. Cracker of a game gets underway tomorrow night Australian time, as game one of the Bledisloe Cup kicks off the new 3 game series. Wallabies at home to the All Blacks.
Football is a game played and watched by people who understand that there are things about it that are perhaps not all that great (e.g player behaviour, excessive crowd behaviour and the obscene money involved). In the UK rugby union is played and watched by people who think everything about is absolutely wonderful, gouging and punching are things that happen and at least they're far better than football where the players and crowd skin live babies and barbecue them on the pitch each week. Not sure which social class they all come from though......
Onya Dan. I'm not too sure about all this class stuff to be honest. Sure we can see the university educated type being interviewed after a rugby game, but I should imagine that most players in the UK are working class blokes. And we might feel angered when a football player who can't string a few words together, misbehaves during a night on the tiles. But he's not the average football player. And neither are these filthy rich players either. I should imagine the average footballer is some hard working stiff who just happens to pull on a pair of boots on the weekend. A decent bloke.
It's a summer sport, your criticism is equivalent to having a go at ice skaters for not practicing in Death Valley, typical glory-hunting soccer ****.
Rugby was invented by a bunch of upper class tosspots, playing football at a private school. (The name of said school is evident). It is and always will be, for those that do not possess the skill to play football in it's proper format. Throwing a ball to one another albeit backwards is far easier than doing same thing with feet. (Ask Ray Wilkins). Rugby Football. A game for bumfeeler's.
Ice-skating would be impossible in Death Valley. Cricket is NOT impossible in light rain. United are my local team so how am I a glory hunter? Anyway, I started off by having a dig at rugby. I actually don't mind cricket and didn't criticise it till you did with football. Wind your neck in!
This. Rugby is much easier to excel in if you have the right physical attributes. Hands are meant to be used to manipulate and control, feet aren't. Rugby comes more naturally.
Can't help thinking there are a few things football players need to learn from their rugby wcounterparts, starting with respect for the ref. Meanwhile, watching Johnny Wilkinson in his heyday remaining calm under fire (in open play) after 80 mins of being clattered by the oppositions back row, can only leave you feeling contemptous of overpaid tosspots rolling around in mock agony because they've broken an eyelash. And finally, who wouldn't love to see Carlos Tevez get taken out with a fair but brutal tackle to the midriff that left him gasping for breath?
