When i play Rugby i play much better if there are people in the team I know are good players?

Question

Also winning is the only reason i play. I look upon it as a personal insult if we lose a match. Am i over obsessesing?

Answer 1

Good players will raise the standard of your game, because it will give you the confidence to push the envelope.

Play to win by all means, take a defeat as a lesson, and learn from it.

Answer 2

I guess you are a bit obsessed by winning if you take it that personal. That can,t be good for your health.

Answer 3

Losing is good for ya, teaches humility!

Answer 4

you should always look to be part of the team . your skill level must be the same as theirs. we only play to win

Answer 5

Winning is always a plus, but when it comes to a team sport you play as a team.  I play rugby and have met so many good friends.  You could put Dan Carter in a team of average players, but unless all 15 players of the team play as a unit your not gonna get anywhere.

Answer 6

Over obsessesing ?   Absolutley not.!

Why play if all you do is lose,  there would be no enjoyment, after all why do we play sports?   for enjoyment!    What makes enjoyment??  Winning!!

As for playing with better players - most people play better if there no that there is sombody in the squad just as good as them ready to take there place.  

Sport is serios my friend so you keep up the good work,  But if you do lose.... Dont beat yourself up about it.

Answer 7

"Winning isn't everything but losing is nothing."  I love that quote, and I don't think you're over obsessing.  I take it as an insult if we lose a match as well, so I get really jacked up the next time we're gonna play that team and I'm ready to beat some @$$.

The psychological aspect of a game, especially a game as physically demanding as rugby is huge.  It can completely turn the tide of a match.  If you are confident of your mates, then you know they're gonna be there in support, you know they're gonna be there in every scrum down, lineout and tackle.  Perhaps you are a risky player, going for that cut back inside, or that pass pickoff, or that killshot tackle.  It is much easier to feel confidence in a risky play when you know your mates are right behind you to clean up any mess left behind.  If you have that confidence, then you know your team is gonna be there, so you'll be there as well.  It's the worst feeling in the world to know you're on an island by yourself on a breakaway when three teammates before made some bonehead play.  I completely know what you're saying, and completely agree.

Another thing with playing with better players, you can learn in the game by watching the choices they make when you are a couple steps behind the play.  You learn more about rugby in that half minute than you will at a week of practice.  Playing with better players also allows you to elevate your gameplay, because you don't have to worry about the little things like whether or not the guy next to you is gonna make his tackle so you can be free to poach the ball.

Answer 8

You can tell that everyone who's obsessed by winning, or have answered that it's fine you take losing like you do isn't what we'd call a proper rugby player. Oh you might be better than some 'proper' rugby players, but that doesn't bring you near the standard. One day you'll see rugby isn't about winning or losing, it's about playing the game, in rugby, there are no enemies, just friends who become your opponents for a short while. If you're confused, read the Baa baa's guide to rugby, or just look at their respect for the game, the love and fun they have for it. If you're obsessed with winning, fine, be a winner, but you'll never be a rugby player that way, if losing makes you that upset you'll bring the people around you down as well. We're not the All Blacks, we're not the Bokkes, we don't have cymru emblazened on our backs or a red rose on our pocket. We have no clover upon our breast nor a wallaby on our chest. Be addicted to rugby, not to winning. Winner's are only happy when they win, rugby players are happy when ever they hold a ball.

Answer 9

Yes. But don't get obsessed about it. Anyone that tells you it's not the winning it's the taking part, is not a winner.

Answer 10

I've played Rugby for 8 years give or take injury time, i've played for "Drinking teams" and i've played B-Side in the US Superleauge, (As well as with D I teams that deserve to be Superleauge)

One "Drinking" Team i played with in perticular i was usually the first person to a ruck/maul by at least 3 seconds.  that left me hanging out there taking on 3 opposing forwards all by myself, i got a couple big injuries doing that and therefore throttled back my play and started letting the other team win the rucks they deserved to win.

Rugby being such a physical sport there is something about playing on a team that holds itself to a higher standard, as a forward your always up there with those brothers on your team that you KNOW you can count on.  (as a back you see forwards playing their hearts out for you and you step it up when they give you the ball).

on that same idea down inside you know they're counting on you so you have enough respect for them not to let them down.

I was the CPT for a start up team, no one on that team had ever played rugby before in their entire life, but somehow that team created a serious bond, we had no idea what the h**l we were doing half the time but we poured our hearts and souls out on that field for eachother, and finished our first two years with WINNING records (Above 50/50) against some serious opponents.

Psycologically your level of play in a team is strongly dependant on that team.  that's a fact. I have and will drive an hour each way to play with a team that has that "bond", instead of going to practice with a drinking team 5 mins down the road.

on the winning thing, on the field you should beat the h**l out of your self mentally and physically if your loosing, try to pull it together.

remember, rugby is not a paid sport, no one is out on that field that doesn't want to be, and unless your getting too old there will always be next year.

after the game is over it's all about celebrating a clash of this miniscule (tiny) minority of a people, who not only had the balls to get on the field and face you and your team down man to man.  but celebrating with people who have yet to loose that passion for life.

how many people do you pass by every day that have lost that spark in their eyes? hollow just going through the motions.

you may find a rugby player going through the montions in his 9-5, but you will never find that in a rugby player durring or after a game.  after the game is over, win and loss are minor details compared to 30 + bloody bruised warriors hoisting a glass, singing rugby songs, living like few people in this life even understand how to.

if you don't understand that part, you've physically been to a 3rd half party, but you've never MENTALLY been at a 3rd half party.

if you need something to bring that fact into STARK reality, play an international game, with people who barley speak your language, then roll out a keg and let the learning begin.

and yes ya'all i know my grammar sucks, i tried to make it as read-able as possible.

Answer 11

It's about upping your game for the big occasion!

Answer 12

Yes I think that your over obsessing. As a community Rugby Player I know that 'you win some, you lose some'. You should play the sport because you love it, not just to win all the time. I have been playing for 13 years now and still love it win or lose, doesnt matter who I play for, as long as its a Union game