Originally Posted by
TH63
It's not about intellect for me. Far from it.
I dislike the fact that Rugby, at least in these here parts, used to be the game of the working man but isn't any more. To get to watch Wales v England in the arms park, you either had to be a member of a rugby club or get very very lucky. It's not anymore, it's an event. And anyone can get a ticket if they've got deep enough tickets or a vague connection with someone who wants their business and invites them to their box. And don't get me started on the cowboy hats, daffodil and sheep heads.
The rule changes over the years have ruined it for me. Lifting in the line-out used to be a penalty, players needed skill and athleticism to time their jump right and win the ball. These days, players strap handles to their legs ffs. If you needed to bring a sub on, a doctor used to have to declare a player unfit to continue. Now, you change half the fecking team with 20 minutes to go. And what's all this bonus point bollocks?
I generally dislike the media treatment of the "event. John Inverdale and Eddie Butler in particular. I dislike the fireworks, I dislike the corporate snouts in the trough.
I used to like the game, hell I used to play it, but what we'll see on TV this Saturday bears little or no relation to the game I used to watch (and play) in the 70's.