Just back from the rugby
Mar. 31st, 2012 06:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
redfiona99I went to watch Tigers vs Worcester (BBC match report here - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17525760) with some uni friends.
I think my problem with rugby union remains that it's so close to rugby league and yet so different. It's like aliens entirely independently came up with the idea of rugby so you can see why there are differences but they still make me scratch my head.
Matters were not helped by some of the ball carrying skills being worse than those of my friend's under-8s team. I think, if I were to sum it up in one pithy sentence, Worcester wanted to play rugby but the ref and Leicester wanted set play practise. Admittedly matters, both on my understanding, and of the game's flow, were not helped by it being Wayne Barnes refereeing.
Because I was standing* in the stand in front of where the Tigers coaching staff were lurking, Austin Healy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Healey **) walked past. He is somehow smaller in real life, but just as gobby as ever.
Welford Road is bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside, but if it's a fortress with a terrifying crowd, most union players would freak at the average league ground, because they're so much louder. And with better views. I mean I still stand by choice but you couldn't see anything in the corners. I have been spoilt by Knowsley Road.
But yes, poor Andy Goode had a 'mare and Alex Tuilagi was drawn into getting a silly yellow card by some Worcester winker who wound him up. He didn't punch the guy, just grabbed him by the neck. He's definitely getting better at controlling his temper ***.
Other than that, I was very impressed by the Worcester wingers, the person that I think was James Grindal, not least after getting straight up after a tackle where I swear I heard something go crack all the way up in the stands and Tom Youngs, older brother of Ben who is once again in hot water. And Julian White, but not being impressed by him is difficult ****.
* the one thing that worries me about the new Saints stadium is that it appears to be all seated. I'm not sure I approve of watching rugby sitting down.
** Although if he's 5 foot 10 like his wiki suggests then I'm a monkey's uncle. I know what 5' 10 looks like and that's not it.
*** Alex's oldest brother played for Saints, therefore he is obviously not guilty of whatever it is, or there were extenuating circumstances.
**** Geordan Murphy, were he not forever a darling anyway, would be a darling for letting Jules White lift the LV Trophy (I think it's the old Anglo-Welsh Cup, but I might be wrong) first despite him [Murphy] being club captain.
I think my problem with rugby union remains that it's so close to rugby league and yet so different. It's like aliens entirely independently came up with the idea of rugby so you can see why there are differences but they still make me scratch my head.
Matters were not helped by some of the ball carrying skills being worse than those of my friend's under-8s team. I think, if I were to sum it up in one pithy sentence, Worcester wanted to play rugby but the ref and Leicester wanted set play practise. Admittedly matters, both on my understanding, and of the game's flow, were not helped by it being Wayne Barnes refereeing.
Because I was standing* in the stand in front of where the Tigers coaching staff were lurking, Austin Healy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Healey **) walked past. He is somehow smaller in real life, but just as gobby as ever.
Welford Road is bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside, but if it's a fortress with a terrifying crowd, most union players would freak at the average league ground, because they're so much louder. And with better views. I mean I still stand by choice but you couldn't see anything in the corners. I have been spoilt by Knowsley Road.
But yes, poor Andy Goode had a 'mare and Alex Tuilagi was drawn into getting a silly yellow card by some Worcester winker who wound him up. He didn't punch the guy, just grabbed him by the neck. He's definitely getting better at controlling his temper ***.
Other than that, I was very impressed by the Worcester wingers, the person that I think was James Grindal, not least after getting straight up after a tackle where I swear I heard something go crack all the way up in the stands and Tom Youngs, older brother of Ben who is once again in hot water. And Julian White, but not being impressed by him is difficult ****.
* the one thing that worries me about the new Saints stadium is that it appears to be all seated. I'm not sure I approve of watching rugby sitting down.
** Although if he's 5 foot 10 like his wiki suggests then I'm a monkey's uncle. I know what 5' 10 looks like and that's not it.
*** Alex's oldest brother played for Saints, therefore he is obviously not guilty of whatever it is, or there were extenuating circumstances.
**** Geordan Murphy, were he not forever a darling anyway, would be a darling for letting Jules White lift the LV Trophy (I think it's the old Anglo-Welsh Cup, but I might be wrong) first despite him [Murphy] being club captain.
