weight of push, e.g. a tight head prop driving between the opposing hooker and prop to split their drive, or the non-striking hooker and tight head prop drawing the opposing hooker down so he couldn't strike without sticking his own knee into his gut.

The attacking backs in Union, from a scrum and line out, lie deeper and are further apart than League, hence the opportunity for greater speed and to knock on.

Rucks and mauls; referees appear to have different interpretations of what's acceptable in a ruck, or its just too difficult to watch whats going on properly. But a good rolling maul is a joy to watch, and there were some great ones yesterday.

The ping-pong kicking in Union, whilst keeping the ball in play, is spoiling what was good tactical kicking and also allows the 2nd rows and flankers to cramp the field. And the supporting/lifting in the line outs is making average jumpers look good but it is providing quick clean ball to the backs - still don't like it though.

I've been to the last 2 Grand finals at Old Trafford but I still prefer to go to Twickenham and watch Union. Maybe its because I understand Union better but League rarely does it for me.
 
drawboy said:
If you check the OP everyone will find I didn't want this to turn into a league vs Union post. It did though, I kinda new it would as some cannot resist. I did want someone who loves union as I love league to tell me the reasons why you love it, the finer points of the game so I could watch the match and see a bit more into it. League and union are chalk and cheese they only share the same ball.
Click to expand...

they are more similar now than ever before

drawboy said:
You are easily pleased mate, If they beat Wales they have a clean sweep now that is disgusting from a side that cannot score a try against Italy.
Click to expand...

it's not great, I agree. to call it disgusting is a little OTT. For me it demonstrates that union is a multi faceted game in laws & scoring, league a little more simplistic, not worse just a little easier to understand. This probably fits the target audience perfectly. Aussies & Northerners:whoo:

I don't buy the super 15 thing either, the mindset is different, I think that they want to entertain but the games are meaningless, ultimately so win or lose no one really cares. It's just a glorified national trial. That said some of the Kiwi teams are excellent, the Aussies & the Saffas average premiership teams.
 
therod said:
.

I don't buy the super 15 thing either, the mindset is different, I think that they want to entertain but the games are meaningless, ultimately so win or lose no one really cares. It's just a glorified national trial. That said some of the Kiwi teams are excellent, the Aussies & the Saffas average premiership teams.
Click to expand...

I'd agree to a certain degree that there are probably too many teams and that seems to be to satisfy the broadcasters but ultimately it leads to the, the SH being the top three teams in the world so something must be right in the mindset .Although England came out on top against the AB's that haven't really kicked on and been dominant this season.
Cant comment on the PL as not seen any games yet.
 
I think if you want to have a balanced conversation about the merits (or otherwise) of Rugby Union and not turn the thread into just another league versus union fight then you probably shouldn't spend every post vehemently criticising Rugby Union and saying how great Rugby League is.

For that reason, I'm out.
 
Purely for the poor tackling in Rugby League that generally leads to a lot of the tries I don't like it, technique is all wrong in many cases. Any team that can tackle properly would walk into the playoffs every year but the only edge League has is the bigger hits set up by the gap between the players at every breakdown. Union will always have the edge because of the competitiveness and tradition of the International game but suffers due to playing in winter on boggy pitches which leads to a slower error strewn game.

Having played the game for about 15 years before being forced to retire it is a game that requires great skill if you want to be a good player at a high level. I came up against players twice my size on numerous occasions and completely out played them because they lacked the basic skills.
 
Strange argument. You run while carrying a ball, throw it around and fight each other a bit. It can be an enthralling spectacle requiring great fitness and strength but skillful? Not convinced...
 
Well I played League for 8 years and Union for 2. The one thing I remember is that a big hit felt exactly the same in both codes. A great, fast flowing game of Union is a fantastic spectacle but is rare these days due to the sheer bulk of the packs. Its getting a bit too much like the NFL where the sheer size and strength of the players is proving detrimental to the spectacle. I think that you get more great games of League due to the difference in numbers.

Given the choice, i'd watch the State of Origin series first, closely followed by the Super Fifteen...
 
If anyone wants to watch an exciting, if not technically perfect, game of Rugby, the Wales England game currently being played would have to be one of the best.

All the 'skills' that Rugby requires at a pace too quick to be boring. Wish they stopped the clock for penalties though!
 
Foxholer said:
If anyone wants to watch an exciting, if not technically perfect, game of Rugby, the Wales England game currently being played would have to be one of the best.

All the 'skills' that Rugby requires at a pace too quick to be boring. Wish they stopped the clock for penalties though!
Click to expand...
from what i have just seen on the highlights it is just a kicking comp,why not score the kicks 1 point and a try 6 points then we would see a better game,to stop start,kick it into touch and start again for me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Rlburnside
Women’s rugby
2
Replies
22
Views
1K
bobmac
bobmac
HomerJSimpson
England Golf Union - Club Of The Year
Replies
3
Views
1K
Ye Olde Boomer
Ye Olde Boomer
GB72
Could This be the End of Rugby
2 3
Replies
42
Views
4K
GB72
GB72
M
  • Poll Poll
Not sure I can face the all consuming nature of golf again.
2 3
Replies
44
Views
10K
IanM
IanM
B
Contentious Opinion - Would the great game of Golf be better served by a MAJOR Simplification of the Rules?
2 3
Replies
55
Views
7K
salfordlad
S
Top