retired_kevh16

tbh this has all came around because a rugby team that talent wise man for man isn't even in the top 8 in the world managed to reach the world cup final on what I call the Atherton factor. I don't think they were playing with any more passion particuarly than the England team would in the same situation.

The reason its an issue is because qualities such as passion, courage, sheer bloody mindedness can be substitutes for talent on the rugby pitch. Just ask Lewis Moody and Martin Corry. Whereas on the football pitch you're much more likely to get found out.

retired_therob

Fair point, but at least with football people that kind of crap doesn't get admonished with 'they're real men' crap, or some notion that it's okay to act like a twat if you're middle class.

trotamundos

I have no idea what rugby fans you see tbh. All I can go on is the people I mix with, and the people who play or who've been watching the rugby down the pub vs the people who play or who've been watching the football down the pub. Would much rather socialise with the rubgy lot. By miles. % of wankers amongst them far less than with the football lot.

Don't tink I actually saw any of the rugby players at Uni get into fights either. Unlike the footballers.

But as Asmo said, most people are idiots anyway.

DebSchiff

There's been a lot of ******** talked about rugby v football recently, and it's ****ed me off somewhat. I think I started a thread about it, actually. Anyway...

Passion? Did anyone watch Russia v England in the week? There were tackles flying in all over the place, fowards tracking back to defend (cheers Wayne) and so on. It was a pretty passionate performance, it's a pity the team left their heads at home and failed to play with any kind of composure or tactical nous isn't it?

I'll give you the referee thing, the way refs are treated in football is an outrage, frankly.

Video replays? The difficulty of implementing them has been covered. The fact that the game doesn't stop if the ball didn't cross the line being one of them. I also dislike the lengthy period of "is it? isn't it?" that you have to sit through.

Football players are pussies compared to rugby players? There is no advantage to be gained in rugby by falling down at the slightest touch. Ergo, it doesn't happen. In football there is, so it does. Fairly simple to understand, no?

retired_nauticaperson

yeah but impy baby I was talking about the attitudes displayed

retired_jessicadon

You can safely add a lack of any kind of brain to Lewis Moody's talents.

retired_ramilne

that :thup:

why must we be split into either dribbling morons or sarcastic snobs as soon as "passion" is mentioned? can there not be a happy medium where passion and ability aren't mutually exclusive?

BobbyK

I quite enjoyed it when Percy Montgomery hit the camera. Amusing. I also thought he looked like Prince Charming from Shrek.

retired_rinkjustice

:thup:

retired_jessicadon

There already is. Just because it doesn't exist in the England national side, which is what this is really about, doesn't mean it's absent from football.

England rugby side weren't showing anything remotely looking like passion, fight or ability for the last 3 years up until 4 matches ago. Short memories and all that.