Reply to: Why I'm glad I don't play rugby any more

[Mich the Tester]

I only have trouble with my shoulders, especially trying not to sleep on them! I blame the forwards for not doing more of my tackling for me!

We didn't play together then. I didn't have many talents, but I could tackle and I loved it, especially when a fly half just stayed on the ground holding his stomach. Even better if his breakfast came out. I am of the school of thought that sees Courtney Lawes diving into people flat out and says 'you should have it him harder Courtney'. In fact when a coach asked me why I did lots of shuttle sprints before and after training, I said 'so I can catch more people and flatten them'. One skill, well executed, can take you quite a long way.

And yes, my shoulders are fooked now too.

[moggy]

Be glad you can sit comfortably; my ribs click in and out if I lean against the armrest on the sofa.

I only have trouble with my shoulders, especially trying not to sleep on them! I blame the forwards for not doing more of my tackling for me!

[d000hg]

WHS, although playing in the back row and occasionally second row isn't really all that complicated; shove, tackle, grunt, fart, shove, tackle, grunt, fart, punch somebody, shove, tackle, grunt, fart until some chap with a shirt that's not from one of the teams blows a whistle for something obscure.

I meant complicated to follow

[Mich the Tester]

Glad I don't play any more too.. Now I can sit comfortably and watch the France - England match, and enjoy my trip to Dublin for the Ireland - Wales game next week..

Be glad you can sit comfortably; my ribs click in and out if I lean against the armrest on the sofa.

[moggy]

Glad I don't play any more too.. Now I can sit comfortably and watch the France - England match, and enjoy my trip to Dublin for the Ireland - Wales game next week..

[Damon]

WHS, although playing in the back row and occasionally second row isn't really all that complicated; shove, tackle, grunt, fart, shove, tackle, grunt, fart, punch somebody, shove, tackle, grunt, fart until some chap with a shirt that's not from one of the teams blows a whistle for something obscure.

That sounds like an AGILE scrum meeting at my current tulip client!

[Mich the Tester]

The masses like football, and have no interest in more numbers than how many goals were scored. Rugby is arguably unpopular because it's more complicated than football, releasing loads of statistics is hardly going to improve this.

WHS, although playing in the back row and occasionally second row isn't really all that complicated; shove, tackle, grunt, fart, shove, tackle, grunt, fart, punch somebody, shove, tackle, grunt, fart until some chap with a shirt that's not from one of the teams blows a whistle for something obscure.

[d000hg]

They are trying to make what is essentially a boring middle class sport interesting to the masses. It will not work unless it has broad pleb appeal.

The masses like football, and have no interest in more numbers than how many goals were scored. Rugby is arguably unpopular because it's more complicated than football, releasing loads of statistics is hardly going to improve this.

[amcdonald]

They are trying to make what is essentially a boring middle class sport interesting to the masses. It will not work unless it has broad pleb appeal.

To be fair at least it's not cricket, now that is dull to watch

[Bellona]

He looks a bit cross.

Yes, but I like a challenge - I'm sure I could calm him down and make him smile

[DodgyAgent]

Six Nations 2014: Sir Ian McGeechan's interactive guide to the players to watch - Telegraph

Player statistics like runs, assists etc. What a load of boring yankee management cack.

That is all.

They are trying to make what is essentially a boring middle class sport interesting to the masses. It will not work unless it has broad pleb appeal.

[Mich the Tester]

Who are you backing for the 6 Nations title Mich?

Can't pronounce it; W..W....Wa... that country full of sheep nearby Hereford. They might not beat the Frogs though (although I bloody well hope everybody does), so not a grand slam.

[Mich the Tester]

I find the GPS tracking maps of players/teams movements quiet interesting. Especially if I've watched the game. Although they don't get released very often.

I don't. But then I guess I'm from an earlier era when that sort of thing counted for nothing. Jean Pierre Rives, Wayne Shelford and Dean Richards were very different players; JP Rives' GPS tracking would show him to be a chaotic loony and make coaches ask 'where the hell's he going now'. Shelford's would show him to be a loony in his youth and very systematic later in his career, while Richards' tracking would show him to be a lazy fat c**t who hung around in the middle and waited for play to come to him. All three were, each in their own ways, among the most effective back row forwards ever to play the game, and although they'd perhaps face different fitness expectations now (although Shelford and Rives were certainly exceptionally fit), it's this variety that always appealed to me in rugby, and not statistics driven robot players. But then, there's no stopping progress so it's best that old farties like me are out of the way.

It seems I'm becoming an , or maybe just an old romantic.

[The Spartan]

Who are you backing for the 6 Nations title Mich?

[mudskipper]

Three Quarter / Back Three #9 – I would

He looks a bit cross.