I'm really trying to understand the sport of rugby by finding equivalents to the North American sports that I watch every day. Now that I have watched something near 30 rugby telecasts, I am still clueless on many aspects of the game but I think I have a grasp on some concepts that I can relate to.
Here are a few observations:
--The more I watch Crusaders' center Sonny Bill Williams, the more I think LA Lakers great Magic Johnson. Like SBW, Magic Johnson was taller and bulkier than many of the players at his position at the time. Magic also was a creative passer. After watching Williams yesterday against the Stormers, I immediately think finger roll--the arm-extended pass lightly touched off to a team-mate begs comparison to basketball. SBW even threw a behind-the-back pass at one point--the signature move of the NBA point guard.
--To counter SBW's creative offloads, one would think watching the NFL would help me understand his effectiveness. I kept thinking as the Stormers tackled him, surely they will wrap him up by the arms--and I can imagine with SBW's size that easier said than done. I think "umbrella tackle" from pee-wee American football and my coach screaming in my ear "you gotta wrap up (the ball-carrier)"!!
--My guess is that the rules for knock-ons and what constitues possession of the ball somewhat complicate matters, but I wonder why defenders don't swipe at the ball more often. Maybe they do and I don't see it, but I saw one Crusaders player do the hatchet-chop move to knock a ball out of a Stomers' hand--and you see those moves maybe twenty or more times a game in the NFL.
--The offsides rule in rugby, just like in soccer confuse me greatly by its arbitrary and subjective enforcement by match officials.
--I'm not nuanced enough to notice but if I were the coach of a rugby team I would put as much emphasis on diagonal runs and offloads and misdirection of support players. Again, I'm sure it goes on more than I can see on TV--but the plodding ground-pounding rugby may gain territory, but it's the slashing runs and misdirections that seem to create open space. I'd love to see an NFL and a SupeRugby coach get together and share ideas about creating openings for fast players.
Here are a few observations:
--The more I watch Crusaders' center Sonny Bill Williams, the more I think LA Lakers great Magic Johnson. Like SBW, Magic Johnson was taller and bulkier than many of the players at his position at the time. Magic also was a creative passer. After watching Williams yesterday against the Stormers, I immediately think finger roll--the arm-extended pass lightly touched off to a team-mate begs comparison to basketball. SBW even threw a behind-the-back pass at one point--the signature move of the NBA point guard.
--To counter SBW's creative offloads, one would think watching the NFL would help me understand his effectiveness. I kept thinking as the Stormers tackled him, surely they will wrap him up by the arms--and I can imagine with SBW's size that easier said than done. I think "umbrella tackle" from pee-wee American football and my coach screaming in my ear "you gotta wrap up (the ball-carrier)"!!
--My guess is that the rules for knock-ons and what constitues possession of the ball somewhat complicate matters, but I wonder why defenders don't swipe at the ball more often. Maybe they do and I don't see it, but I saw one Crusaders player do the hatchet-chop move to knock a ball out of a Stomers' hand--and you see those moves maybe twenty or more times a game in the NFL.
--The offsides rule in rugby, just like in soccer confuse me greatly by its arbitrary and subjective enforcement by match officials.
--I'm not nuanced enough to notice but if I were the coach of a rugby team I would put as much emphasis on diagonal runs and offloads and misdirection of support players. Again, I'm sure it goes on more than I can see on TV--but the plodding ground-pounding rugby may gain territory, but it's the slashing runs and misdirections that seem to create open space. I'd love to see an NFL and a SupeRugby coach get together and share ideas about creating openings for fast players.
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