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#Post#: 147843--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tony Rowe: Rugby needs to Americanise
DIR By: Yareet
Date: January 14, 2026, 6:37 am
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--- Quote from: Camquin link ---
>
> You and i might like to discuss the subtleties of the scrum or
maul, but the casual view wants t see a back tearing down the
wing and sidestepping defenders.
> So what do the powers that be do.
> They increase the number of substitutes, which means the fat
blokes - and here I include female fat blokes like the great
Hannah Botterman - play for 45 minutes and then get replaced by
a fresh fat bloke. So they can make more tackles. so there is
less space for running rugby.
>
> Curt down the bench, make the fat blokes play for 60 to 80
minutes and get tired. And then space will open up for running
rugby in the last twenty minutes and there will be a highlights
real that will entertain the casual viewer.
>
--- End Quote ---
Partly yes but I'd argue there are other sports where the casual
viewer can see something similar - most obviously football.
Where rugby can (and does) differentiate itself is the mix of
skills and power. Any ad campaign for a league, competition or
team will show a mix of tries and big hits. It's not just about
the runs down the wing.
To throw some nausey stats at the question, with a few
exceptions, the Prem's top try scorer has been an outside back
every year since 1997. To me, that would suggest there's been
some tearing down the wing. The average number of tries scored
by the top try scorer has been 13.85.
Since 2010 when 8 subs came in, the average number of tries from
the top scorer has been 14. In that time there have been 21 top
try scorers (included shared titles). Waldrom did it twice.
Reinach, Earl, Thorley and Simmonds have all done it once. The
rest were all back 3 players; typically wingers.
#Post#: 147881--------------------------------------------------
Re: Tony Rowe: Rugby needs to Americanise
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: January 15, 2026, 12:51 am
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You should hear the crowd shouting "HEAVE" as their team sets up
a rolling maul within sight of their opponents try line. Its not
just about Brylcreem Boys tottering down the wing in their high
heels.
** This post has been checked and verified by a young person and
is guaranteed offensive to several social groups.
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