World rankings

[peoplespoet]

Surely a group of RL fans dicussing the codes world rankings is a fairly harmless way to past the time. Some of the team are a bit dodgy but the code is played internationally by more than just expats.
Expats no doubt plant a seed but there will alway be locals who are attracted to the game and from the small seeds who knows what can grow.
However it may undermine the credibilty of the rankings to have teams represented that don't at least have a home league, although having said that I wonder how much the Sydney Lebenese community have influenced the formation of the code there?
Exciting times I say and let the knockers have theirs(although Gmans arguments hold no water at all when you look at the world ranknigs of any minor sport or cricket for that matter eg Holland, Kenya etc).

 

[sportznut]

Does anyone know when GB will be playing as england again?

That only happens at World Cup time, doesn't it?

By the way, for those interested, tonight on ABC2's Late Night Legends, they're showing highlights of the Australia v Great Britain series in 1966. The show is on at 11:25.

 

[Gman]

If you have watched ABC digital this week you would have seen Australia playing in the late 60's early 70's in front of massive crowds at the SCG and Lang Park, this has traditionally been the pinnacle of our sport and our major focus.

Actually, I did watch some of it, main thing I noticed was the throwing of the ball, big evolutionary change, wonder who it was that worked out that spinning the ball is the way to go rather than chucking it.
Maybe due to the evolution of the ball, ie "pointier ends" that allows it to spin easier. Even though it still gets chucked the old way when a quick short pass is required.

Also there was less forward involvement ie they tended to chucked the ball out wider more often and try to break the lines...something todays games lacks...ie one chuck to forward, try to gain a few yards etc repetitive boredom.

Seen a few Rugby games. Been watching out of interest to see how they played the game back then as opposed to now. Still after 10 minutes I find it boring.

Been mainly tuning in for the cricket games from 70's-80's. And what I noticed is no matter what era a cricket game is from, its always entertaining!

 

[Ancient and Loyal]

Clearly haven't watched a match on a sticky wicket.

If you find RL boring and can't add anything constructive to the board, kindly show yourself out

 

[1908]

Also there was less forward involvement ie they tended to chucked the ball out wider more often and try to break the lines...something todays games lacks...ie one chuck to forward, try to gain a few yards etc repetitive boredom.

Seen a few Rugby games. Been watching out of interest to see how they played the game back then as opposed to now. Still after 10 minutes I find it boring.

Sport goes in cycles, we are currently going through a phase where the emphasis is based on power and speed.
You don't see many brilliant five-eighths. Players have become multi skilled as opposed to specialists when it comes to positions. Look at how the position of hooker has changed. Coaches have also had too much say wanting to control everything. TV has had an influence in the way the game is played, similar to how AR has been affected by TV.

 

[akazie]

Does anyone know when GB will be playing as england again?

I think it ends after this years all golds tour, after that they play as England in the WC with the home nations all splitting up to play.

2009 should have Australia-NZ-England and France with the GBI Lions getting together every 4 years or so for tours.

 

[1908]

Once again tradition is thrown out the window for a buck.

 

[akazie]

Once again tradition is thrown out the window for a buck.

I don't know about that, they use to tour every four years anyway, when they had proper tours, not much difference except there will be the quad nations in between.

 

[1908]

However when they played at home they were the GB Lions, England were a level down and seperate. The only reason they are doing this is so England, Wales etc can get a s*** load of funding off the government.
I can see why they do it, but it is sad as another tradition is thrown out the window, remember Kangaroo Tours?

 

[Spewing]

However when they played at home they were the GB Lions, England were a level down and seperate. The only reason they are doing this is so England, Wales etc can get a s*** load of funding off the government.
I can see why they do it, but it is sad as another tradition is thrown out the window, remember Kangaroo Tours?

YES I miss the KANGAROO TOURS severely .And how they used to play against local rugby league sides before the test matches ,i don't think will ever see a KANGAROO TOUR again unfortunately.

 

[1908]

Think about all the changes that have been made. Night grand finals. Will we ever see tests played at 3 o'clock again? More than two games on a Sunday afternoon? etc.
I recently saw two videos one about St.George's history from 1921-2000. It was interesting to see all the big statements that were made at the time by the people who sold St.George's history out. How they were going to become some power club etc. 8 years latter nothing, Saints could easily have survived on their own. Why the most famous club would sell out to empty promises from third rate officials is beyond me. The other video was Mal Meninga in 1992. Do you recall during the SL war he said he had got nothing from RL. Well in this video, 3-5 years before the war, he was saying how he would be nothing without the game and how every thing he had was aresult of the game.

In the drive for money let's try to protect our games great history, and not listen to the media and dodgy officials who peddle fear like, "we won't survive if...." garbage.

 

[Gman]

Sport goes in cycles, we are currently going through a phase where the emphasis is based on power and speed.
You don't see many brilliant five-eighths. Players have become multi skilled as opposed to specialists when it comes to positions. Look at how the position of hooker has changed. Coaches have also had too much say wanting to control everything. TV has had an influence in the way the game is played, similar to how AR has been affected by TV.

Yeah most game evolves and TV has too much say (especially in RL). But that is expected.

My own opinion is that the speed of the game is a plus, but what is needed is more general passing around ie trying to break the lines more often. I watched some of AusvsNZ on ABC2 last night, I think 1962. Many ball handling errors, but at least they tried to pass the ball around create runs.

I really do think RL needs to revisit the scrum situation. It causes more players to be concentrated on the ball leaving less players on the wings, hence more freedom to run into open space. RL is not to bad when there is flow, but its too far between drinks for my liking and bores me waiting for that great play. To many bottlenecks. ie start/stop

 

[1908]

The 10 metre rule has alot to answer for. Coaches soon worked out, that by running from dummy half there was plenty of cheap metres to be gained, which has seen the rise in one out play and the role of hooker changing. The contest for possession has also been taken away, which I think is very wrong. Also I agree with you regarding scrums, instead of saying they are too hard, why not persist, after all there would only be 10-15 in a game. I hate seeing big forwards standing at five eigth from a scrum and then driving forward as though this is some great skill. Whatever happened to the Brett Kenny's of the world?
Watch a game from 10-15 years ago and all teams had a number of set plays. North Sydney had a move called America which was a gem and a variation called Canada. Interestingly the All Blacks used the same move a couple of years ago.

 

[Ancient and Loyal]

If the dummy half gets caught with the football, a dominant tackle should be called.