National Rugby Championship 2014

[Pass it to Dunning!]

I'm thinking all the worry about the law variations making it difficult to develop skills useful in Super and Test rugby is misguided. It's the off-season after all. They wouldn't be developing their penalty kicking if the NRC didn't exist either.

 

[Braveheart81]

How do you know? I'd say everyone that made suggestions to the ARU would be part of the core rugby support base in Australia. The core that is turning up. It's not like there were tens of thousands of people that participated. Most core rugby fans would like to see less penalty goals.

Well, I was assuming the rusted on conservatives you were referring to were mostly people on this forum who regularly disagree with you.

I know for a fact those people have been attending NRC games.

 

[Omar Comin']

Well, I was assuming the rusted on conservatives you were referring to were mostly people on this forum who regularly disagree with you.

Well I mean there's only about half a dozen of you and clearly more people are going to the NRC than that!

The key things I've said have come to pass. 1) That something would be done to reduce the number of penalty goals in the NRC, 2) That it wouldn't result in a monumental shift in the fabric of the game, and 3) That it wouldn't result in a significant increase in cynical play.

Three ticks so far.

 

[Pfitzy]

The current rules can only benefit players in terms of fitness levels. Technique is something that is necessarily honed at each level to extract more out of a given player. If the fitness base and the knowledge of the hard work required to maintain it is instilled in the lower levels, the upper levels will reap the rewards.

We've seen the ABs and their renowned fitness dominate rugby because they know the standards required, particularly when its you against someone of similar size and skill. Top that off with the technical development at professional level and you have a winning combination

 

[Pfitzy]

Well I mean there's only about half a dozen of you and clearly more people are going to the NRC than that!

The unsung masses haven't discovered GAGR yet


I've been to two games so far (both broadcast) and will get my first weekend game on Saturday! WOOHOO!

 

[Lee Grant]

The key things I've said have come to pass. 1) That something would be done to reduce the number of penalty goals in the NRC, 2) That it wouldn't result in a monumental shift in the fabric of the game, and 3) That it wouldn't result in a significant increase in cynical play.

Three ticks so far.

It's been good hasn't it - and I said similar things in 2007 with many of the ELVs used then.

I have no doubt that these successes will prevail to the end of the competition.

But such success in the NRC will be as relevant as the success of ELVs were in the 2007 Shute Shield and the ARC.

It will be the use of the variations in a higher level, as in Super Rugby, where it will really matter.

We can talk to the cows came home about how good they are now (as I did then) but we will have to wait until they are used at a higher level until the northerners have a real look at them.

This won't happen until 2016 Super Rugby most likely.

In the meantime we can enjoy the open play and I, like the Ancient Mariner, can wag my finger at by-passers in the street and warn them about developing young players in a false environment.

Mind you - better to develop and have a look at them in any environment, than not.
.

 

[Omar Comin']

We can talk to the cows came home about how good they are now (as I did then) but we will have to wait until they are used at a higher level until the northerners have a real look at them.

This won't happen until 2016 Super Rugby most likely.

In the meantime we can enjoy the open play and I, like the Ancient Mariner, can wag my finger at by-passers in the street and warn them about developing young players in a false environment.

Mind you - better to develop and have a look at them in any environment, than not.

I think they should keep the current point system in the NRC (or at most, change it to 6 point tries, 2 point conversions) regardless of whether they ever want to trial it at super rugby or test level.

For 2 reasons. First, it makes for more consistently entertaining rugby in our national competition. 2ndly, I think it will help develop the skill levels of Australian players to a greater extent. We want the Wallabies and our Super Rugby teams to be playing high tempo, high skilled running rugby. If future players come through an NRC where that style is promoted they'll be better at it.

 

[Dctarget]

Is there talk of a winner v winner from the NRC and ITM respectively? It's so hard to gauge who would have the edge out of Canterbury or Melbourne..

 

[hawktrain]

Link for the all-Sydney game this afternoon.

 

[TOCC]

Is there talk of a winner v winner from the NRC and ITM respectively? It's so hard to gauge who would have the edge out of Canterbury or Melbourne..

which point/rule set would you play under?

 

[Wilson]

which point/rule set would you play under?

Probably standard, though kiwis in general seem to be complementary of the NRC rule set so it could be an option.

 

[Highlander35]

Normal scoring, but with the shot clocks. 50/50 on the 2 lineout rules.

 

[Joe King]

I've been thinking about how the changed points structure might or might not have impacted match scores so I've done the math & found that the 13 matches to date have averaged 55.7 points.

By comparison, the 30 ITM Cup matches to date are averaging 49.7 so it seems to me that if the purpose of changing the points structure was to produce a more entertaining style of footy, it hasn't really worked to any great degree.

It's definitely more entertaining rugby. Ball is in play so much longer. Teams going for touch/tries instead of penalty goals is fabulous to watch.

All the negative play people predicted with increase points on offer for a try and decrease for a penalty, haven't eventuated. Well done ARU. Really hope these laws, or ones like it are eventually adopted by the IRB.

 

[kiap]

After Round 4:

 

[Highlander35]

Important couple of weeks for the rising, wins against the Eagles and the Vikings would all but lock up top spot going into the bye.

 

[Pfitzy]

If the Rising get one more win they're guaranteed a finals spot - 5 out of 9 puts then in the top of the comp realistically.

Interesting to note that only three teams have a BP for 3+ try difference., and only half the comp have one for a close loss.

 

[kiap]

Not sure if posted earlier. . . Good effort from the Warringah Rat!

Excerpt from Rugby News:

Luke Vescio: The ‘Honey Badger’ of Mascots​

by Brendan Bradford – ​

Luke Vescio took a different route to cult figure status than Nick Cummins did. . . The 20-year-old Warringah Rat became an online viral sensation when a video emerged of the misfortunate injury he picked up in a mascot race at halftime of the North Harbour Rays vs NSW Country Eagles Round 3 NRC match at Brookvale Oval. . . ​

The unlucky rat has a bit of the Honey Badger’s flair for the witty one-liner about him, too.​

“The hammy, she’s about as stable as my ex-girlfriend’s emotions but she’s getting there and I’ll be right for next week. I’ve got big things to do.” ​

The former Parramatta Eels U-20s player and gun Warringah back feels he has a point to prove after being thrown in the deep end by fellow Rat, Jamie Horton.​

“I wasn’t going to go to the game because it was rainy and a bit cold, but my mate was like ‘come on, come on’ and when I eventually turned up he said we needed someone to wear the rat suit,” says Vescio. “He said it’d just be taking a few photos with the kids, so I finally agreed to it. Then as soon as halftime hit and I was in the rat suit he said I had to go out on the field because I was in a foot race. It went downhill from there.”​

“I was pretty angry on the starting line but at the sound of the gun I leapt out of the gate like a hunted stag. It was going alright – the first leg I was like a gazelle on the savannah – I was flying, I was really moving quick, but then I hit the line and turned and the first couple of steps was alright but then, bang, I was gone after that.” . . . “Next time I’ll get to warm up or maybe I’ll have a hammy rub and I’ll be happy.”​

Bring on race two.​

Read the full story: http://www.rugbynews.net.au/luke-vescio-the-honey-badger-of-mascots/

 

[kiap]

A little less gold can sometimes be good thing.

Brisbane City at Lismore in their alternate jerseys!

 

[Train Without a Station]

I went to a Sydney subbies rugby game on Saturday and it was blue vs two blue. NRC had used all the yellow it appeared.

 

[fo!!ower]

Any ideas on when Asics is going to release NRC replica jerseys? That BrisCity alternate strip looks the goods!