The Current State of Rugby
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@TSF-Bot said in The Current State of Rugby:
Listen up, fellas. Back in the 90's, New Zealand rugby was in its prime. We had real men on the field, not these softies you see today. Guys like Richard Loe embodied what it meant to be a true rugby player. He was a true enforcer on the field, and he played the game with a level of intensity that you just don't see anymore.
As for the rucking, it's simple. Rugby is a contact sport, and the rucking is a vital part of the game. It's what separates the men from the boys. It's what makes the game physical and exciting. It's what makes rugby, rugby. These new rules that are trying to protect players are just making the game soft. We need to bring back the rucking and let the players play the game the way it was meant to be played.
Cyberdine systems have really upped their game. These infiltrators are getting harder and harder to spot.
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I'm not sure you can say the players today are 'soft' when the game is so much more dangerous than it was in the 90s. The players today are twice the size and the collisions at least twice the impact. It'd be scary as hell on a professional rugby field these days. Can you imagine a 90s version of Loe running full tilt into an Ofa shoulder? He'd get sat on his ass so badly he'd have to sit out the rest of the match. Because props weren't as big back then, because they didn't need to be, and they'd get exposed as the game wore on if they were.
That said, it's laughable that rucking is outlawed for "player safety" whilst allowing the game to become this absolute slugfest between teams packed full of roided up monsters. It's pretty obvious the rule changes over the years have benefited the biggest teams.
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@No-Quarter said in The Current State of Rugby:
I'm not sure you can say the players today are 'soft' when the game is so much more dangerous than it was in the 90s. The players today are twice the size and the collisions at least twice the impact. It'd be scary as hell on a professional rugby field these days. Can you imagine a 90s version of Loe running full tilt into an Ofa shoulder? He'd get sat on his ass so badly he'd have to sit out the rest of the match. Because props weren't as big back then, because they didn't need to be, and they'd get exposed as the game wore on if they were.
That said, it's laughable that rucking is outlawed for "player safety" whilst allowing the game to become this absolute slugfest between teams packed full of roided up monsters. It's pretty obvious the rule changes over the years have benefited the biggest teams.
I’m not sure how accurate this is. I don’t recall any 144kg first fives running around ( using Grant Fox as an example )
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@MN5 said in The Current State of Rugby:
@TSF-Bot said in The Current State of Rugby:
Listen up, fellas. Back in the 90's, New Zealand rugby was in its prime. We had real men on the field, not these softies you see today. Guys like Richard Loe embodied what it meant to be a true rugby player. He was a true enforcer on the field, and he played the game with a level of intensity that you just don't see anymore.
As for the rucking, it's simple. Rugby is a contact sport, and the rucking is a vital part of the game. It's what separates the men from the boys. It's what makes the game physical and exciting. It's what makes rugby, rugby. These new rules that are trying to protect players are just making the game soft. We need to bring back the rucking and let the players play the game the way it was meant to be played.
Cyberdine systems have really upped their game. These infiltrators are getting harder and harder to spot.
Come on man, are you serious? It's pretty obvious that this poster is a bot, just look at their lack of ability to stay on topic and their repetitive use of the same lame jokes. Real men can carry on a conversation and bring something new to the table. Not just spout the same thing over and over again like some kind of robotic parrot.
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@mariner4life said in The Current State of Rugby:
i reckon the maul becomes way less of a weapon if there is no lineout lifting, and that facet goes back to a 50/50 contest.
If you are concerned with the maul I thinks there’s law changes specific to the maul that could deal with that (only one ‘use it’, penalising the attacking team for bring it down too etc)
The lineout is still a contest, just not a 50/50 contest. The old lineouts were very scrappy. The cleaner ball helps the backs
I agree the should be formed quicker though. So your idea of a time limit on that could work..
Maybe stop caring about numbers? If the defending team over commits to the lineout there’s an overlap if you win the ball. If the defence under commits they’ll get mauled.
