But if they had maybe 20 more minutes to play, we could've had a winner.
It really is a fun game to watch. You might even say, "beautiful," because others are calling it that, and you crave their acceptance.…
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
USA Ties Mexico 2-2, So Therefore Must Be Equal In Every Way - Comments Page 2
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26 - STM
Suss: "Are the hits comparable to rugby union?"
No, they are completely different. Lots of head-on tackling at speed, and often more than one player on the ball carrier.
You tube has some good video of the State of Origin series between New South Wales and Queensland. That'll give you some idea.
It's actually a very different game to rugby, despite the similarities, and in terms of strategy, most resembles American football.
I used to play Rugby League, but am a fan of REAL rugby ... the other game. It has more nuances, and probably requires some greater understanding of tactical positioning etc.
I can attest personally that the tackles in RL, even at the grade I was playing, were bone-rattlers.
I'm not making this a contest BTW about which is better, as my favourite sport is proper rugby, and I'm also a fan of AF.
It's just that RL is a really, really tough game.
27 - STM
Here's a video of the State of Origin series. Madness. But I think you'll get the idea of how different the game is to proper rugby.
It's only really played in three countries too: Britain, Australia and New Zealand, with minor competitions in France and New Guinea.
It's always good to learn new stuff, eh Suss? (which is why I enjoy American football).
And of course, this kind of stuff is the source of endless argument over too many beers in Australia, because in the heathen southern and western states they play an abomination of a game called Australian Football, or Aussie Rules (no rules).
28 - Dr Dreadful
Likewise the "soccer's dull" is a pretty lame riposte on our front, because, well, it's not. It's just low scoring.
Matt: Thank you...
29 - Dr Dreadful
It's only really played in three countries too: Britain, Australia and New Zealand, with minor competitions in France and New Guinea.
And it's apparently on its last legs in England (not Britain: League is not played at all on any meaningful level in Scotland, Wales or Ireland). They keep buggering about with the format to make it more appealing, but it can no longer compete effectively with soccer and rugby union, especially since the latter code went pro. Which is a shame, because for the uninitiated it is an exciting game to watch - much more so than Union.
They already have an elite Super League, which includes teams from France and Wales, and are now going to an American-style franchise system, with limited or no promotion and relegation - which is really going to kill the game at the grass roots. Expect a league populated almost entirely by Aussies, Kiwis and Pacific Islanders within a few years.
30 - Christopher Rose
I'm surprised you like Rugby League more than Union, Doc. It used to be a great game but that 6 tackles rule made it about as exciting as American Rugby. I was raised on League and it was something of a sad day when it dawned on me that Union was more exciting...
31 - Dr Dreadful
I used to, Chris. Since Grandstand was never allowed to screen live football on Saturday afternoons, it was the next best thing!
I haven't watched any of either code in years. But clearly the standards in Union have risen considerably in recent years since it went pro, and Stan is probably right that the game is more nuanced than League and therefore more satisfying to the connoisseur.
Union has a huge advantage over League (in England at least) as it's not a regional sport and so has a much larger pool of talent and a bigger spectator base to draw from.
League is an urban sport and the big clubs in the Manchester, Liverpool and South Yorkshire areas have always had a struggle to compete with football - even more so nowadays. The main exception, I suppose, would be Kingston-upon-Hull, where the Association code has always been the poor relation. I'm surprised Hull and Hull KR haven't been more successful in recent times.
32 - Silver Surfer
Rugby League is still great game. The English competition is still getting good crowds, but sadly, I just don't think it has the oomph factor of rugby union.
The great thing about PROPER rugby is that it really is a world game, and remains a constant contest for the ball even at the tackle, and especially at the set-piece which means players need to have special skills for particular positions rather than just brute strength and muscles like the biff-and-barge fest that is now rugby league.
I love being able to head out to Telstra Stadium and watch the top rugby union teams in the world run around against Australia, and I'm sure it's the same up in the northern hemisphere.
The problem with rugby league is that the best series now played in the world is between NSW and Queensland. It's great to watch, but back in the 70s I loved it when Great Britain came down under to play the Kangaroos. Those Test series, and the old Kanaroo tours of England which Rosey and Doc would remember, really were the pinnacle of the sport.
You would find it hard to better that as a contact sport of any code, anywhere. Then they brought in the six tackle rule ...
I loved seeing the English hardmen like Vince Karalius and Mal Reilly running around.
And guys playing full games with broken jaws or broken arms because if you went off, you left your team a man down. That IS tough stuff.