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Rugby!!!

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Rugby!!!
Post by hanuman   » Sun Oct 04, 2015 5:05 pm

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It is World Cup time, and the round robin match between South Africa's Springboks and the USA's Eagles is coming up on Wednesday.

Our defeat by the Japanese 'Cherry blossoms' (and isn't that giggle-worthy) showed that a surprise performance by the underdogs cannot be ruled out, so all I have to say on the subject is 'good luck, America!'

Despite not having won a match thus far, I have to say that the Eagles have been playing a really powerful game of rugger. I understand that rugby in the USA is growing rapidly in both professional participation and popular support, so given the current quality of the national team's game I wouldn't be surprised if over the course of the next two or three World Cup tournaments the Eagles begin to deliver consistent victories even against the 'Big Five'.

In my mind, that could only be a good thing for the game I love. And America might finally be able to become a notable powerhouse at a truly global team sport...without the irony inherent in your 'World Series'. :lol:
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Re: Rugby!!!
Post by Daryl   » Mon Oct 05, 2015 7:22 am

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Australia just beat England, in Rugby Union.
Our national Rugby League grand final was played last night, with the equalising try made on the stroke of the 80th minute, and the tie breaker in extra time went to the underdogs (North Queensland's Cowboys).

We sports mad Australians have Rugby Union, Rugby League, Australian Rules, and Soccer as mainstream football options.
We never caught on to Gridiron as the concept of being armoured against harm in a contact sport is alien to us.
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Re: Rugby!!!
Post by hanuman   » Mon Oct 05, 2015 1:40 pm

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Daryl wrote:Australia just beat England, in Rugby Union.
Our national Rugby League grand final was played last night, with the equalising try made on the stroke of the 80th minute, and the tie breaker in extra time went to the underdogs (North Queensland's Cowboys).

We sports mad Australians have Rugby Union, Rugby League, Australian Rules, and Soccer as mainstream football options.
We never caught on to Gridiron as the concept of being armoured against harm in a contact sport is alien to us.


That's because Aussies are crazy...every South African knows this :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: Rugby!!!
Post by Michael Riddell   » Sat Oct 10, 2015 11:37 am

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Why am I not surprised to see that the Samoa game was very nearly Scotland's "Banana Skin" moment? :roll:

As for the South Africa vs USA game: 64-0. That's got to hurt! :shock:

Last game in Pool B is USA vs Japan tomorrow.

Mike.
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Gonnae no DAE that!

Why?

Just gonnae NO!
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Re: Rugby!!!
Post by hanuman   » Sat Oct 10, 2015 9:15 pm

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Michael Riddell wrote:Why am I not surprised to see that the Samoa game was very nearly Scotland's "Banana Skin" moment? :roll:

As for the South Africa vs USA game: 64-0. That's got to hurt! :shock:

Last game in Pool B is USA vs Japan tomorrow.

Mike.


Michael, the score really doesn't reflect the actual gameplay. You have to remember that the Springboks have been one of the 'Big Five' in the rugby union world for over a century now, while rugby union in the States has only really become an organized sporting code in the 1970s. It's only recently that the sport has reached enough critical mass to bring in the vital major sponsorships and popular support that are necessary for development purposes. Given that difference in maturity between the two countries, one would have expected a much stronger performance by the Springboks, but the truth is that the Eagles played some of their best rugby to date, even if they couldn't break through the South African defense. Also, the Boks will have to improve their handling skills drastically if they wish to win against teams such as Wales, Australia, New Zealand and France.
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Re: Rugby!!!
Post by Michael Riddell   » Mon Oct 12, 2015 12:30 pm

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Hard to disagree with, but I guess I'm conditioned by the continual poor/uneven performance of the Scottish team. Although they've done well, I can't see them getting beyond the Quarter Finals.

Rugby in Scotland has some very deep rooted problems which vary from the financial to the cultural.

Mike.
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Gonnae no DAE that!

Why?

Just gonnae NO!
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Re: Rugby!!!
Post by hanuman   » Mon Oct 12, 2015 11:49 pm

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Michael Riddell wrote:Hard to disagree with, but I guess I'm conditioned by the continual poor/uneven performance of the Scottish team. Although they've done well, I can't see them getting beyond the Quarter Finals.

Rugby in Scotland has some very deep rooted problems which vary from the financial to the cultural.

Mike.


Mike, I'll assume that you've been following the Scots' matches, yeah? What struck me was the inconsistency from one match to the other. They steamrollered Japan, played a poor first half against the Eagles but recovered nicely in the second, then were outplayed by the Boks. I couldn't watch their game against Samoa, but I heard that the Samoans played a hyperaggressive game, even more so than usual. I don't know about the Scots' performance, but I've seen the Samoans in action, so for the Scots to snatch a victory was well done indeed.
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Re: Rugby!!!
Post by Michael Riddell   » Thu Oct 15, 2015 6:13 pm

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I haven't been following closely due to work commitments, but I can say that the Scottish team have done well compared with a dismal Six Nations campaign.

I'll link an article from the Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/scotland/10620089/Six-Nations-2014-Scotlands-gradual-demise-since-1984-Grand-Slam-due-to-failure-to-seize-professionalism.html

Rugby Union in Scotland hasn't adapted well to the professional system, as the article details. It also suffers from having had a chunk of it's grassroots, Grammar Schools, being done away with during educational reforms back in the 70's. Prior to that, most Scottish rugby players came from either Private or Grammar school backgrounds, so it was very much a "Middle Class" sport. Nowadays, Football (Soccer for our North American compatriots) is the primary team sport played at School level, even in the private sector.

Bad decisions, poor funding, poor organisation and a fragile structure, basically.

Mike.
---------------------
Gonnae no DAE that!

Why?

Just gonnae NO!
---------------------
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Re: Rugby!!!
Post by Michael Riddell   » Sun Oct 18, 2015 1:04 pm

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Australia 35, Scotland 34.

Well done the Wallabies and a very respectable showing from Scotland.

Rather better than England managed!! :P

Mike. ;)
---------------------
Gonnae no DAE that!

Why?

Just gonnae NO!
---------------------
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Re: Rugby!!!
Post by Daryl   » Mon Oct 19, 2015 3:58 am

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I concur. Both sides deserve praise.



Michael Riddell wrote:Australia 35, Scotland 34.

Well done the Wallabies and a very respectable showing from Scotland.

Rather better than England managed!! :P

Mike. ;)
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