Lifetime armchair league fan chooses to play rugby

[JVinAZ]

Screeny,

physicality is one thing, and I will grant you that the average RL match has more excitind 1-on-1 tackles than the average RU match.

However, strategy and tactics add a different dimesion to RU. Given that RL sides are virtually guaranteed posession of the ball for 5 tackles, it really doesn't matter if they try to swing the ball out wide, or simply run into the nearest tackler.

In RU, much more thought is required. Every time a back touches the ball, he must calculate what is required in the curren situation, have a go, pass out wide, or kick for territory. Included in this calculation are decisions of the ability of the forwards to reach the breakdown and protect posession, and the quality of the pack in line outs on the day.

RL may be superior in brute force, but RU requires more thought, which I find attractive.

 

[ozbash]

How many of the knock ons were yours???

Did you get rucked?
Did you ruck anyone?

Was your body-height low enough?

How good did the beer taste after?

can you walk today stu ?
are you going to go for a brisk jog after lunch to warm-down?
what was it like, did you play against some big bastards ??
you get trapped in any rucks?
any photos ??

 

[Sydney Carton]

How many of the knock ons were yours??? None but not many hitups either

Did you get rucked? Nup

Did you ruck anyone? Nup

Was your body-height low enough? Nope. Going to have to work on that.

How good did the beer taste after? Fantastic 8)

can you walk today stu ? Yep but slower than yesterday. Shoulders & neck are experiencing something new ;-)

are you going to go for a brisk jog after lunch to warm-down? Right after I finish the triathalon yes. :shock:

what was it like, did you play against some big bastards ?? They were pretty decent blokes. None huge but big enough. Lineouts were fun, Scrums were non contested. Got a lot to learn about playing prop i can tell you.

you get trapped in any rucks? nothing too bad. looking forward to the next trial in a fortnight to build on my skills (or lack thereof)

any photos ?? Nope but there will be when the season starts proper

Thanks for the interest guys. It was fun and I couldn't have seen myself doing that 2 months and 15kg's ago. Now that I have my first game out of the way I am looking forward to getting amongt it more at training and then getting stuck into those Kenmore Bears.

 

[Hazy]

Two months and fifteen kilos??

Well done mate!!

I ummm think I know where your 15k's have gone, but they started turning up longer than 2 months ago....

Now, your not a short bloke, any plans to drop a few more K's and start jumping in the line out?

or your going to concentrate on your lifting skills?

will the scrums be contested during the season?

and dont worry, the only prop who knows everything about scrummaging is either dead or back at the bar.... :lol:

And why did god invent beer?

To stop prop forwards from ruling the world!!!!! :mrgreen:

 

[Sydney Carton]

"A few more kilos" would still be well into double figures to get me jumping in the lineouts Hazy!!

Unfortunately I'm still front row bound. We did some scrum practice for the first time tonight and let me say it didn't go well for me. Sat will be doing the real thing so here's hoping :x

Lifting I find easy enough suprisingly so I enjoy the lineouts.

Are you still playing in Melbourne? What posi you play

Yeah scrums will be contested in the season (and Sat) but I believe we can call for uncontested a certain number of times per game.

Phew!

Mmmmmmm Beeeeeer. Having a few now to recover and to stop me having some Fri night before the game 8)

GO THE IRISH!

 

[ozbash]

theres lots of dirty tricks in a scrum, if the opposition know your new, watch out. get someone to show you how to pack and bind properly.
the other bastards will delight in dragging you down.
you only got one neck stewbum !

 

[Hazy]

Nah, im not playing this year (last year of full time study).

I would walk (or roll) straight into prop atm, but if I managed to lose 10 - 15 kilo's and rediscovered my endurance, id hopefully get a run as a loosie.

 

[Sydney Carton]

I got smashed tonight in the scrums boys. Got a lot to learn. #-o

f**k I'll be sore tomorrow.

We got beaten by 50 at least in the 2nds.

 

[ruggabugga]

GUY'S, The difference in the two games is obvious in the forwards but far more subtle in the backs...look at the strain on Wendell and Lote;s faces when they recieve the ball at the back compared with the assurance they had in league. The potential for the Hall of fame or the Outhouse depending on the option you choose is enormous. If you have played both games as these two now have it is the defining moment for an outside back.
if Lote stays he will be a great by the next RWC, if he returns to the dark side ...then good luck to him.

 

[Sydney Carton]

Best scrums I've had to date today. Changed my position on Thursday night and am getting lower and putting a hit on as best I can.

For the first time didn't hurt my lower / middle back. Great stuff!!!!

We got beat though 29 - 5 by team of big Islanders....Nice blokes they were though.

 

[ozbash]

are you developing a thick neck and cauliflower ears ?

did the islanders contest the scrums ?

 

[Sydney Carton]

Trying my best

Yep. Got a comment out of one of them "You blokes are supposed to be inexperienced eh? But you'se got a bloody good push on yas."

That was a scrum we nearly won against the head. The next one they rolled straight over the top of us :lol:

 

[Tighthead]

One of the best scrums I have ever packed against was a Japanese university side we played a few years ago. We flogged them in general play, as we were a fair bit bigger than them, but they had one of the best timed shoves I have ever faced.

 

[ozbash]

so hows the irish travelling ?

 

[Sydney Carton]

Had a bye two weeks ago and got rolled 18-17 by Woogaroo courtesy of a field goal on full time last Saturday.

I had a bad day and got hooked after about 20 mins.

Next week we take on Kenmore. Hope to have a better game against those scumbags.

 

[ozbash]

ok,
they shouldnt have pulled you off v woogaroo.

have you developed a typical props aggro attitude ?

 

[Martli]

I played union in the Junior grades for the mighty Johnsonville club down here in Wellington (1994-1999) played U7, U8, U9, U10 and U12 twice (Played up a year due to weight complications) playing at hooker, prop and blindside flanker when I played up a year. I gave up at the age of 12 because I was too heavy for the highest grade in the Junior competition and would have had to play in an open grade. I'm 16 and haven't played since but i'm currently getting fit to try and play for my college next year (probably at prop or hooker). I'm going to attempt to play league once I finish school (Next year is my last year) maybe for university if I can get into the team, otherwise i'll probably play union.

I like both games, but I only have minimal experiance in union. Those hit-ups just look so god-damn fun!

 

[Hazy]

Your only young Martli, play both as much as possible while you can. No point declaring yourself a one sport only person just yet.

 

[Martli]

Yeah, for sure. Like I said in that post, one year of union next year (since my school dosen't have a League team) and then hopefully league after that since it's something new, with union as a second choice. I wouldn't be able to play both at the same time.

 

[Hazy]

Why cant you play both at the same time?

Here in Oz, union is (generally) played on Saturday and League on Sunday.

Not that Im capable of playing two games a week anymore...