[ghost]

Originally Posted by Benji Snap

Union is inferior to rugby league in every way. The only people who say otherwise are those who have not seen top level rugby league or are part of the private schools old boys network.

The most intense and biggest rugby competition in the world is the National Rugby League in Australia. Union can only dream of the kind of talent that exists in this competition.

The hits and intensity in general in union are so soft in comparison its almost laughable..every kiwi I have spoke to in aus will admit that too once they have been exposed to the NRL. and no shoulder charges? lmao.

Union is known as kick and clap for a reason, its dire, constant penalties and stoppages.

The game is on its knees in Australia, and will be reverting back to the amateur days very soon.. and its only going to get worse in NZL too.

I agree with the NRL possessing the greatest talent of rugby or league in the world.
But because of the strong defense, it takes away from the spectacle. When was the last time you saw a backline move constructed from a 1st phase.(scrum..) For me, rugby is easier to watch because of the variety in attack.

I dont think NZ rugby is going backwards. Is does have a problem though with the player drain overseas though, as the weak NZ dollar cant match the Euro and Sterling. Looks like Carter will sign for either Toulon or Toulouse, and that leaves a huge hole for the AB's to fill. Steven Donald and Steven Brett are miles from good enough, with Evans going to Quinns.

Munster will win the H Cup... Toulouse have lost Clerc now. All their 10's are injured too.

[ghost]

Originally Posted by Benji Snap

Don't you think England have improved a lot though? I wouldn't count them out completely... they white washed a weakened NZL last year.

NZL are a force to be reckoned with if they can get their full strength team on the field. Their biggest problem is their lack of depth in the halves and with Roberts/Marshall out.. Leuluai and Hohaio doesn't cut it vs Australia.

A full str NZL team would have had Marshall and Roberts in the halves, Inu and Vatuvei on the wings and Kidwell playing.. and Lauititi, Hape, Meli maybe in there somewhere.

Kiwis suck now... No 6 or 7 good enough at that level. Lauititi,Meli,Vagana and others playing for Samoa.
International Rugby League is Dead. Aussie could put together 4 different teams that would be better than anything else the rest of the world could offer.

[Frank Butcher]

Originally Posted by Akuma Kanji

the world cup was on delay on the VS network. live via PPV.

if you are willing to pay you can watch super 14 and various tri nations stuff here:
Rugby Channel - Internet TV - MediaZone


if you like n. hemisphere stuff (6 nations, etc) you need to work it through setanta sports
Setanta Sports :: Landing Page

i usually go to bars to watch the games live. you pay a 10 cover and get a rate on beers (it's 9 AM or so when you start)

Do many people watch Rugby in the bars in NYC.

[Ben Zona]

I think Kankowski actually used to play Sevens before getting selected for the Boks?

[Ben Zona]

Whos watching S14 this weekend? Some tight games are on the line!!

'Saders
'Thas
Stormers
'Canes

to make the Semifinals

[Frank Butcher]

I hope the Waratahs get a home final.

[Hinch]

God damn Gloucester teasing me at half time, only to go and shit out. Heart breaking.

Wasps versus Leicester? Yawn.

At least Worcester can pull the season back for me by beating Bath....Hey, it could happen.

In other news, Shock loss aside, I'm still picking the Crusaders to take the S14. The Hurricanes won;t stop them, but there could be an upset in the final. I just don't see it happening.

And now for random news! The Barbarians have named their 30 man squad, including the inclusion of Vainikolo and Balshaw, meanign they may get a further match in Kingsholm this season. The squad is:

Barbarians - Backs: I Balshaw (Gloucester), P Hewat (London Irish), T Delport (Worcester), L Vainikolo (Gloucester), G Thomas (Cardiff Blues), M Turinui (Queensland Reds), J Pretorius (Stormers), S Mapusua (London Irish), T Smith (ACT Brumbies), S Larkham (unattached), G Jackson (Saracens), A Gomarsall (Harlequins), M Claassens (Bath), R Powell (Worcester).
Forwards: F Pucciarello (Munster), C Visagie (Saracens), O le Roux (Leinster), P Collazo (Gloucester), D Crompton (Bristol), M Regan (Bristol), S Bruno (Sale Sharks), J Harrison (Ulster), K Chesney (Saracens), D Grewcock (Bath), R Skeate (Stormers), P Wannenburg (Blue Bulls), M Molitika (Cardiff Blues), D Croft (Queensland Reds), M Chapman, C Newby (Otago Highlanders).

[Akuma Kanji]

Originally Posted by Frank Butcher

Do many people watch Rugby in the bars in NYC.

define "many". the bars that do are usually packed.

[Hinch]

League shoulder bludgeoning drinker Sonny Bill Williams has once again been talking of moving to Union. The money may be in Europe, but the NZRU have mentioned they'd be interested in opening up talks.

All part of contract negotiations with the Bulldogs? Or a chance to have one of the NRL's more exciting and gifted players switching over to 15 man?

[Cirko Cro Mop]

A few home truth's about Rugby.

* The fat kids who were never any good at football (soccer) at school, played Rugby as a second life

* Rugby is a toff's sport, Football (soccer) is the sport of the working class

* It doesnt take nowhere near as much skill as it does to play American football (NFL) or Football (soccer), im English and at least i admit that!

* Rugby players DO wear pads under their jerseys

* You are still allowed to drink beer in a Rugby Stadium, in a Football (soccer) stadium, however you are not

*The reason for this is Football (soccer) fans are fiercely loyal and will kill for their team, unlike the fleece wearing Rugby crowd

* The hits are pretty good, but you have to sit through ten minutes of Rugby players continously kicking the ball from one end to the other to get to any sort of tackle, again no skill

*Games are regularly settled even though players have not scored a try. (To NFL guys, its like a game being settled without a single touchdown, only field goals)

* Before it was ever called Rugby, it was a form of football (soccer). Two divisions of people had a falling out on the original rules of association football (soccer), which one group thought the ball should be only kicked, and another thought it should be picked up. The kicking end won and the disgruntled other side, formed Rugby

* There are more horrific injuries in football (soccer) than Rugby, this is due to the large amount of leg breaks footballers receive

* Rugby matches are played for 80 minutes, football (soccer) matches are played for 90

* Football (soccer) is widely known as the universal language of the world, Rugby on the other hand is largely an unkown in terms of countries playing

* Fooballers (soccer players) are all around better athletes