Donnyman wrote:
Interesting - do you have the lineouts stat as well?
I say this because pre 1996 union was awfully tedious, and TBF they did modernise it, but it seems we have pulled away again.??
Agree with both you and Atomic in part. Union is a great team game.....if you are playing. For the spectator less so as the ball is invisible for long periods unless during the tiresome marshalling of troops the scrummy has it in his paws (at scrum setting) or the hooker in his prior to line-outs. Funny that the papers never ran Spot-the-Ball comps for RU as the fans were already bored enough on exiting the ground.
RL is miles better without scrums, the uncontested ones were an embarrassment to the code. They are, however, a massive part of the RU code. Why? Well it is exciting to see one pack (as long as it is the one of your preference) over-muscling the other in a drive for the line. It also (if the Nº8 allows the pill out) sees half of each of both teams tangled up and allows the backs room to run - something for the paying public to savour. It is also, too often, a production line for penalties (yawn - rather watch crossbar challenge).
Lots of bad press at present due to concussions in scrummages. Helmets will be made compulsory and will not resemble the present "cauliflower ear preventers" but rather ABA boxing headguards. Union cannot do away with scrums for several reasons:
a) RL has gone there first (hic sunt dracones)
b) without the forwards tied up, there would be fewer free-flowing tries as attacking sides would face a 15 man flat back line that those RL basstds taught them (along with tackling)
c) can't widen the playing fields as the arenas aren't big enough
d) can't reduce each team to XIII as RL got there first (hic sunt dracones)
The bonus point for scoring 4+ tries is testament to the fact that RU needs bums on seats (and settees) and cannot rely on preferential Old Harrovian & Etonion Government handouts!
Whither now Carlingz 57 Old Fartz?
