Rugby

Hemi

The NRL is awesome! Their weakness is the International game which is where Rugby is light years ahead.

Maynard Friedman

Do you call it Rugby (Union) and NRL (League) down there? Up here, it's simply Union and League.

Hemi

We just call it Rugby and League. When we talk about league its usually in reference to the NRL.

Maynard Friedman

Well done the Lions!!!

gbougard

This Lions concept is a nice tradition. I like the fact that they tour only every 4 years, it keeps the idea special.

Hemi

Yeah, the Lions Tours are great!

Wouldn't it be amazing to see a proper Pacific Islands Team put together under the same concept with the same resources. Treatment of the Pacific Islands by the big Nations is one of the great shames of International Rugby.

gbougard

@Hemi:

Yeah, the Lions Tours are great!

Wouldn't it be amazing to see a proper Pacific Islands Team put together under the same concept with the same resources. Treatment of the Pacific Islands by the big Nations is one of the great shames of International Rugby.

+100,000
imagine what Samoa could become if they had a tenth of what is being spent in the 6 Nations up North or down South…
NZ would be in trouble

Hemi

We'd be alright mate because our styles are similar and we all grow up playing together but the Northern Hemisphere teams would really battle… they don't like the big hits. The Pacific Island Teams really need more top tier games instead of playing Canada, USA and Japan all the time.

There is a real power imbalance on the IRB. The Oceania Rugby Teams of which Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Cook Islands etc are part of only have one vote between the entire group. Argentina, Canada, Italy and Japan all have one vote each and even teams as sh*t as Scotland have two. Samoa are ranked ahead of six other Countries that have more say on the IRB.

gbougard

@Hemi:

We'd be alright mate because our styles are similar and we all grow up playing together but the Northern Hemisphere teams would really battle… they don't like the big hits. The Pacific Island Teams really need more top tier games instead of playing Canada, USA and Japan all the time.

There is a real power imbalance on the IRB. The Oceania Rugby Teams of which Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Cook Islands etc are part of only have one vote between the entire group. Argentina, Canada, Italy and Japan all have one vote each and even teams as sh*t as Scotland have two. Samoa are ranked ahead of six other Countries that have more say on the IRB.

You absolutely right about the IRB cocksuckers mafia
If I ruled the world, I'd let NZ send two teams to the world cup, the All Blacks and the Maori All Blacks.

gbougard

They came, they saw, they conquered. 47 - 29… Holy shit

gbougard

AT LAST!!! The only really interesting game is about to be played this week end:

New Zealand vs South Africa

the two greatest national teams from 1920 or so. In a normal world, they should be world cup finalists every world cup.

Hemi: what's your local bookie saying? What are YOU saying?

I'm saying: Go Blacks

Hemi

Mate, South Africa looked awesome against a pathetic Australia. McCaw is injured and I don't think Cane is anywhere near that league yet. Could go either way but the thing about the All Blacks is they almost always find a way to win.

I've got a dinner at the same time as the game so I will avoid every other person in the restaurant and street until I get home to watch the replay!

Maynard Friedman

Don't bother Hemi, it was a boring 0-0 draw!

Hemi

Classic Maynard…That was one of the most intense games since the World Cup!

Maynard Friedman

Totally agree Hemi, the commentators regularly referred to it as 'brutal'. I'm looking forward to our autumn internationals, although not with any degree of confidence!