The rugby

[matticus]

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


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

Great stuff! So basically it was initially the Rugby answer to hand-jive??

[And would it be a reasonable, completely subjective comment to say that it seemed to be a lot less fearsome the more white guys in the lineup ............]

 

[Dogtrousers]

Back to the actual rugby. Bit of a nailbiter here - where is the penalty, who has been carded?

Don't have TNT but commentary is on 5 Live Sports Extra

Off the post! NZ knock on! 2 mins to go

 

[matticus]

People love to bellyache about it in the internet when they can't think of anything else but the fact is it's not just a part of NZ history and culture but of Rugby history.

The game is unrecognisable these days - Leicester play with numbers on their jerseys FFS, but there are still a few oddities that survive and are worth cherishing in the face of calls for further homogenisation and standardisation. The British Lions is one. The Haka is another.

Personally I'd like players to still be allowed to drop each-other on their heads - it used to be a PROPER men's game. Woof. (I hear they're even letting girls play. Is that true?!?)
But sadly things change.

I don't find it silly to love the spectacle of the Haka AND ALSO think it's a silly unfair advantage, that opposition should be under no obligation to sit through, let alone show respect.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Dooooh!

Two chances for Ford to save it. Penalty off the post! Drop goal wide!

We can blather pointlessly about the haka some other time.

 

[geocycle]

Really enjoyed the game, NZ deserved it because of their tries but couldn’t have complained had Ford kicked one of the two chances at the end. The front row subs didnt work for England and two scrum penalties turned the screw for the Blacks. Disappointing but not one to fret about for England.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Really enjoyed the game, NZ deserved it because of their tries but couldn’t have complained had Ford kicked one of the two chances at the end. The front row subs didnt work for England and two scrum penalties turned the screw for the Blacks. Disappointing but not one to fret about for England.

Did you watch it? I followed the first half on the BBC website and the second half on the radio (well, on my laptop actually) and your conclusions seem to be pretty much what I thought. I really want to see that first NZ try with the impossible offload!!

 

[geocycle]

Yes NZ were very dangerous when they attacked. The back row S….. was fantastic.

 

[AndyRM]

Taking Smith off was a mistake I reckon, but England really didn't offer much.

 

[rualexander]

Are they precious about it?

Yes.

No

 

[Dogtrousers]

I see Joe Marler has announced his international retirement.

Again.

 

[AndyRM]

I see Joe Marler has announced his international retirement.

Again.

He needed binning for some time. Ridiculous that he's doing this.

Again.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I remember first seeing him in an age group international v Wales. He ran half the length of the pitch to score, skittling tacklers like The Big Kid at school.

He's had an unfortunate habit of running his mouth - remember the Samson Lee incident and ISTR he called someone's mother a whore at some other time.

But that aside he's been a good player for England. The scrum isn't looking so great these days.

 

[Beebo]

He’s had quite well documented mental health issues, which were related to his first retirement, which was probably too early.
This retirement is a the right time.
I watched him last year playing Saracens. He’s absolutely massive. He was too big to play a full game, which is a problem with today’s professional game where front rows only play 50mins. But that’s a different discussion.

I took this photo to show how big he is. He’s almost twice the size of Danny Care.

 

[Rusty Nails]

If they reduced the number of replacements that could be made, especially for the forwards, then they would have to become fitter, and probably lighter, to last a whole match. The game would improve and take away the need for such heavy lumps in the front row.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I took this photo to show how big he is. He’s almost twice the size of Danny Care.

That's not necessarily the most impressive of comparisons. Care isn't exactly a giant of a rugby player.

But yeah, Marler's a big boy.