Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Mar 21, 2010 4:51 pm  

Gijou wrote:

Come on Catalancs, put your money where your mouth is...

How can union declare itself a global game based on those comparative WC results?

Global in terms of the number of countries where it's played.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Sun Mar 21, 2010 6:25 pm  

Stand-Offish wrote:

Can someone explain to me what goes on inside the head of the modern day RU player......I am thing Wilkinson here.
5 minutes to go losing 12-10.....so a drop goal or kick-able penalty would probably win it....The French are happy to run down the clock in our half.....and our forwards are putting their lives on the line to win back the ball only for Wilkinson to kick it back to the French?????
I'm sorry but tired as the players will have been....our best chance was to try to keep the ball, recycle it and work it up field for a drop goal....and he kicks it away hoping for something to happen by accident.
What has this game become and what is the point of kicking the ball away with minutes to go?
No doubt someone will be able to explain....
Sack Johnson I say....and get an attack-minded coach.

When England were winning by playing negative rugby, 'Jonny' was hailed as the finest player in the world, because he could the ball an awfully long way. It must be hard for him to not do it now, given that his entire career has been built on it.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon Mar 22, 2010 2:29 am  

Shadow wrote:

Football, seven winners seven runners up.
How can it claim to be a global sport with those results?

Seven appears more than four to me...

You must be struggling with elementary maths.



Nearly double the number.

Next...

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon Mar 22, 2010 2:31 am  

Catalancs wrote:

Global in terms of the number of countries where it's played.

So again, I ask, what is the cut off between "global" and "minority"...???

Rugby league is played in 55 nations now.

Presumably the cut-off between global and minority falls some place after that...



As I have shown with this argument before, it is all definitional and people buying into these descriptions are also deluding themselves...

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon Mar 22, 2010 7:56 am  

It's ok, England yawnion has yet another saviour.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon Mar 22, 2010 12:24 pm  

Gijou wrote:

So again, I ask, what is the cut off between "global" and "minority"...???
Rugby league is played in 55 nations now.
Presumably the cut-off between global and minority falls some place after that...



As I have shown with this argument before, it is all definitional and people buying into these descriptions are also deluding themselves...

One difference here for example is that rugby union has a established domestic league and a national team that play regular international features. Rugy league has a one year old round robin, 20 minute a game competition played by rugby union players in the off season.
I'm not a fan of union but it's always good to discuss things, not just shout folk down.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Mon Mar 22, 2010 1:02 pm  

Stand-Offish wrote:

Sack Johnson I say....and get an attack-minded coach.

The whole momentum of the game shifted with the changes to England's midfield.

With Flood, Flutey and Tindall at 10,12 and 13 they at least looked like they wanted to shift the ball and ask questions of the French defence.

When Tindall was withdrawn to be replaced by Matthew Tait (who has had a wholly ineffectual tournament) and then Flood shifted into the centres to accomodate Wilkinson the pattern of England's game changed back into the turgid, kick and chase rubbish that has served them so poorly in the previous four games.

The blame for that falls squarely on Johnson's shoulders, and the blame for appointing a novice coach and surrounding him with yes men like Ford, Smith and Wells falls squarely on Rob Andrew's shoulders.

Both should be shown the door, neither will be.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Tue Mar 23, 2010 3:13 am  

Catalancs wrote:

One difference here for example is that rugby union has a established domestic league and a national team that play regular international features. Rugy league has a one year old round robin, 20 minute a game competition played by rugby union players in the off season.
I'm not a fan of union but it's always good to discuss things, not just shout folk down.

All that means is union has greater penetration in Spain/Catalonia.

It has nothing to do with it being "global" or otherwise.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Wed Mar 24, 2010 3:40 pm  

Gijou wrote:

So again, I ask, what is the cut off between "global" and "minority"...???

Rugby league is played in 55 nations now.

Presumably the cut-off between global and minority falls some place after that...



As I have shown with this argument before, it is all definitional and people buying into these descriptions are also deluding themselves...

Passing a rugby ball to someone wearing in NRL jumper in spain does not constitute the game being played there.

Re: If you must discuss Union, do it here II : Thu Mar 25, 2010 2:09 am  

Codarmysaint wrote:

Passing a rugby ball to someone wearing in NRL jumper in spain does not constitute the game being played there.

Delusional and incapable of fashioning a sentence...

Gee these unionites have some ammo.