Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Morris dancing rugby players. If that doesn't put off the opposition, nothing will.


On the subject of the hakka, I was priviledged to watch it for real at Cardiff only 2 weeks ago. It is a tradition which I look forward to seeing - its what sets the All Blacks apart (as well as their amazing rugby sometimes). The 'challenge' laid down - and the response from the other team - is an exciting spectacle. I was also at the Cardiff match when they did the hakka in their dressing rooms and the disappointment in the crowd was palpable. I think jeering the hakka is disrespectful, no matter which fans do it.

Brendan Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> They?re both essentially one dimensional games for

> troglodytes. They can both however be good

> entertainment and quite fun to play.

>

> Soccer is however just a downright @#$%&

> embarrassment. The behaviour of people who watch

> it, the spirit in which it is played and the

> examples it sets are disgusting.

>

> This is not to say that bad and unsporting things

> don?t happen in rugby too but to a far lesser

> degree.

>

> When last did anything even vaguely sporting,

> which would set a good example for a youngster on

> how they should conduct themselves as a decent

> human being, happen in a professional soccer

> match?

>

> What do you think the chances of rival soccer fans

> sharing the stand again are? Ever? That in itself

> is enough to make any person with an even vaguely

> decent moral framework feel sceptical of the whole

> thing.

>

> It is in no uncertain terms a foul, national @#$%&

> embarrassment.

>

> I will still watch international games but I have

> no inclination to have anything to do with the

> slurry pit of professional club football.


What Brendan said about soccer. I think both have similar positives as sports but having attended both as a fan Rugby has to win hands down. I challenge anyone who has been to an international in both to say anything positive about the general attitude of the worst 25% of a football crowd. Unfortunately they seem to ruin it for everyone else. Rugby however I would always be happy to take all the family along to watch. Would never dream about that in football.

Yeah that was a bit of a rant to let off steam when I was in a bad mood but the general sentiment holds firm. It?s a pity many people are put off by soccer not because of the game as such but because of the nasty uncivilised undercurrent in the support and subculture.


That?s not to say you don?t get unpleasant meatheads at rugby matches but they generally get sorted out by slightly more pleasant meatheads or just made to feel stupid.

My experiences have been solely in the UK, Ireland and France and my only negative experience was years ago at Murrayfield when I stood up from my seat as everyone in front of me stood up, to see Ireland scoring a try. I got a slap on the back from a Scot who said to me he dinnie pay ?5 to look at the back of my coat.

Declan Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> ............and I thought you were going to

> mention Ireland are currently on a run of 9

> consecutive wins in the 5/6 nations. Just for

> balance of course.



9 wins. Is that correct declan? Did they beat france and england away in 2008? And wales? I thought they had a poor 6 nations in 2008. 5 wins in 2009 of course.

i see. Im afraid the scots have been poor for a few years now. More significantly ireland must also be on an approx 9 game unbeaten run against all opposition since their last defeat against all blacks last november. Hopefully avoiding defeat against SA on saturday and they will take that unbeaten run into next years 6 nations.
  • 1 month later...

Well, well it's certainly not a clean sport and there is no excuse just because it is very physical either. Some of the foul play is beyond the pale, much more serious than anything in footy, yet instead of life bans for trying to cripple or blind an opponent the players are effectively just given a slap on the wrist with a ban for a few games/weeks/months.


Just because a Rugby player appears to respect a Ref by saying Yes Sir when a decision goes against him does not mean the rest of his game is clean.

Well all I've read on this thread Declan is how Rugby is superior to Football in everything (apart from mention of the game itself of course), the implication being that whatever Rugby does badly then Football does it worse, e.g. foul play, player behaviour, supporters..


A 70 week ban maybe the right message but it's not exactly the norm is it - read this http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/france/4945001/Eye-gouging-just-a-way-of-life-in-French-rugby.html

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • The current wave of xenophobia is due to powerful/influential people stirring up hatred.  It;'s what happened in the past, think 1930s Germany.  It seems to be even easier now as so many get their information from social media, whether it is right or wrong.  The media seeking so called balance will bring some nutter on, they don't then bring a nutter on to counteract that. They now seem to turn to Reform at the first opportunity. So your life is 'shite', let;s blame someone else.  Whilst sounding a bit like a Tory, taking some ownership/personal responsibility would be a start.  There are some situations where that may be more challenging, in deindustrialised 'left behind' wasteland we can't all get on our bikes and find work.  But I loathe how it is now popular to blame those of us from relatively modest backgrounds, like me, who did see education and knowledge as a way to self improve. Now we are seen by some as smug liberals......  
    • Kwik Fit buggered up an A/C leak diagnosis for me (saying there wasn't one, when there was) and sold a regas. The vehicle had to be taken to an A/C specialist for condensor replacement and a further regas. Not impressed.
    • Yes, these are all good points. I agree with you, that division has led us down dangerous paths in the past. And I deplore any kind of racism (as I think you probably know).  But I feel that a lot of the current wave of xenophobia we're witnessing is actually more about a general malaise and discontent. I know non-white people around here who are surprisingly vocal about immigrants - legal or otherwise. I think this feeling transcends skin colour for a lot of people and isn't as simple as, say, the Jew hatred of the 1930s or the Irish and Black racism that we saw laterally. I think people feel ignored and looked down upon.  What you don't realise, Sephiroth, is that I actually agree with a lot of what you're saying. I just think that looking down on people because of their voting history and opinions is self-defeating. And that's where Labour's getting it wrong and Reform is reaping the rewards.   
    • @Sephiroth you made some interesting points on the economy, on the Lammy thread. Thought it worth broadening the discussion. Reeves (irrespective of her financial competence) clearly was too downbeat on things when Labour came into power. But could there have been more honesty on the liklihood of taxes going up (which they have done, and will do in any case due to the freezing of personal allowances).  It may have been a silly commitment not to do this, but were you damned if you do and damned if you don't?
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...