Is England's type of play bad for the game?

Question

I'm a rugby fan and have been disappointed watching England and mini England (Argentina) just killing games and kicking there way to victory. Yes I know at the end of the day a win is a win but this is not a really good advert for the game.

Perhaps after the world cup there should be a debate about changing the point structure (again!) to encourage an open game and going for tries, drop a drop goal to ONE point?

Answer 1

I think it is... Even though it wins...it is not the reason why most sane people enjoy rugby, or the type of stuff that will attract supporters or players to watch or play rugby union.

Although people love the forward stuff (leicester supporters etc) they are  (and they admit this) just wierd.

Answer 2

If you want to see a running game you should be watching athletics.  However since rugby was founded (allegedly) when William Webb Ellis picked up the ball and ran with it.... there should definitely be much of that in the game as it's what rugby's about.  

However to complete a drop goal, the other team members have to have helped to create the space for the kick and the opposing team has to have allowed the kicker to get into that position....so I hardly tbink you can call it a one-man game or style of play.  Do believe though that penalties and drop goals should only be 2 points.

Answer 3

Although I want to England to win, however they play, I do think a penalty or drop kick should only be worth 2, they shouldn't be worth just 2 points less than a try, especially when you consider how good kickers are.

I suppose the reason for the penalties being worth this much is to stop people infringing and keeping the game moving, so it does need more debate.

Answer 4

Is Englands' type of play, bad for the game?.... 'No.'

There is nothing wrong with thinking outside the square and if kicking is what it takes to keep the game close or to win, then what is wrong with that?

We all knew this was going to be part of their game, and it is a game that eventuated from soccer.

As an All Blacks supporter and a rugby fan, I enjoy the game as it is.

It's exciting watching the oppositions counter act it and England has been known to score tries from oppositions thinking they were going to kick.

It's great having the feeling of fear when England is in the oppositions' territory thinking they are going to score points every time they're there.

That's what makes Rugby so unpredictable and such a great game. Always keeping the oppositions guessing and as we all know, we don't always know the out come.

Answer 5

Personally I like England football teams a lot...

Answer 6

Right from the days of Brian Moore, Will Carling and Jonathan Webb, the England game has been based on huge lumbering forwards who maul and maul and maul the opposition into conceding penalties. And then it is up to the kicker to kick the nation's team to victory. When they come up against powerful sides who aren't so submissive, such as NZ or SA, the English struggle. England have always relied on kickers such as John Webb, Rob Andrew and now Jonny Wilkinson to win games for them. It's wrong. Rugby is a TEAM game. It should be the TEAM that wins the match, not one individual who's got an accurate boot from long-range!! It makes for incredibly boring rugby. If we wanted to see a kicking game, we'd go and watch football. Fact of the matter is we want to see a running game!

Answer 7

Rubbish its how you win that matters, but for the record, look closely.  Those English forwards put there bodies on the line, in order to get good field position you need a dominant forward pack and every inch of that ground has been paved with a whole lot of guts and pain.  Not once did they back down, not once did they give up.  That's the key to a very tough team.  That should be the focus for the All Blacks preparation for 2011 Rugby World Cup.  Emphasis on backbone.

Answer 8

Its not just England who are playing this keep it close grind em down type of rugby.  The defence is so good and the players so fit that they can cover across so well all match.  There is no space and no gaps appear.  So teams put forwards in the three quarter line to gain a physical miss match.  Barry John Phill Bennett would not get away with elusive running making breaks the sort of rugby we would all love to see.  Now we have rugby league coaches in union.   So reduce the value of a drop goal to one point.  Next reduce the number of players to 13.  Replace the ruck with a heal back............... Sound familiar? We might reduce the number of subs or this business of resting players so that  you have to be fit to play 80 mins instead of 60,

Answer 9

I think Englands style of Rugby is just a bore. I would hate to think the AB's would change to this style purely to win. Rugby is throwing the ball around. I for one would loose interest in the sport if that was what we had to watch. There year in year out rugby is bad. I quite frankly think there type of play is bad for the game.