Reply to: England's front row to face NZ (yes, it's rugby time again)

[Alf W]

Improved OK.

[Mich the Tester]

The 'Haka' is certainly more honed and drilled than it used to be.

In 1979, England captain Fran Cotton led the North of England to victory against New Zealand. As the All Blacks did their Haka, Cotton shouted at his players 'look at the big poofs dancing'. Their choreography has improved even more than their rugby.

[cailin maith]

Thats pretty shocking Alf! Makes me laugh everytime I see it though

[Alf W]

The 'Haka' is certainly more honed and drilled than it used to be.

[SupremeSpod]

Not before he's had 14 of these;



And a truckload of these;

I told yer Mum that you'd look after yer dear old Dad in his dotage!

[FiveTimes]

Here's something really controversial...

League is a far better game imho!

WSSS

[Mich the Tester]

Now you are just being silly! Perhaps you need a lie down.

Not before he's had 14 of these;



And a truckload of these;

[SupremeSpod]

Now you are just being silly! Perhaps you need a lie down.

[Mich the Tester]

Here's something really controversial...

League is a far better game imho!

Erm, it was for a while, before they got rid of proper scrums.

[cailin maith]

Here's something really controversial...

League is a far better game imho!

Now you are just being silly! Perhaps you need a lie down.

[SupremeSpod]

Oh great fun indeed; ever watched that vid of the 1973 Barbarians game when the Welsh backs scored a length of the field try by virtue of each having two functioning legs? It looks fantastic, but the defence was just abysmal; any modern team of a standard above Old Wobbleflabbians 2nd XV would simply pulverise them. I'm going to say something very controversial here; with a few notable exceptions (Mike Gibson, Andy Ripley, Dave Duckham, Fergus Slattery and Gareth Edwards), most 1970s rugby players were fat, unfit and tulipe. Happily though, that meant there was space on the field for running rugby; there isn't much space these days as you can no longer assume the big guys are slow.

Here's something really controversial...

League is a far better game imho!

[cailin maith]

There's a surprise. Are you suggesting England are going to abandon their traditional 15 man, free-flowing, end to end running game for something lacking any skill or flair How odd!

Ugh - I wondered when you'd turn up... Dirty Saffa Cheater

[Mich the Tester]

There's a surprise. Are you suggesting England are going to abandon their traditional 15 man, free-flowing, end to end running game for something lacking any skill or flair How odd!

Flair's for Frogs with names like Jean Le Pouff.

[Mich the Tester]

Those were the days, Son.

Oh great fun indeed; ever watched that vid of the 1973 Barbarians game when the Welsh backs scored a length of the field try by virtue of each having two functioning legs? It looks fantastic, but the defence was just abysmal; any modern team of a standard above Old Wobbleflabbians 2nd XV would simply pulverise them. I'm going to say something very controversial here; with a few notable exceptions (Mike Gibson, Andy Ripley, Dave Duckham, Fergus Slattery and Gareth Edwards), most 1970s 'first class' rugby players were fat, unfit and tulipe. Happily though, that meant there was space on the field for running rugby; there isn't much space these days as you can no longer assume the big guys are slow.

[DaveB]

Yep; it might also be to do with modern players actually being fit, as opposed to most 1970s players who thought 'training' involved hobbling to the rugby club while complaining of a sore knee, jogging around 3 cones at 10 yards distance and then sinking 14 pints and the entire Fray Bentos selection from the cash and carry.

Coarse Rugby at it's finest