The rugby

[rualexander]

Autumn Internationals start this weekend.
Some good games to look forward to.
https://www.autumn-internationals.co.uk/2024/

But, coverage is on TNT Sports this year instead of Amazon Prime over the past few years.
TNT is available on Discovery+ but not on the standard tier that I have for the cycling, so looks like I'll have to fork out for a month's subscription to the premium tier at £30.99 for a month 🙄


Got tickets for all of Scotland's games at Murrayfield though 😁

 

[geocycle]

It’s a bit of a subscription lottery as to where the sport will land. I get discovery and TNT through my BT tv and broadband subscription. I didn’t actually know I had it until the cycling shifted across.

 

[Beebo]

I agree with Marler that the Haka should be either before the anthems or abolished.
And bringing additional items such as wooden spears on the pitch is wrong.

 

[rualexander]

I agree with Marler that the Haka should be either before the anthems or abolished.
And bringing additional items such as wooden spears on the pitch is wrong.

Why?

 

[Beebo]

Why?

It offers NZ an advantage no other team has.

 

[Alex321]

It offers NZ an advantage no other team has.

Really?

And exactly what is that advantage?
Is it enough to be worth an extra 10 points per decade? (I doubt it would).

 

[Beebo]

Really?

And exactly what is that advantage?
Is it enough to be worth an extra 10 points per decade? (I doubt it would).

If it isn’t an advantage, why are they so protective of it every time someone tries to stop it.

 

[Beebo]

View: https://youtu.be/ZbEtWN7wtow?si=eSIMUTOBH1PTOUnT


Always a funny watch to remind everyone of the history and cultural significance.

 

[Dogtrousers]

If it isn’t an advantage, why are they so protective of it every time someone tries to stop it.

Some things are just worth protecting for their own sake. I've seen the haka a few times over the years and it adds a bit to the occasion. Also saw the Samoan one once.

I like it mainly because it's a rarity that most teams don't do.

I could entirely live without national anthems, but other people seem to like them.

I think Marler is being a bit of a dick - and I see he's backed down now.

 

[DRM]

View: https://youtu.be/WpN5NyTSth8?si=B-Qiiy060jbvPH_D

We could always return the compliment

 

[DRM]

Some things are just worth protecting for their own sake. I've seen the haka a few times over the years and it adds a bit to the occasion. Also saw the Samoan one once.

Totally agree, saw the NZ Rugby League side perform the Haka at Headingley in a warm up game where they gave Leeds a sound thrashing, however live it's brilliant, they even did it at the end of the game in front of the Southstand,smack bang in front of me & Mrs DRM, it's something very special imho.

 

[rualexander]

It offers NZ an advantage no other team has.

No other team?
Fiji?
Samoa?
Tonga?
All have similar pre match cultural challenges.
Nothing to stop any other teams from developing their own pre match challenge/ritual.
And what advantage does it offer anyway?
It would make just as much sense to scrap the anthems.

 

[rualexander]

If it isn’t an advantage, why are they so protective of it every time someone tries to stop it.

Because it's a significant part of New Zealand culture.

 

[Beebo]

A fair compromise could be NZ can do it at home games but for away games both teams have to agree to it, or it doesn’t happen.

 

[rualexander]

A fair compromise could be NZ can do it at home games but for away games both teams have to agree to it, or it doesn’t happen.

Why?

All teams already agree to it, do you know of teams who don't agree to it at the moment?