Union Vs League: Would the Leagies just shut up already?

I’d like to see the memo that obviously circulated around the office of the Courier Mail, stating that the publication was planning to launch a calculated attack on Rugby Union in an attempt to turn it into Rugby League.

Mike Colemen, Andrew Slack and others (Jim Tucker excepted) have all had their say regarding how boring and stale Rugby has become and that the finalists of the RWC are in essence ruining the game.

I accept that there needs to be some rule changes to allow more space on the field but to describe the RWC, and in particular the final as dour, is to forget the basic principle of Rugby, that it is above all a contest for the ball. It is the number one point of difference between Union and League and is the number one reason why the Wallabies were home so early. England won the contest for the ball and ultimately the game. All the backline talent in the world, including a slow and ponderous Lote Tiquri, will count for nothing if your forwards are being out muscled at the contest and it is these contests that make Rugby the game that it is. The move in Australia to remove the scrum from the game is gaining momentum with mothers and wingers everywhere but the day it turns into the insult to the intelligence that is a Rugby League ‘scrum’ (the forwards might as well play paddy-cakes) is the day that will see the death of Union.

Perhaps Queensland’s penchant for all things Rugby League has clouded the judgement of many. There can be no doubt that the NRL and Origin are fantastic competitions but for many non-league fans the predictable run-from-dummy-half and fifth tackle kick (circa Broncos 2007) are every bit as frustrating as a scrum being repacked or a infringement at the breakdown. Need I point out also that next years Rugby League World Cup is shaping up to be a Kangaroo whitewash. Indeed while the interpretation of rules needs to be tightened, it should be noted that League has many infuriating rules of its own including the ludicrous strip rule and many different bizarre rulings on obstruction. Furthermore, by having two less players on the field and a system of laws designed to favour the ball carrier, as opposed to a contest, there is bound to be more tries in the thirteen-man game.

I for one am getting tired of having to defend Union from one eyed League fans and those that obviously have little or no understanding of the game (see Mike Coleman). I don’t understand the nuances of AFL but that does not mean that I do not appreciate the skill and athleticism involved. To me, a Full-Forward taking a mark is every bit as entertaining as Bakkies Botha hitting a ruck or even a Billy Slater try. If, the Courier Mail staff are so unhappy with Rugby Union then I say don’t watch it. If the majority of Australians find it dull then stop playing it. It would be sad not to have the Wallabies but I’m sure that South Africa, England, New Zealand, France, Argentina etc will carry on enjoying the game regardless. Australia then could go on enjoying thrashing their opponents at League in front of six thousand bored and indifferent fans.