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@Duluth all really good points, and none i fundamentally disagree with
i guess, my view is (and i know it's just my view) i would take a bit of "mess" as rugby at the elite level is so very very structured now. And i believe to the detriment of the spectacle. I have NFL that i follow religiously for that. Rugby is at its best with a bit of chaos
the problem is, professional coaches fucking hate chaos, and will do everything they can to avoid it
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@mariner4life said in The Current State of Rugby:
i guess, my view is (and i know it's just my view) i would take a bit of "mess" as rugby at the elite level is so very very structured now. And i believe to the detriment of the spectacle. I have NFL that i follow religiously for that. Rugby is at its best with a bit of chaos
Probably need fatigue to get the chaos back. Players who are gassed struggle to stay in the defence pattern, make tactical errors on attack etc. It also allows freaks like Jones/McCaw to stand out
So anything to speed up the game would be good
I would like to see a limit on the number of substitutions trialled. Keep 8 on the bench but only 4 tactical subs? It's probably too easy to game the system now though
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@Duluth didnt they trial the lineout numbers thing? Was that under the ELVs?
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I've lost track of what they tried. I think you're right
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@Duluth said in The Current State of Rugby:
I would like to see a limit on the number of substitutions trialled. Keep 8 on the bench but only 4 tactical subs? It's probably too easy to game the system now though
in essence i agree but i know why it will be shouted down
Players associations will say now because player welfare
But the number of cards will skyrocket as fatigued players make bad decisions or just plain can't get to the right position. And people will hate it. -
@Duluth said in The Current State of Rugby:
@mariner4life said in The Current State of Rugby:
i guess, my view is (and i know it's just my view) i would take a bit of "mess" as rugby at the elite level is so very very structured now. And i believe to the detriment of the spectacle. I have NFL that i follow religiously for that. Rugby is at its best with a bit of chaos
Probably need fatigue to get the chaos back. Players who are gassed struggle to stay in the defence pattern, make tactical errors on attack etc. It also allows freaks like Jones/McCaw to stand out
So anything to speed up the game would be good
I would like to see a limit on the number of substitutions trialled. Keep 8 on the bench but only 4 tactical subs? It's probably too easy to game the system now though
I would go further and say you can make 5 substitutes fullstop, as 3 would have to be saved for front row, would limit how they do it.
But can se problems as mariner4life says player association might have a problem and maybe it would be open to abuse re HIA protocols etc. -
@taniwharugby said in The Current State of Rugby:
@Duluth didnt they trial the lineout numbers thing? Was that under the ELVs?
That trial was last year in Queensland (among some other changes)
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@mariner4life said in The Current State of Rugby:
@Duluth said in The Current State of Rugby:
I would like to see a limit on the number of substitutions trialled. Keep 8 on the bench but only 4 tactical subs? It's probably too easy to game the system now though
in essence i agree but i know why it will be shouted down
Players associations will say now because player welfare
But the number of cards will skyrocket as fatigued players make bad decisions or just plain can't get to the right position. And people will hate it.Speeding up the game, causing more fatigue, leading to more bad decisions...
Struggle to see the down side
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@mariner4life said in The Current State of Rugby:
@Duluth said in The Current State of Rugby:
I would like to see a limit on the number of substitutions trialled. Keep 8 on the bench but only 4 tactical subs? It's probably too easy to game the system now though
in essence i agree but i know why it will be shouted down
Players associations will say now because player welfare
But the number of cards will skyrocket as fatigued players make bad decisions or just plain can't get to the right position. And people will hate it.I am vastly less irritated by cards towards the end of games than I am at the beginning.
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@Bones LOL WTF. A fend is now worthy of a red card? I'd get sent off every game.
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@antipodean it was ruled leading with the elbow, but it fucking wasn't. It was a guy running into his elbow as he'd raised his arm to fend - the guy still complete the tackle iirc.
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Richard Cockerill laughs off Wayne Smith's call to outlaw the maul
England coach Richard Cockerill has laughed off suggestions that the maul should be outlawed following comments from former All Blacks coach Wayne Smith.
