Iñaki Zubizarreta
Herbert Moran (7)
Oh, he will be ok then. Bosch will return for us.
Thank you very much, sometimes I don't get some colloquial words haha
Thank you very much, sometimes I don't get some colloquial words haha
I agree the conditions play a big role in the way British teams play since most of their season is played when it is raining and windy nearly every day.
So what is the excuse for teams from the south of France? Which 90% of French teams.
I really think not much will change until the NH stops playing in the NH winter, and shifts its season. The World Cup is played in crisp fall weather, and that's good for a certain kind of game, but it's not a game the NH teams have been playing for years now. The Top 14, Premiership and Pro 12 generally play in sludge, sleet and occasional snow on heavy, wet winter pitches, and play a style that resists passing because it's harder to retain possession in those conditions. It tends to be a collision- and territory-oriented game, which can be picked apart of a good, clinical, professional side. (Although Glasgow under Townsend and Leinster under Schmidt suggest otherwise, but Harlequins under O'Shea only make a predominantly running-and-offloading style work some of the time in the Premiership.)
Plus the SH semifinalists all just finished playing a series of Test matches against each other only a month before the RWC kicked off, while the NH sides were coming off a break and then playing meaningless warm-up games. Before those games, most of the NH players were something like 10 or more weeks off. They play more overall club rugby in worse conditions, and their schedule doesn't provide the best lead-in to the World Cup.
Short of putting hybrid pitches in and roofs up over every European stadium, or playing the 6N in July and August, or playing the RWC in February in Scotland, this will likely be the state of things for the foreseeable future.
And it tends to rain about as much in New Zealand as it does in Britain. I've seen plenty of Kiwi super derbies in heavy rain/wind and both teams play ball in hand. It's about mindset.
Have to disagree with this line of argument. Yes, conditions are different from those in Australia and South Africa, but not so very different from NZ. Kiwis learn their rugby on the same heavy, wet pitches - they just have a different approach to it. The Kiwis work hard on those catch/pass skills so that they can do it in all conditions. The NH default postion is to say we can't do it because it's wet and windy.
And it tends to rain about as much in New Zealand as it does in Britain. I've seen plenty of Kiwi super derbies in heavy rain/wind and both teams play ball in hand. It's about mindset.
The NH teams have been playing, without a break now, since July 2014. By the time we undertake three test tours in June 2016, the SH teams will have had two full and uncompromised breaks since the NH teams had their last one. The NH players will be looking at 23 months continuous rugby.Have to disagree with this line of argument. Yes, conditions are different from those in Australia and South Africa, but not so very different from NZ. Kiwis learn their rugby on the same heavy, wet pitches - they just have a different approach to it. The Kiwis work hard on those catch/pass skills so that they can do it in all conditions. The NH default postion is to say we can't do it because it's wet and windy.
The NH teams have been playing, without a break now, since July 2014. By the time we undertake three test tours in June 2016, the SH teams will have had two full and uncompromised breaks since the NH teams had their last one. The NH players will be looking at 23 months continuous rugby.
In 2017, the best in Britain and Ireland will compromise their summer break to beat shite out of each other while playing for the Lions only to play 12? games against teams hell bent on beating the shite out of the Lions as well.
Every year, be it RWC or Lions, SH players get full breaks, 1 year out of four NH players get none and another, the top players (including three Irish lions who were out injured today, coincidentally) are off in Aus, NZ and SA respectively playing for the Lions.
I think the Lions will be under threat after this RWC.
The NH teams have been playing, without a break now, since July 2014. By the time we undertake three test tours in June 2016, the SH teams will have had two full and uncompromised breaks since the NH teams had their last one. The NH players will be looking at 23 months continuous rugby.
In 2017, the best in Britain and Ireland will compromise their summer break to beat shite out of each other while playing for the Lions only to play 12? games against teams hell bent on beating the shite out of the Lions as well.
Every year, be it RWC or Lions, SH players get full breaks, 1 year out of four NH players get none and another, the top players (including three Irish lions who were out injured today, coincidentally) are off in Aus, NZ and SA respectively playing for the Lions.
I think the Lions will be under threat after this RWC.
Gloat all you want, but all the money is in the NH and increasingly it is concentrated in the hands of people who regard the international game as an incumbrance. As I say, something is going to give and, if it is the Lions the SH will have even less money to keep players at home.I was going to gloat about the best 4 aides in the world being from the SH. Now I feel bad about it.
Gloat all you want, but all the money is in the NH and increasingly it is concentrated in the hands of people who regard the international game as an incumbrance. As I say, something is going to give and, if it is the Lions the SH will have even less money to keep players at home.
Do you really think it will come to that? I don't know enough about the machinations of NH rugby politics to know. I also was unawware the guys play so much over there so agree something should be done.
I won't gloat as it could easily have been different. A contentious penalty saw Australia safe. And full strength Irish and Welsh sides would have been a whole different challenge in their respective matches.
Just checked on Bath rugbys website. We play 33 games this season before you add in knock outs and internationals for some players.
In the south island I suppose, surely not in the north island? Always looks pretty warm in the north of New Zealand. Could be all wrong as I have never been!
If four NH sides made it into the semis (in a SH WC) do you think we would hear the end of it.
Of course not, the we play to much and are to tired for the pinnacle of our sport at home excuse is so weak its laughable.