I am so over rugby union

[oldrider]

Rugby Union is not compulsory viewing, neither is League, (not even close) simply turn it off!

Or even better, if you don't like it, don't turn it on! Too simple for words really!

[Mom]

You forgot

Our elite rugby players are now gym fit, not match fit, they are not the hard men of rugby they once were.

The kicker (boom tish) for me though, is the stupid way we seem to have developed the kick the ball back and forwards type of game, I yell loudly at the TV and no one listens.

[Owl]

Eleven sentences starting with "And". That must be a new kind of record for one post!

[Fatt Max]

Nice one Hitcher, nutshells the whole union thing really

Even the blithering, blathering and bloothering from the NZRFU who fucked the world cup campaign for 2000 and are now well on the way to ripping the whole world off for 2011 world cup tickets is crap.

The game has gone corporate, the players are getting soft and it's all a bit of a toss now, regardless of Saturday's result.

My 2c anyway, I prefer football

[wysper]

On yer Hitch, me too, but worse for me as well...........I'm a Warrior's supporter.

I can beat that.. I am a black caps fan!

With rugby, I find it pretty hard to understand the rules now. I very rarely know what the ref has blown the whistle for....bit like netball really.

[Laxi]

On yer Hitch, me too, but worse for me as well...........I'm a Warrior's supporter.

:slap:

I cant stand union, I'd rather watch AFL

[Big Dave]

Kiwi's seem to have trouble getting past the AFL uniform.

Shame really - it's a good game with a unique type athlete.

A good contest displays hand and foot skills, long distance running and full body contact.

[Winston001]

I knew I'd forgotten something earlier that irritated the shit out of me...

Everything's OK Hitcher, I heard some chap on the radio explaining its all about (sic) physicality....

[James Deuce]

Sacrilege!!!

Burn the heathen!!!

Turn him into a Newt!!

[Usarka]

Scrumbags!

[Big Dave]

Scrumbags!

Maaaate - you got tackled by a door.

[Usarka]

Maaaate - you got tackled by a door.

Either that or an awesome falcon....

[Winston001]

I can beat that.. I am a black caps fan!

A Witch a Witch!!


And a brave one too. If rugby is starting to fade, it is still a mega sport compared to cricket. No-one plays it (our national team certainly don't), it takes hours to achieve a result, and if you are really really lucky, days to reach a draw.

Fairs fair, the snick of willow on leather is a pleasant background for an afternoon in the sun. And it's cheap television which is the only explanation I've ever come up with for why cricket intrudes on the national consciousness at all.

Still, no disrespect to those who enjoy the game.

[MaxB]

I love the game and have been invovled in various ways over the years but some of the recent goings on leave me cold.

A mate summed it up on the weekend, the period when our rugby whored itself to the highest bidder and forgot about the grassroots and clubs will be known as "the Adidas Years".

[Hitcher]

The NZRU has trademarked a rugby heritage that was paid for with the sweat and sacrifice of talented and dedicated amateurs. Those amateurs were people we could all identify with. On those rare occasions when they lost a test, they had left everything on the paddock, and we their supporters (never "fans") knew that and didn't really think anything of it. Tests weren't "just another game" or a higher pay packet.

All of this recent bullshit about "respect for the jersey" is just twaddle aimed at selling merchandise. I would never own or wear an All Blacks jersey because I was never good enough to be picked to wear one.

Playing test matches in "neutral" overseas venues is the beginning of the end. It will become increasingly prevalent until matches here in New Zealand are the exception rather than the rule.