Pls help! Basic rugby questions...?

Question

i am an american living abroad and new to rugby, so these questions will seem dumb, but pls help if u can :) thx

1. Why do they scrum, and what situation initiates a scrum?

2. Why do the players sometimes opt to punt the ball upfield rather than try to drive it up? they lose possession...

3. in what situation will they try to drop kick for 3 pts rather than go for the try?

4. doesnt it seems sometimes that the pass is actually going forward, but a foul is not called? is a sideways pass legal?

5. anyone know why NZ is called the "all blacks"? in the US there would be 100 lawsuits over that name haha :)

thanks for any help folks!

Answer 1

OK

1. The scrum is a traditional part of the game, a formalised version of a ruck - it is initiated by minor infringements like forward pass, knowck on, accidental offside. A team can also opt to take a scrum rather than a kick when awarded a penalty.

2. A player will usually punt rather than run if he is in a position where he has no support - if he goes to ground in a tackle he will have to release the ball and the opposition position will be strong - hence, gain territory rather than risk losing possesion in a much worse place. Sometimes a team will punt to put pressure on the opposition - the catching player will be tackled quickly (before he can return the kick, as in the previous part of this answer). This is all due to the game not stopping when a player is tackled - a major difference between Rugby Union and Rugby League (and American Football) - territorial or tactical kicking is all informed by that simple fact.

3. When 3 points is strategically significant (eg. it will take you far enough ahead that a converted try will not be enough for the opposition to take the lead). Also, better 3 points than failing to score a try. A significant number of games is won by the team scoring fewer tries - they will build a lead with penalties and drop goals - this also highlights the importance of territorial position - if you are playing in a part of the field where a kick at goal is feasible it increases the pressure on the opposition not to commit an offence or lose possesion.

4. It's a judgement thing - sometimes a forward pass is missed by the ref, that's life. In Rugby UNion there is no allowance for momentum - ie. the pass must actually go backwards (in practical terms sideways is generally accepted as OK) not just to a player running behind you (at speed this might mean that the pass is forward even if the receiver is still behind you - I believe this is different in Rugby League.

5. They traditionally wear black. That's it. Black isn't a perjorative no matter how much the Politically Correct might wish to make it seem so. Also g*y means happy and lighthearted... but I guess we lost that one a long time ago.

Have fun watching the Rugby!

4.

Answer 2

New Zealand has had the pleasure of a 3 time Superbowl America Football player played the game and was very good at it. I believe he played in a team in the South Island of New Zealand.

1. A total of 8 men are used called forwards. They are like your Lines men in America Football and are used to reset the game.

All 8 and sometime 7 are bind to form a scrum pushing over the ball to maintain possession.

Situations that initiates a scrum is a forward pass, knocking the ball on, an accidental offside, a use it or loose it situation and a held up ball.

A team can choose to have a scrum rather than a penalty kick or another Line out throw.

2. Kick - if lack of support, field possession, to apply pressure or to force mistakes. Very useful when fullback and Wing are not in their position.

3. Drop Kick is worth 3 points. Used to apply pressure on the scoreboard or defence. Known to win games when time is running out and used against strong defence to keep them guesting.

4. Pass - Passing in Rugby can only be thrown backwards and the Referee is the sole person in-charge to rule if the pass is forward. (sometimes with the help of his touch judges)

5. All Blacks - A New Zealand Team known as the All Blacks from the 1905 Tour for wearing Black.

I hope this is of some help, have fun....

Answer 3

Hey let me tell ya a lil sumthin bout rugby OK?

IT SUCKS .

I had to play that g*y *** c**p when i lived "over tha pond".

hated it.

and crickets for wussies.

sorry i didnt answer yer question heh heh.

Answer 4

1. The scrum is awarded if the other team pass forward or drop the ball in front. Also a scrum is awarded for a team who has the ball in a maul but the ball can not come out. Normally the team who puts the ball in has the best chances to win it, however sometimes if the other team is much stronger will win the ball.

2. Sometimes the players kick the ball forward because the other team is not allowed to attack them while they are running after the ball. If they run with the ball in hand they could be attacked.

3. If the other team has a very strong defense, they prefer to kick the ball for 3 points. Also if they play with a team as good as them, every point counts.

4. It is allowed to pass only behind, however the referee does not see that the ball went forward. (Game France against NZ).

5. Early New Zealand national rugby uniforms consisted of a black jersey with a silver fern and white knickerbockers. By their 1905 tour the All Blacks were wearing all black, except for the silver fern, and their All Black name dates from this time.

Answer 5

good answers from everyone except 'musicsee' . Just ignore him because you will find that rugby has a large and proud underground following in the US with many small clubs sprouting all over. Do you want to learn something new and be able to pioneer in that when you home, or do you want to imagine you can't do it like that loser 'musicee'? Well good luck you seem to have the correct approach, go give 'em h**l.

Answer 6

1. the scrum is initiated by either a knock on or forward pass but is also an option for a penalty

2.its better to punt the ball upfield and try and force the opposistion into making aa mistake and have better territory

3. usually aa team will go for a drop goal if they arnt able to get very good ball and theyr attack isnt working very well or to win the game if they are only 2 points behind

4.sometimes the refs just miss a forward pass but yup a sideways pass is legal

5. the all blacks are the best rugby team in the world they are ranked number 1 although they lost at the rugby world cup they have the best winning record in rugby history and they are from new zealand and mmost naational teams from new zealand wear black:)

hope tht answers ur question