Same here. I wish the 6 nations games were televised here ...Don't like 7s
The 7s comprise the smaller team version of rugby, correct? The full size teams are 14? What is the difference in gameplay? Are the 7s more fast-paced? Is there more strategy with the full-size teams?Don't like 7s
Full sized teams (15) are about teamwork and coordination and strategy, strength and speed. Sevens are for speed and opportunistic play. You miss a tackle in sevens, and it's gonzo. Nobody can help you out.The 7s comprise the smaller team version of rugby, correct? The full size teams are 14? What is the difference in gameplay? Are the 7s more fast-paced? Is there more strategy with the full-size teams?Don't like 7s
those guys were monsters. nations which impressed me as being better than others...size:fiji, England, Somoaspeed:Kenya, New Zealand, U.S.Passing:South Africa, England, AustraliaTackling:Fiji, South Africa, Somoa5Rings said:7s are awesome. its heaven for an old flanker.fiji will win. those guys rock.
Nice breakdown, Woz. Did you attend the post match festivities?those guys were monsters. nations which impressed me as being better than others...size:fiji, England, Somoaspeed:Kenya, New Zealand, U.S.Passing:South Africa, England, AustraliaTackling:Fiji, South Africa, Somoa5Rings said:7s are awesome. its heaven for an old flanker.fiji will win. those guys rock.
No... I went up with a couple buddies and we all had to be at work early this morning. Next year definitely going to try to get the Monday off the day after. Saturday night we hit up the English pub where we thought some teams would go but found out most of the teams were exhausted and didn't go out or were contracted to go .Nice breakdown, Woz. Did you attend the post match festivities?those guys were monsters. nations which impressed me as being better than others...size:fiji, England, Somoaspeed:Kenya, New Zealand, U.S.Passing:South Africa, England, AustraliaTackling:Fiji, South Africa, Somoa5Rings said:7s are awesome. its heaven for an old flanker.fiji will win. those guys rock.
I will say now though that I was actually surprised how mellow the fans were. Heard very little trash talking and saw no fights. A few interestingly dressed people but that's about as wild as it got.Total noob here, but I'm digging this. Fast paced. Crazy fans. Anybody go?
It's on NBC Universal now.
Rugby crowds have a much different atmosphere. Originally, rugby was the sport of the upper class and soccer was the sport of the working class.I will say now though that I was actually surprised how mellow the fans were. Heard very little trash talking and saw no fights. A few interestingly dressed people but that's about as wild as it got.Total noob here, but I'm digging this. Fast paced. Crazy fans. Anybody go?
It's on NBC Universal now.
I was referring to the outfits. I didn't see any fights. I think it would have been an exciting event in person.I will say now though that I was actually surprised how mellow the fans were. Heard very little trash talking and saw no fights. A few interestingly dressed people but that's about as wild as it got.Total noob here, but I'm digging this. Fast paced. Crazy fans. Anybody go?
It's on NBC Universal now.
We got pounded last time but Ngwenya's (sp?) try against South Africa is one of the coolest "plays" (not really sure what to call it) I've ever seen. Sevens seems to being growing in popularity but I've always thought if any type of rugby was going to take off here it'd be rugby league. Seems like the down system would be easier for Americans to handle when compared to the scrum. Given what we're learning about concussions, I wouldn't be surprised if 75 years or so down the road rugby has replaced football as the premier American contact sport. It's not as violent as football but way rougher.Hopefully the Rugby World Cup finals (New Zealand) will be televised here this fall - we'll get to see some great Rubgy Union at the highest level. The US qualified, but is not expected to do very well.
I played union for many years and consider it by far the best game of the various versions of rugby. I never took a liking to league or aussie rules, either as a participant or a spectator, but I realize they are both very popular. Sevens is really just an exhibition to me - I'm sure it would be fun to see it played at a high level as a live event, but I don't consider it an attractive game to watch as compared to union. I would agree that a union game that features heavy scrumming and rucking would not make a good spectator event in terms of drawing in new fans.We got pounded last time but Ngwenya's (sp?) try against South Africa is one of the coolest "plays" (not really sure what to call it) I've ever seen. Sevens seems to being growing in popularity but I've always thought if any type of rugby was going to take off here it'd be rugby league. Seems like the down system would be easier for Americans to handle when compared to the scrum. Given what we're learning about concussions, I wouldn't be surprised if 75 years or so down the road rugby has replaced football as the premier American contact sport. It's not as violent as football but way rougher.Hopefully the Rugby World Cup finals (New Zealand) will be televised here this fall - we'll get to see some great Rubgy Union at the highest level. The US qualified, but is not expected to do very well.
