Should European nations spend more on defence?

Question

Should European nations spend more on defence?

Answer 1

Yes, they need to build an inpenetrable fence on the five metre marks so that opposition teams cannot score. Defence will not affect the European teams as they are masters of the penalty goal and drop goal anyway. Defences should be made of brick and extend as high as the crossbar.

Answer 2

I believe they need to develop their athleticism more than anything. Southern hemisphere teams are great defenders but they are pinultimately strong athletes as they can also attack from anywhere. I think concentrating on any one thing for too long breeds bad habits. That said you can win a wolrd cup on it. Check out 2003 in Aussie. Well deserved by the English as you just cant pass them. They are complete stalwarts, well that year anyway, but how amazing were they on attack and just how entertaining were they to watch? If you want an allround game plan, massive hits, with intense attack and from anywhere on the field...you need to develop athletes, not defenders

Answer 3

The should spend more time in both attack and defense. The way European countries attack is the reason why they dont have strong defensive lines throughout a whole game.

Although the European countries have traditionally been strong in up front battles through their fowards, when they have been attacked by the speed of the back in particular the southern hemisphere teams, they are usually torn a part and lack this inability or fitness level to keep up in defense.

Its like the backs have the same fitness level as the forward when your chasing very quick and very fit backs from the opponent.

European nations need to change the 'boring' attacking plan and play expansive quick rugby so that they dont hammered by this type of style of rugby that has been traditionally played by the southern hemisphere. This is one the main reasons why european countries will not adopt the EVLs as they cannot sustain 80 minutes of free flowing rugby. Just look at the 2008 tri nation games on you tube and youll see how exciting rugby has become.

And youll notice that the southern hemisphere teams are now putting a lot of emphasis in attacking forward play just as much through their  with their backs.