League, Union or not, did anyone watch that game today and not wonder about the massive physical effort put in by all players?

Watching union simply isn't my cup of tea. No agenda of points to be made, it just doesn't thrill me.

Watching Scotland play Union usually only re-emphasizes the point.

No, I didn't watch it.

Union is a hugely Physical game and Scotland tend to be the more Physical of the Home Nations possibly due to lack of ball handling skill, To be fair i could have kicked Matt Giteau's potential game winning conversion though.

I was mildly impressed by Scotlands defence, but it only held out due to the pathetic attack from Australia. If only their League counterparts had played like that a week ago.

Also did I hear correctly that Graham Steadman is the Scottish defensive coach?

Union attack play (when they're not too busy playing kick tennis) is just predictable and laboured, no option runners or good lines, the ball goes through every pair of hands and still obsessed with 2 meter spin passes.

Very apparent that the comentators are even fed up of their own game.

Also what is the point of contested scrims when 70% of the time they collapse in a penalty and the other 30 the feeding team retains posession?

The problem is they've made scrums too important a part of the game so teams practice them over and over and over again to the point where they've perfected techniques to bring them down or slow it all down if they think theyre losing a scrum. But thats not my main problem with Union. Apart from the lack of attacking skill obviously, the big problem is the lineouts. They reward kicking the ball into touch with a shot at regaining posession. If they did away with lineouts firstly there wouldn't be a need for 12 foot tall, big, useless 2nd rowers who's only usefulness is in the lineout and are unable to run, pass, catch, or defend. And secondly it would mean kicks would be kept in play a lot more and so someone would eventually actually have to attack with the ball in hand.

eveything about the game from the structure, laws and coaching is contrived to make it a dull spectacle.

And for those who champion it's technical elements...chess will never get me stiff either!

The scrums are impressive in a way, but once you've seen one you dont need to see another 20 in a game. As for the rucks and mauls, theyre only the equivalent technical skills as the play the ball in League, yet we dont laud the play the ball as a masterclass in technical ability.

Tis the self same ex-Cas player & coach .... Just as Mike Ford (Oldham, Wigan and Bramley coach) is on the payroll at Twickenham.

scrums and lineouts are just complicated ways of restarting the game - that more often than not lead to another restart being needed, drives me mad. watched part of the england game last week - awful stuff in the back, really think Smith will be in there in no time.

There is a "Other Sports" board you know?

Only an Australian Union team could butcher a three man overlap like that.

Once you lose the ability to kick goals in that sport it's all over.

I watched it, how sad is that?

Australia's best back Ryan Cross (how utterly useless was Luke Burgess when he got on) and best forward Rocky Elsom. I wonder where they came from.

Never knew he had played League until now but he is a fantastic player.

Not IMO it isn't, To perfect technique is this aspect of the game is crucial to laying the platforms of each phrase...

Whilst some of the kicking from hand is excellent in terms of ground gained I can never understand why teams don't use more kicks on the ground as an attacking weapon in the opponent's 25.
Especially when you consider the number of exRL players now involved in coaching RU.
How Australia lost that game when you look at the amount of ball won in the Scottish 22 beggars belief.
Scotland do have a habit of upsetting the odds at Murrayfield.
Just ask England.

I was that bored yesterday I watched Wales v Argentina.

Wouldn't mind seeing Shane Williams in a Crusaders shirt.

If you had 2 extra forwards on the pitch and the defence didn't have to retire 10 metres how easy do you think it would be to defend in a league game?
Add to that the ability to "mark" any kick caught on the full in your 22, and if a kick goes over the try line you can just touch it down as a defender and it's a drop-out on the 22 instead of under the sticks.

they do, but its normally just against england. Hoof it in the air and ruck like men possessed.

The thread title reminds me of a rugby match that took place at the JJB stadium this afternoon...

They're scrum half was also born in PNG and Gitue (or however the f*** you spell) is a former RL player as well. RU really does seem to be on its @rse in Austrailia at the moment.

Pretty low scoring games in the thread title even Tottenham have just managed 9 in the Football

I enjoyed both the Scotland and the England games, and was impressed with actual physical effort put in by all the players.

The tactical kicking was generally pretty good, and I reckon any of the players on show could earn a living in our code.

It was a great result for Scotland and a brillant opening spectacle at Murrayfield, but simply just a bad day at the office for Australia.

To the OP - when did Workington win a game 1-0 (assume you're talking RL and not soccer!)?

Town drew 0-0 at Whitehaven in Dec 1993. Barrow won 1-0 at Hull KR in 1994

clearly you have high standards and expectations