Yes, the games will be televised here on NBC and Universal Sports.-QGHopefully the Rugby World Cup finals (New Zealand) will be televised here this fall - we'll get to see some great Rubgy Union at the highest level. The US qualified, but is not expected to do very well.
It was pretty cool. The Kenyan, Somoan, and Fijian fans were pretty wild. Due to the quick games though and the fact that the majority of the games, especially on day 2, were technically meaningless it wasn't conducive to climactic excitement. However, as someone who isn't too familiar with the sport, I thought it a great introduction because the game is wide open and, as a football fan, I was most entertained by the juke moves, speed, up and unders (my favorite play by far) mand one on one tackling - things which probably aren't as prevalent in a standard 15 on 15 game. I went up unsure if it was the worth money for the tickets and walked away pleasantly surprised. Never got bored or mentally drifted off despite the numerous games - but that could be from the copious amounts of beer and New Zealand meatpies.I was referring to the outfits. I didn't see any fights. I think it would have been an exciting event in person.I will say now though that I was actually surprised how mellow the fans were. Heard very little trash talking and saw no fights. A few interestingly dressed people but that's about as wild as it got.Total noob here, but I'm digging this. Fast paced. Crazy fans. Anybody go?
It's on NBC Universal now.
yes i think soIs this going to be an annual thing there?
I think it's been an annual tournament in Las Vegas for a while now. My coworker said her husband played in it for the US years ago.yes i think soIs this going to be an annual thing there?
Second time it's been in Vegas and first time it's been broadcast live. USA have hosted a tourney since the world Sevens circuit started 10 years ago. The International Rugby Board changed the format for this year's event to suit TV and a few of the teams complained. Seems like it's working though based on responses to this thread, cracking the USA market is the IRB's wet dream.I think it's been an annual tournament in Las Vegas for a while now. My coworker said her husband played in it for the US years ago.yes i think soIs this going to be an annual thing there?
caught Scotland v England this week on some random cable channelmade absolutely no sense whatsoever to me. but it looks like fun.Same here. I wish the 6 nations games were televised here ...Don't like 7s
Yes - I was happy to discover, after my comment above, that BBC America is carrying several Saturday games. They also have an entertaining pre-game show that features former NFL player Hugh Douglas. I have no idea what he knows about rugby or what his connection to the sport is, but did a great job as a pregame funny guy on the 2 shows I've seen. This Saturday should be a great finale as England goes for a grand slam / undefeated tournament against Ireland at the new Aviva Stadium in Dublin. I've seen England play twice and they look good - could make some noise at the World Cup this fall.caught Scotland v England this week on some random cable channelmade absolutely no sense whatsoever to me. but it looks like fun.Same here. I wish the 6 nations games were televised here ...Don't like 7s
The basics are that the objective is the same as football, which is to cross the opponent's goal line (but you must actually touch the ball down) for what is called a try--worth 5 points. The conversion is worth two, but is kicked from a line directly back from where the ball was touched down. Hence much more difficult if the try was in the corner.Here are the three big differences between rugby and football. 1) When you are tackled, you must let the ball go, and play continues, until the ball goes out of bounds (called touch), or there is an infraction of the rules.2) the ball may not be passed forward, only laterally or backwards. 3) You may not interfere with the tackler, so blocking is out.Penalties for infraction of the rules can be minor, in which case a scrum is awarded and the non penalized team gets a slight advantage in putting the ball in, or major, in which case a penalty kick is awarded, which could be a field goal worth three points if it is within range.Most of the rest of the game flows from these differences.care to give a rundown of the basics of the game?
