Southern Hemisphere Rugby Union Coverage

[D+Brewster]

What a treat, after a year's absense, to be watching Crusaders v Blues on Sky. I hope we made a difference with this thread 😄

Can only view the free Mix matches at the mo, but seriously considering re-subbing to the sports channels (if only they weren't full of netball and AFL!)

Must say, seeing this game reminds me why I miss this stuff! its almost like a different sport to the Premiership. Noteable that they aren't afraid to tackle aggressively, the refs aren't pulling up the game and checking video for maybe high tackles every few seconds. 

[graceland22]

I agree. I was watching Premiership the other night and Austin Healey said there are an average of 25 kicks from hand in a game. Add to that approx 2 resets per scrum (then usually a free kick/pen), the 'town hall' meeting before each line-out and it is certainly stop-go with few examples of continuous phase rugby. They seem to be able to do it after normal time though. 

I think they are in for a shock on the tour down under. Super-Rugby clubs are often prepared to play rugby from hand even coming out of their own 22 and the competition at the break-down is fierce. 

RL supporters used to call RU 'kick and clap'. When a ball from a line-out would go to the fly-half and he would kick it straight into touch, the crowd would clap and then there would be another line-out. The scrums were a heap of bodies going from one scrum to the next. It was certainly dour watching.

I also do not see the NRL players 'knocking the ball on' when going into tackle contact as often as they do in the RU Premiership and there are some huge collisions in the NRL. 

As you say, refreshing and played with a different mind-set. You can watch the highlights here  Media Centre - Super Rugby

[graceland22]

Wow!!! Crusaders v Blues. How RU should be played. Virtually no box kicks (it goes to the 10 to decide where to kick to), 6 tries. Virtually no scrum collapses. Playing from hand out of the 22.Turn-overs and fierce competition at the break-down etc. Multi-phase rugby, played with a different mind-set from most Premiership rugby where we get a few phases and then someone kicks away possession. Worth the price of SKY Sports for Super-Rugby, NRL & F1.