[Narcosis]

Brian O'Driscoll leaving some guys standing - this guy is the worlds greatest centre playing - amazing step.



http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26ElDSoOPas

[Madmick]

You know, I know the internationals won't accept this, but if we took all our brothers out of the NFL and put them in rugby, you guys wouldn't score a point.

Seriously, Reggie Bush makes this guy look like a high school athlete.

It's the truth. The talent pool in that sport seems rather shallow.

[Shsu_Rugger]

You're probably right but most of those guys would be scared shitless of all the hitting with no pads, that's our college team's biggest problem with football players. Oh and they did and experiment in the 80's where they took men from Wales and men from the US and pitted them against each other in a game of rugby and a game of football. They each got a month's training in both and the Welshmen won. Don't get me wrong I'm not unpatriotic and there was a time when the USA was dominant in the sport(1930's and 20's before it was banned for being too "violent") and in fact the Eagles used to be feared because of their physicallity but these days ppl would rather make mony, can't say that I blame them. But it would be interesting to see how some of our running backs would do, b/c there's no one blocking for them, and would the be able to offload the ball in the midst of the tackle, rugby requires alot more ball handling than football does.

I've got 'em(IRFU) picked for the 6 nations champs, but if he's the best outside centre(13) who's the best inside centre(12)?

[kris one]

Reggie Bush is a talent and a half but America is a big big country while the Rugby playing nations are big in there own right i don't think it wpuld cover the states.

[Madmick]

I don't understand the sport, but watching that video, I was like, "What about this guy is supposed to take my breath?" I mean, when he burns the other guys, it's usually nothing more than a simple headfake. Compare that to a HL you might find of Barry Sanders back in the day, and you'll see what I mean. He doesn't change directions on a dime, spin, hurdle, shuffle...he doesn't display the athleticism or body control of an RB, CB, FB, TE, or just about anyone else on the football field. He just headfakes and changes speeds.

But I guess rugby isn't about that. Apparently there's usually very little focus on individuals.

I looked everywhere for a 40-yard dash time for O'Driscoll, but I couldn't find one. Clearly he doesn't have nearly the agility or body control of your average NFL RB. Yet I doubt he would come even close to their 4.2's in the 40, either.

I'm just wondering how somebody who seems so athletically mediocre compared to what I'm used to seeing dominates in his sport like this.

[Shsu_Rugger]

B/c there are 30 men on the field, 15 are out to get him and they can all tackle very well(RU Law states that there you HAVE to wrap up below the shoulders on the waist which is perfect tackling technique), and in rugby it's about territory not yardage. You run straight up and not laterally b/c if you get tackled and the other team wins at the break down(ruck) you've lost the ball and now they're gonna kick it deep into your territory and push it over the try line. For rugby the 200 metre is more important the 40, you can alway off load to someone quicker, or you can bang off the break down with your forwards for the short gain and get it out to the back. Btw FB and TE are too big to be running around with these guys they'd be in the forwards kickin' ass and taking names.

[PiKeY]

MadMick, i see your point mate. but trust me, choose a NFL player, put him in O-Driscolls position, garen-damn-teed he would get owned all game.

[Chute Stomp]

Uh. For Rugby you need a HUGE gas tank. These guys aren't stopping and starting between plays like the guys in the NFL do. Their is hardly any time to catch your breath.

And you want athletism in rugby? Try Jonah Lomu. 6'5 273lbs of solid muscle and ran the 100 metres in 10.8 seconds. This dude used to flatten anyone and everyone in his path.

[Kyryllo]

Rugby defensive formation:

                        x






x  x  x  x  x            x       x  x
                x  x    xxx  x

Am. football defensive formation:

               

          x       x            
  x     x                    x
           xxxxx   x

Now tell me where's more room for a runwith the ball, especialy when you know that it is not allowed in rugby to block the defensive player and anybody who is in front of the ballcarrier from the own team is offside.

[Kyryllo]

Originally Posted by Madmick

You know, I know the internationals won't accept this, but if we took all our brothers out of the NFL and put them in rugby, you guys wouldn't score a point.

Seriously, Reggie Bush makes this guy look like a high school athlete.

It's the truth. The talent pool in that sport seems rather shallow.

Rediculous, rediculous claim! You are aware of the fact that you play 2x40 mins in rugby non stop, the only stops are when they prepare for a scrum or kicking a penalty, which is mostly under a minute and you can make only max 7 substitutions where the substituted player doesnt come back in the whole game and not changing the complete team every 3-5 minutes. The most football players run more from the field to the bench than they actualy run playing. Any rugby player runs at least around 4 miles each game.