LSUY
Well-Known Member
- Jul 12, 2005
- 24,030
- 66,881
Given that a few rugby fans are on here I thought a rugby thread was needed as this season has been brilliant.
Gloucester, Wasps, Sale, Harlequins, Bath and Leicester are all chasing one of four play-off spots in the most tightly contested season since the league's inception.
Who do you think will make the playoffs?
My heart says Quins will keep hold of 4th but my head is saying we will miss out on the playoffs. We've got Sale at the Stoop on Sunday and then Leicester away.
Also with the Experimental Law Variations being trialled worldwide, what is your view?
Personally I'm against them. I've been watching the Super 14s and they haven't been that good. Wasps-Bath and Quins-Gloucester have been more interesting to watch than any Super 14 game. The ELV has increased the speed of the game up so much that players in the Super 14 aren't playing as well because of fatigue.
Having to run the ball out of defence, free-kicks instead of penalties, etc., seems to be taking the game closer to rugby league.
Defending players can pull down a maul is unfair. A properly organised defence can halt a driving maul. Why should the defence be allowed to pull it down, which in my mind is akin to tripping up Brian Habana because you're not fast enough to catch him.
The main argument for the ELV is that it will make the game more interesting to watch for fans. Australia is the only country where it is having problems with rugby union.
Union is going to remain the number one sport in New Zealand and Wales. Argentina and Italy have improved hugely and the game is getting more popular there. Japan is bidding to host the World Cup. Attendances at league games in England and France are increasing. Obviously the game is popular enough with fans as it is.
Some of the laws are worth adopting but I can't see any merit in wholesale changes.
Gloucester, Wasps, Sale, Harlequins, Bath and Leicester are all chasing one of four play-off spots in the most tightly contested season since the league's inception.
Who do you think will make the playoffs?
My heart says Quins will keep hold of 4th but my head is saying we will miss out on the playoffs. We've got Sale at the Stoop on Sunday and then Leicester away.
----
Also with the Experimental Law Variations being trialled worldwide, what is your view?
Personally I'm against them. I've been watching the Super 14s and they haven't been that good. Wasps-Bath and Quins-Gloucester have been more interesting to watch than any Super 14 game. The ELV has increased the speed of the game up so much that players in the Super 14 aren't playing as well because of fatigue.
Having to run the ball out of defence, free-kicks instead of penalties, etc., seems to be taking the game closer to rugby league.
Defending players can pull down a maul is unfair. A properly organised defence can halt a driving maul. Why should the defence be allowed to pull it down, which in my mind is akin to tripping up Brian Habana because you're not fast enough to catch him.
The main argument for the ELV is that it will make the game more interesting to watch for fans. Australia is the only country where it is having problems with rugby union.
Union is going to remain the number one sport in New Zealand and Wales. Argentina and Italy have improved hugely and the game is getting more popular there. Japan is bidding to host the World Cup. Attendances at league games in England and France are increasing. Obviously the game is popular enough with fans as it is.
Some of the laws are worth adopting but I can't see any merit in wholesale changes.
