Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Oct 23, 2011 4:24 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

Disappointed by the tournament as a whole. The All Blacks were deserved winners as they're head and shoulders above their nearest rivals. If they can keep this level up then they'll be unstoppable as I think the standard of rugby union played by the other three or four 'big' nations has worryingly dropped.
Next time I'd like to see fewer teams and a maximum duration of 4 weeks. Going off what I've read on here and elsewhere on t'internet, I've been lucky to have had Canal+ commentary rather than ITV.

Not sure how you can come to the conclusion that New Zealand are head and shoulders above their rivals after an 8-7 win. It’s not as if the All Blacks were playing all the rugby and France were playing a negative game trying to close it down and grind out a result – if anything it was the other way around. If you were watching that game without knowing which team was which, for me you would say the French were the more skilful and athletic team

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Oct 23, 2011 4:30 pm  

Dunbar wrote:

Not sure how you can come to the conclusion that New Zealand are head and shoulders above their rivals after an 8-7 win. It’s not as if the All Blacks were playing all the rugby and France were playing a negative game trying to close it down and grind out a result – if anything it was the other way around. If you were watching that game without knowing which team was which, for me you would say the French were the more skilful and athletic team

I'm not just talking about this mornin, I'm talking about the past few years and of course it's just my personal opinion. It looked to me that NZ were more concerned with not losing than going out and winning the game.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Oct 23, 2011 5:16 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

I'm not just talking about this mornin, I'm talking about the past few years and of course it's just my personal opinion. It looked to me that NZ were more concerned with not losing than going out and winning the game.

Ok, fair point, the All Blacks have been the best team of the last 4 years. I do get frustrated watching them play a lot of the time as they have some very talented players and yet very rarely cut loose as they should... although much of that can be put down to the constraints of the game itself than the players

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Oct 23, 2011 5:43 pm  

considering Sonny Bill can not get into the first 15. What is the point of him staying in Rugby Union?

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Oct 23, 2011 5:49 pm  

kobashi wrote:

considering Sonny Bill can not get into the first 15. What is the point of him staying in Rugby Union?

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Oct 23, 2011 6:32 pm  

Catalancs wrote:

Na he took a big wage cut when he left Toulan to go and play in NZ. He took that wage cut cos he wanted to play for the All Blacks. Now the world cup is over he can wait 4 more years or move back to Sydney (which he wants to do) and get paid more playing League.

A french Union side could pay him loads but like I said he wants to live in Sydney so unless a Union Side in Sydney can pay him some big money I think SBW could be back in the NRL.

As for the game. Utter rubbish. A close final but boring. Any other Test environment the All Blacks would of thrown the ball around and dragged France all over the place but as usual what we see in Union in world cup knock out stages is a reluctance to be expansive and the laws of the game allow you to win by being anything but expansive.

There is nothing in that game that League doesnt have but RL has just been slow to promote the game. There is no way that product is better than League.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Oct 23, 2011 7:12 pm  

Just out of curiosity I watched the Union WC Final this morning.

I am sorry but if that is the best that they can come up with it just shows how bias the media are towards union.

Shocking game and I will admit the rules of the game I am not to sure about but God the way the AB's played the game was a joke to say the least,roll on the 4 Nations and we can watch some real rugby(well from NZ and Aus anyway).

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Oct 23, 2011 9:42 pm  

Just had a quick sken at some of Monday's back pages and I've yet to see even a mention of the rugby union world cup final.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Oct 23, 2011 10:16 pm  

nickcat0 wrote:

And of course McCaw was everywhere; some of his work at the breakdown defies belief,

according to the stats he made 14 tackles - a RL forward would be sacked after putting in that kind of shift (i accept there are 2 more forwards to share the work around but 14 seems pretty low to me)

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Oct 23, 2011 10:27 pm  

the artist wrote:

according to the stats he made 14 tackles - a RL forward would be sacked after putting in that kind of shift (i accept there are 2 more forwards to share the work around but 14 seems pretty low to me)

It's impossible to compare. League and union may have their similarities but in general they are worlds apart.