Union- does it do it for ya

[The_Ben]

I think that both sports are going to have big scorelines when it comes to world cup time because of the minnow nations involved coming up against a team of professionals.

It has always happened and will always happen. Officials from both codes will attack the credibility of the other code at any given chance to raise the profile of their own code. I don't blame them for it, because that's what they're paid to do.

 

[tigermite]

The thing is, which some in here seem to be missing, is that Union claims to be truly international, whereas League does not. The very fact that they clain to be truly international is laughable. If they are truly international, soccer must be universal..... :roll:

Another thing... this time about scrums. I haven't been watching much Union, but I see bits and pieces. I saw one scrum where the guy feeding the ball was penalised for not putting it in the middle... then to my surprise (cos everyone sasys Union scrums are the real deal), the commentator said that it was a harsh penalty because no-one ever puts the ball directly in the middle. And I don't see very many wins against the feed. The only thing I see is a scrum taking a few minutes up because they keep stuffing them up... then a penalty is usually awarded. Therefore, what I'm saying, is Union scrums aren't much better than League scrums. Ok, at least they don't put the ball into the second row, but at least with League they are quick and get the game going again.

 

[Danish Moo Cow]

Scrums in Union get up my nose as well. It can be said they're more contested than league, but when you've got to wait for the mandatory time-out and then set the stupid thing at least twice on average it totally loses the point.

The whole point of bringing up the scores of the Rugby Union WC is that they're no different from the League WC's scoreline. Its just Union is so into hyping down League that it has totally forgotten that it has the exact same thing. Even more than League this time around.

 

[The_Ben]

Interesting to hear from the Georgian coach on Georgia in the world cup:

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“We managed with our poverty for a long time and that didn’t prevent us from playing in the World Cup. But we do not complain. Georgian rugby wants to get stronger. Events such as the World Cup are vital for us to be a part of.

"(This Tournament) is the only way we can get better and put ourselves on the world stage to attract sponsors which are so essential for us.”

Rugby is the number one watched sport in Georgia thanks to the team’s efforts at the RWC. All Tournament games are broadcast on State TV and the team has developed a big following at home.

“We are ambassadors of Georgia. The World has discovered Georgia. We have fulfilled our duty.”
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Just goes to show that no matter how minnow a team can be and the floggings they cop, being part of the world cup does lift the sport's profile into countries where rugby is not well known.

 

[Razor]

Just goes to show that no matter how minnow a team can be and the floggings they cop, being part of the world cup does lift the sport's profile into countries where rugby is not well known.

No one is saying that isn't the case. But with the RLWC the Union officials/media kept harping on that teams like Russia & Lebanon shouldn't be there because they were getting hammered. Now at the RUWC the Union officials/media have totally changed their tune.

 

[aqua_duck]

The RUgby league World cup is a joke because firstly you got more than one team from one country, eg NZ kiwis and NZ maoris, it is also a joke because half the players from other countries are Aussies. Lebanon, I mean gees you might as well call it bankstown Cedars. The stupid developing nations rule is gay which means that players can play for more than one nation. I mean league at an international level is such a joke that you got aussies hoping for Australia to lose 'for the sake of international rugby league', how many wallabies fans would cheer for england? In Union the majority of players that play for a nation are actually from that nation, you get a few exceptions here and there but its not as bad as League. In Union the developing nations have potential, its obvious when you look at a team like Japan, although they didn't win a game they were competitive in a few of their matches, this comes after the All blacks put 145 past them in 1995.
The thing about scrums in rugby is that scrummaging is a major component of the game. Lets face it, in league scrums are a no contest, any player could pack into a scrum, you could put a winger in the front row and it'd be ok, if you did that in a rugby scrum you'd might as well forget about it.

 

[Razor]

The RUgby league World cup is a joke because firstly you got more than one team from one country, eg NZ kiwis and NZ maoris, it is also a joke because half the players from other countries are Aussies.

I don't know the numbers but leading up to the RU World Cup, Channel 7 news up here in Brisbane kept saying about the RUWC - "You don't just have Australia to cheer for. You have plenty of Australians playing for other countries to cheer for as well."

I read on another message board (a RL board, so don't know how truthful) that 3/4 of the Japanese side are Kiwis.

Rugby League numbers from the last WC

Aus, NZ, England, Wales, PNG, Fiji, France, South Africa - no ring-ins
Cook Islands - 1 ring-in
Russia - 2 ring-ins.
Ireland - 4 ring-ins
Scotland - 7 ring-ins
Lebanon - 8 ring-ins

Don't know the figures for Samoa or Tonga.

I counted as a ring-in a player who played for them under the residency rule(without becoming a citizen), parent or grand-parent rule.

Rubin isn't technically Russian, he was Ukraine born, but at the time that was part of the USSR, so therefore eligible for Russia, like many other sports people from many different sports have also done.

People keep mentioning how many play in Australia or England. That's irrlevant. That's where the pro comps are, so that's where they'll be playing. Most of the players from the minnows in RU don't play in their own country.

Rugby Union is no different. I know England, Wales, US, Japan, Canada have either Kiwis or Aussies playing for them.

 

[princess plj]

let me tell you guys u can't compare the two. there are similarities but they are different games and will appeal to different peope. having grown up on union (go the springboks) and being the second world cup that is in my hometown is unreal. but league in all honestly an australian,new zeland and english game only. don't get me wrong i love league and i can tell you i went to a union game and was waiting for them to play the ball but as i say it depends on who u are. the world cup though its long and tedious personally i think some teams should not be here as there is no competition its a brilliant sporting event when u see the top nations meet up to play to become the world champions.

 

[kiwi knights fan]

i also hate union its so slow and boring. I played one game in the 1st 15 for my school and that made me hate the game more. I running is soft and so the defence. There is no where near enough running in the game and when they do run it usally a short ball off the ruck 2 a foword they make about 2 meters whats the f**kin point. And as for that f**kin reff the wisstle gets blowin ever minet just about.
Good 2 see Brad thorn and matt rogers play so wll though. Rogers would be thebest back for Aus and thorn would easyily be the best forword for the all Blacks.

 

[The_Ben]

Kees Meeuws is the best NZ forward. The guy is a machine. Not to mention one of the most solid blokes I have ever met. Also a try scoring freak!

 

[rock_on_knights]

League ALL the way!!!
Union is boring!!!!!!! its crap but Elton Flatleys a gud player BUT THAT DOESNT CHANGE MY MIND ;-)
GO LEAGUE!!! :lol:

 

[aqua_duck]

i also hate union its so slow and boring. I played one game in the 1st 15 for my school and that made me hate the game more. I running is soft and so the defence. There is no where near enough running in the game and when they do run it usally a short ball off the ruck 2 a foword they make about 2 meters whats the f***in point. And as for that f***in reff the wisstle gets blowin ever minet just about.
Good 2 see Brad thorn and matt rogers play so wll though. Rogers would be thebest back for Aus and thorn would easyily be the best forword for the all Blacks.

The best forward in world rugby is Richie McCaw