favourite rugby team

[TX Bill]

Interesting reading.

Don't have a clue about rugby. See highlights occasionally on Sky or Setanta News over here but that's about it.

 

[Scottoffee]

Actually prefer playing rugby to football, but watching/talking about/etc it's the other way round.

Surprised the Americans haven't started playing more - after all GW Bush seems to have enjoyed himself on the team at Uni!...

Guess some things never change, still spoiling for a fight 40 years on...

 

[teppic]

egg chasers!

 

[Sharpys top lip]

Im a big St Helens fan, have been going to Knowsley Rd for 10 years plus. My Mam's Partner is a season ticket holder their an started taleing me long time ago. It's a great sport to watch, plus iv seen them win everything!! It's like supporting United of Ruger!!

Only follow Union if it's England!! otherwise its [Poor language removed]!

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

I'd personally say that the scrum half in League is more creative than his counterpart in Union. The Union half back is probably more akin to the hooker in League as his main role is to pass out of the ruck and make the odd scoot around the fringes, which is exactly what a hooker in League does. Jonathan Thurston is probably the best scrum half in the League game. He kicks goals as well as performing his usual duties.

YouTube - jonathan thurston

In the British game Sean Long has been the best scrum half of his generation but lately Rob Burrow has taken on the mantle. He's only a little guy but incredibly quick and has a tremendous scoring record, as you can see by some of the tries in this video.

YouTube - Rob the pocket rocket Burrow, try compilation.

In the Union game I can't really recall any similar players. For England Harry Ellis is more of a scooter in the James Roby mould. Joost van der Vesthuizen has been the best union scrum half that I've seen, although George Gregan is also good.

he bossed the a.b.'s about when i watched the wallabies beat them in christchurch, him on form and john eales winning every lineout , even jonah couldnt stop them, jonah scored right in front of me though taking about 4 players over tge line from about 10 yds out.

Actually prefer playing rugby to football, but watching/talking about/etc it's the other way round.

Surprised the Americans haven't started playing more - after all GW Bush seems to have enjoyed himself on the team at Uni!...

Guess some things never change, still spoiling for a fight 40 years on...

no suprise there tbh, shouldve thrown a pair of boots at him.

Im a big St Helens fan, have been going to Knowsley Rd for 10 years plus. My Mam's Partner is a season ticket holder their an started taleing me long time ago. It's a great sport to watch, plus iv seen them win everything!! It's like supporting United of Ruger!!

Only follow Union if it's England!! otherwise its [Poor language removed]!

well in sharpy, they bloody sing more than we do too.

you light up my senses
like a barrel of greenhalls
like a night out at martines
like a good sniff of glue
like a kebab from chino's
like a split fish and curry
oh st.helens rugby
come thrill me again
nah nah na

 

[uknightbreed]

its rugby union in my part of the country.

northampton saints , great team .


ps grew up with ben cohen , hes a few years younger than me and his bro is a year older , but we used to play about in spring park when we were kids .

 

[ToxtethBlue]

How did Lesley Vainikolo find the change? I seem to remember him changing from League to Union.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Ben Cohen, now there's a wasted talent. I remember in the 18months leading up to our WC win he looked unstoppable. Power, pace, he was scoring tries for fun. Then after the WC it's gone rapidly downhill. Sad state of affairs.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

How did Lesley Vainikolo find the change? I seem to remember him changing from League to Union.

Don't think he gets enough ball to do much. The best type of RL back for the England team is a Jason Robinson that can come infield and make opportunities for himself rather than relying on them to be created for him. Creatively the England team is awful, absolutely awful.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Don't think he gets enough ball to do much. The best type of RL back for the England team is a Jason Robinson that can come infield and make opportunities for himself rather than relying on them to be created for him. Creatively the England team is awful, absolutely awful.

Interesting, has anyone ever succeeded by changing from League to union or union to League?

 

[Goat]

Jason Robinson played League 1st didnt he?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Yes, Robinson was a Wigan player for several years.

As for successful converts, there have been plenty.

League to Union: Robinson obviously, in the southern hemisphere there have been a few, especially in the Australian team. Guys like Tequiri, Ryan Cross, Matt Rogers have all crossed codes and done well. Wendell Sailor too. Sonny Bill Williams has recently moved to France to play Union and if he can stay fit he'll be a big success I think. There hasn't been as much success in the English conversions, although I suppose if you class England caps as a measure of success then Andy Farrell, Vainikolo and Henry Paul have all crossed codes and won England caps. I would say that all three crossed over after their playing peaks had been and gone though.

Union to League: In the 80's and early 90's there were quite a few converts, most of whom were backs. In the Wigan side for instance Tuigamala was outstanding and Scott Quinnell moved with some success. Scott Gibbs also did ok at Saints and Jonathon Davies did well at Warrington (think it was Warrington).

Now though the moves are pretty much all from League to Union as the salary cap is higher in Union so they can pay more. One of the reasons I don't agree with the salary cap, especially when younger players like Chris Ashton and Liam Farrell are tempted over to the dark side

 

[HalewoodBlue_ver.2.0]

Yes, Robinson was a Wigan player for several years.

As for successful converts, there have been plenty.

League to Union: Robinson obviously, in the southern hemisphere there have been a few, especially in the Australian team. Guys like Tequiri, Ryan Cross, Matt Rogers have all crossed codes and done well. Wendell Sailor too. Sonny Bill Williams has recently moved to France to play Union and if he can stay fit he'll be a big success I think. There hasn't been as much success in the English conversions, although I suppose if you class England caps as a measure of success then Andy Farrell, Vainikolo and Henry Paul have all crossed codes and won England caps. I would say that all three crossed over after their playing peaks had been and gone though.

Union to League: In the 80's and early 90's there were quite a few converts, most of whom were backs. In the Wigan side for instance Tuigamala was outstanding and Scott Quinnell moved with some success. Scott Gibbs also did ok at Saints and Jonathon Davies did well at Warrington (think it was Warrington).

Now though the moves are pretty much all from League to Union as the salary cap is higher in Union so they can pay more. One of the reasons I don't agree with the salary cap, especially when younger players like Chris Ashton and Liam Farrell are tempted over to the dark side

His 1st league club was my club...Widnes, where he played the majority of his league career and was exceptional

 

[Bruce Wayne]

That was it, sorry. I think I was thinking of Alan Tait, or was he Widnes too?

 

[HalewoodBlue_ver.2.0]

That was it, sorry. I think I was thinking of Alan Tait, or was he Widnes too?

Widnes and Leeds i think he played for