Originally Posted by
Kind of Blue
I’m only ever a casual observer of rugby confined to watching Wales for a few matches in the 6 nations, big autumn test and World Cup pretty much. Alongside an occasional premiership game when I visit the parents.
In many ways I feel the advent of professionalism has led to some features that have been a detriment to the game. The defensive game seems to have improved to a point where it stifles creativity and chance in the attacking game. Players are massive now, the average weight of backs now must be so much greater than pre-90s averages (let alone forwards). “Big hits” seem to have become totemic rather than guile, flair and attacking risk.
I know this can be argued for many sports but Union in particular seems to suffer from the referee being far too important compared to other team sports.
I don’t really know what the solutions are as I’m not well versed enough in technicalities but as a spectacle it is purely by growing up in Wales that I even watch what I do of it. If you showed a lay person either of these tests or the State of Origin series I dare say the latter would be the more attractive spectacle.
On the Lions in particular, again probably due to not being a massive rugby fan, I’ve never felt any attachment to it. I get it if you’re a player selected for the Lions and what that means, ditto if you’re playing them as an opponent. I know it’s a storied institution with a long history but I always thought a select northern v southern hemisphere series every 4 years made more sense to me than a select 15 playing a test nation.