The guy who gets tackled falls so that his body is between the ball and the opponents, thus giving his team an advantage. He is supposed to get out of the way as soon as he can. There are also rules which prohibit reaching in for the ball once the ruck has been formed--the ruck being when players from each team arrive and attempt to push the other team back so as to gain possession.why is there not more of an attempt to stop guys from handing off the ball when they're laying at the bottom of a pile? seems like guy gets tackled, bunch of people pile on and then the ball always squirts out to the team who got tackled.is there a rule against wrenching it out? do they blow the whistle if things get too wacky? doesn't seem so as i saw some nasty stomping, clawing and fighting.
They don't have to pass (unlike, I think, in the popular offshoot games "Rugby League" and "Aussie Rules" rugby) - can run the entire length of the field if it works.When a player gets stopped and is held up, but doesn't go down, that is called a "maul"; when he goes to ground it becomes a "ruck". Although it looks like complete chaos, mauls and rucks are actually heavily regulated affairs that involve a fair amount of technique and teamwork. The goal of the tackled or stopped player is to maintain possession and get the ball to his teammates who are hopefully set up to run a play; the goal of the tackling team is to get the ball. The ball is essentially the "offsides" line in a ruck or maul. No hands in a ruck - the ball must be released and no one can grab it our touch it with their hands until it comes out (you drive over it and ruck it back with your feet). The "scrum" is more organized - that's a set play coming off a penalty or other stoppage when 7 or 8 of the forwards (the big guys) lock together and smash into the opposing scrum, and one of the little guys delivers the ball in down the middle - also a highly regulated event in the game with a great deal of technique and teamwork involved to maintain possession, advance the ball, set up a play, etc.ah. makes more sense, i kept thinking "just steal the ball!" but i figured there must be some sorta rule against that.how far can they run before punting or passing? do they have to pass it at all?
Well stated. This was definitely this most difficult aspect of the game for me to pick up on when I watched, but it made total sense after a few games. I was surprised at home much I enjoyed 7s. Really a cross between football athleticism/skill with the open field running and tackling and, IMO, basketball passing with the creativity, discipline, and knowing where your teammates are at at all times. Really pretty impressive to see such huge guys with such finely tuned coordination.They don't have to pass (unlike, I think, in the popular offshoot games "Rugby League" and "Aussie Rules" rugby) - can run the entire length of the field if it works.When a player gets stopped and is held up, but doesn't go down, that is called a "maul"; when he goes to ground it becomes a "ruck". Although it looks like complete chaos, mauls and rucks are actually heavily regulated affairs that involve a fair amount of technique and teamwork. The goal of the tackled or stopped player is to maintain possession and get the ball to his teammates who are hopefully set up to run a play; the goal of the tackling team is to get the ball. The ball is essentially the "offsides" line in a ruck or maul. No hands in a ruck - the ball must be released and no one can grab it our touch it with their hands until it comes out (you drive over it and ruck it back with your feet). The "scrum" is more organized - that's a set play coming off a penalty or other stoppage when 7 or 8 of the forwards (the big guys) lock together and smash into the opposing scrum, and one of the little guys delivers the ball in down the middle - also a highly regulated event in the game with a great deal of technique and teamwork involved to maintain possession, advance the ball, set up a play, etc.ah. makes more sense, i kept thinking "just steal the ball!" but i figured there must be some sorta rule against that.how far can they run before punting or passing? do they have to pass it at all?
Commentators suck.On NBC now.
God I hope I don't live to see that day.We got pounded last time but Ngwenya's (sp?) try against South Africa is one of the coolest "plays" (not really sure what to call it) I've ever seen. Sevens seems to being growing in popularity but I've always thought if any type of rugby was going to take off here it'd be rugby league. Seems like the down system would be easier for Americans to handle when compared to the scrum. Given what we're learning about concussions, I wouldn't be surprised if 75 years or so down the road rugby has replaced football as the premier American contact sport. It's not as violent as football but way rougher.Hopefully the Rugby World Cup finals (New Zealand) will be televised here this fall - we'll get to see some great Rubgy Union at the highest level. The US qualified, but is not expected to do very well.