He seemed sober to me. But that's probably because I'm used to seeing him really pissed! Surprised you got that in Dublin mate. Down the Country yes but not in Dublin. Good stuff though! I'm gonna start a thread for the IRL v ENG game on Sunday. I can't remember if you're a fan of the Oval ball, Stan? I'm guessing you are as cricket fans and rugby fans tend to go hand in hand. I think?
It was 20 years ago mate, but has stuck with me ever since. I like rugby, but am not an expert, mainly follow it because my boy plays as did my Dad - I played a few matches at school, enjoyed it, but was always football/soccer at heart, no time to play both. May miss the game on Sunday the boy is in his final trial match for Warwickshire Colts - but he regularly misses club games to come with me to LR, his choice. Only things I dislike about rugby are the complexity of the rules and inconsistency of enforcement, which has made the scrum a joke, and the 'holier than thou' attitude about player behaviour, when so much institutionalised cheating goes on. And of course the chip on the shoulder 'soccer' v rugby thing, from both sides, which may be specifically English, especially as Union is seen as a posh southern game.
As opposed to League or Soccer? That's interesting. League is predominant in only two parts of the World: Northern England and some part of Australia (can't remember where). Everywhere else in the Rugby World, Union is dominant. Is League seen as a more working class version of the game or did you mean Rugby in general is considered middle class as opposed to working class "Soccer"? I don't think the Rugby/Soccer thing is specifically English. I think that division/banter exists in every Country where both Codes are played.
As a Londoner/ southerner ( despite what you might think not posh though), rugby for me is Union, if I refer to Rugby League (also a great game, just not in my blood), I'd always say 'rugby league'. League definitely northern and working class in English terms. Soccer much less working class nowadays than it pretends to be. Think league is the biggest sport in New South Wales and perhaps Queensland, I expect to be corrected on this by our Aussie colleagues. Union second fiddle everywhere as its Aussie rules in Victoria. Staggering with so much sport going on and a relatively small population that they turn out world beating teams in both codes. But we will have them in the 10 match home and away Ashes Series this year. At least I hope so, I have put some considerable bets on with Aussie work mates..... Ps the thing with rugby for me is that it's a bloody dangerous sport if you don't get it right, has to be coached well and consistently from an early age - and sadly it's mainly private schools who invest both in coaches and time. Entrenching the 'poshness'
I'm with ye now It is indeed. Australia churns out top teams in many Sports that belies their small size. They really are a sports-mad nation. Must be summat to do with the weather. I hope you do. They might be a sports mad nation but I found that a good deal of arrogance goes with that. Yes I'm generalising but in my experience, they're a great people, but are the worst losers on the planet when it comes to any kind of sport. I don't know why that is. Must be summat to do with the weather.........................
I was working there during the last ashes series. The press and TV were merciless in taking their own team to pieces, much worse than over here, you're right they really do hate losing. Maybe that's why they tend to win more than their fair share. Right, time to turn in.
