i actually did watch the backpage last night and found fitzsimmons arguments weak.
fitzsimmons is dead set arrogant and would not let frilingos get a word in in defence of league. he must learn to grow up as his childish antics did not earn the respect of me and im sure he failed to earn the respect of most viewers.
i've made a final copy of my article and forwarded it on to the backpage.
and in reply to some of the above comments perhaps read the article again. by your comments you are only highlighting the extent of union hypocrism ie. the make up of international league teams. simply read the usa's backline for this world cup.
the final article is as follows:
Union Hypocrisy Strikes
Rugby Union is currently crying foul over claims by rugby league fans that they claim are attempting to downgrade their World Cup.
It seems the union bosses and fans alike who continuously criticised our own World Cup in 2000 cannot accept that their code faces similar problems on an international level.
At the time of our World Cup league constantly faced criticism from ‘rugby’ particularly directed at the over usage of the grandparents rule and residency rules, also used by the IRB, and the lack of competition apart from the 3 powerhouse nations, Australia, New Zealand and England.
The union world cup can only boast 5 sides at most capable of winning their showpiece event and has failed to provide viewers with an upset throughout the competition as yet. On top of this only two close contests have been provided. One a game between Fiji and the United States of America, a side whose backline includes Phillip Eloff (South Africa), Riann Van Zyl (South Africa), Mike Hercus (Australia), Jason Keyter (South Africa/England), and Mose Timoteo (Samoa). The other between Argentina and Ireland in which only one try was scored. Hardly the ‘running game’.
Apart from the make up of the Eagles team the Scottish and Japanese team also boast New Zealand imports amongst others so perhaps before the supposed ‘World’ game of union criticises the state of international league perhaps they should look in their own backyard.
Rugby League’s World Cup suprisingly offered a number of upsets by the likes of the Cook Islands and Samoa and all contests not involving the likes of Australia, New Zealand and England were relatively close and entertaining.
Whilst admittingly at a stronger position than league on an international level the clear gaps between the top five and those under them is growing larger at a rapid rate. Many international union bodies are also facing financial problems as rugby league continues to make inroads in traditionally rugby union dominated areas such as the likes of New Zealand, the south of England, Wales and New Caledonia. Rugby League also continues to improve in France following the appalling treatment directed at our game by the rugby union influenced governments which attempted to destroy rugby league following its rapid rise in the country and the threat it posed to the insecure rugby authorities.
This gap in Rugby’s world game is exemplified in the recent result between Namibia and Australia in which Australia won 142-0. This result being much larger than Rugby Leagues highest score in a World Cup match when Australia defeated the Russian Bears 110-4.
John O’Neil has also criticised the ARL for scheduling their Kangaroo Tour to coincide with the Union World Cup, an unreasonable claim as the correlating seasons of the English and Australian domestic seasons leaves little alternatives available. The Kangaroo tours are also traditionally played at the conclusion of the Australian domestic competition so there is no reason there would be a difference in scheduling now.
Interestingly O’Neill has not criticised the AFL for scheduling their International Rules fixtures against Ireland in Australia during the World Cup nor Cricket who have held a test series between Australia and Zimbabwe in Australia and are currently participating in a tri-series competition in India also featuring New Zealand.
The Kangaroo tour so far has shown great promise and strong competition with the Kiwis beating the ‘invincible Kangaroos’ and a France Selection side, made up of players not selected for the French team contesting the Medditteranean Cup in Lebanon, troubling the Kangaroos in front of a capacity crowd in Carcanosse before going down 32-10. A game much closer than those offered so far in the Rugby World Cup between the likes of supposedly strong nations such as France and Scotland. The upcoming Kangaroo games in England against the Great Britain and Ireland Lions have also had strong ticket sales and all matches are heading towards capacity status.
So please all you Union fans before crying foul over rugby leagues fans criticism of the current Rugby World Cup remember back to the 2000 Rugby League World Cup which you directed relentless criticism towards our game. Then remember the reasons the criticisms were supposedly warranted. Then have a look at your own game and the current Rugby World Cup.
They maybe you may understand why league fans think this Union World Cup is a farce!
