You might be interested in recent events in international rugby union to go along with your new-found understanding of the rules (or you might not but you’re gonna hear about them anyway). I must apologise for my compatriot, Twisty, it was New Zealand (the All Blacks) who we put up a good show against last week.
In the six nations we did beat everyone but the Scots but most importantly we beat the English for the first time in seven years. We denied them the grand slam which involves beating the other five teams in the same season. This was the third year in a row that England have lost the slam in the final game, Scotland and Wales having beaten them in the previous two years. In all three games, England were the overwhelming favourites, making their failure at the final hurdle all the more sweet. I should explain that the basic dynamic of the six nations is that everyone but the english want England to lost. This is partly because of a perceived arrogance on the part of the english rugby fraternity and partly because they are generally better than everybody else (so maybe it’s confidence rather than arrogance). England still won the championship.
However, hats off to the english who did beat Australia and South Africa recently, striking a minor blow for northern hemisphere rugby. They have now won their last five matches in a row against southern hemisphere opposition. I’m sure our southern hemisphere friends will be quick to point out that these games have been out of season for their sides.
Australia are world champions, tri-nations champions (competition between the three traditional powers of southern hemisphere rugby - them, NZ and South Africa) and beat the Lions 2-1 in a three match series. The Lions are a team selected from the best of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
Call me old-fashioned but that seems to be the bit that counts.
Interesting that you point out that England beat South Africa and Australia out of season (for their opponents) but not that when Ireland beat England, it was the first game for the English in (about) 4 months and the third game in (about) a month for the Irish. Perhaps I misread or my memory’s slipping.
Doesn’t this make Ireland – perhaps with NZ – the best team in the world ?
I agree that Ireland probably wouldn’t have won if England had had more match practice but as we don’t win this fixture very often, we’ll take it anyway we can get it. I am not suggesting that Ireland are the better team at the moment. We have improved significantly but, unlike England, we haven’t beaten any southern hemisphere sides in or out of season.
However, I don’t think you’ll find many english supporters agreeing with you that winning the championship was ‘the bit that counts’. England have won the championship so much in recent years that it has become of little value to them. The Grand Slam, on the other hand, is proving more elusive and really means something. One look at the faces of the english players as they accepted their championship medals at Lansdowne Road would tell you that.
I know it’s a joke and all, but England play in white, which is about as far from a dark strip (uniform? what? :o) as you can get.
I always found white a weird colour to wear for a game which generally consists of jumping in mud.
Crap claim to fame:
I used to play for the school district of Rugby, Warwickshire at rugby. Note, note at Rugby School which would have been cooler.
(Rugby was invented at Rugby School, Rugby, Warwickshire, England)
Waverly - thought you’‘d like to know you made me spew coffee, and I’m still laughing. Slow moving ruminants indeed! Hey, I resemble that remark. Now excuse me while I grease down my head and shove it between a couple of guys’ sweaty thighs. Nothing beats fun at the old ballpark.
Well that depends - when Scotland wins the 5 nations (as it was then_, then it’s the championship that’s important. When England win it, then the important bit is the Grand Slam.
Wow, thanks for the info guys, that pretty much clears up all of my questions. Now I know what I was watching.
One more thing. In the last game I saw (Scotland vs. New Zealand), New Zealand did some sort of war chant before the game. What is the story behind that? Is it a club tradition?
Some EX Iowa State Ruggers started a local team.There wern’t enough ex ruggers in town so I decided I would try out. I played 2nd row. Well, sort of played. You have to forget a lot of american high school football and learn a new game in a big hurry.Lots of strange rules.
One bit of advice,Don’t try to play the game for the first time when you are 30.OH Most important.Don’t lock up behind two fat guys. Damned near tore my ears off.
We were known as the “Skunk River Rugby and Social Club”.After 2 seasons I decided to become a social member.
