T
TOCC
Guest
Ok, so the title might be a little misleading, i never actually stopped loving rugby union, but no doubt my passion for the game has been given a boost in the past 2 years.
1. Characters
The characters are back!! in the late 90's and at the turn of the century rugby in OZ was at its most illustrious. Burke, Larkham Gregan, Eales and Kefu were as well known as any.
Tuqiri and Sailor did bring a boost, but they always had the mungo shadow looming behind them, a month wouldnt pass where these players werent mentioned in the same sentence as some NRL reference. Larkham and Gregan were still about, but their stars had begun to fade following the 2003 RWC.
2011 has seen the emergence of a new generation of rugby bred characters, QC (Quade Cooper), KB (Kurtley Beale), Genia, Samo, JOC (James O'Connor), Fat Cat and Ioane are crowd favourites, the fans love them and young players idolise them.
2. The Rivalries
Some people will disagree with me, but i find it remarkably satisfying to actually see players on opposing teams show disdain towards each other. Im sick of watching opposing teams come together at the end and joke about. I like to think that the players take the game for more then just the pay check they will earn at the end of the week..
The Quade v McCaw battle is a breath of fresh air, whether you think its cheap shots or not.
3. Super Rugby
Ok, so you didnt need to be nostradamus to predict that a longer season would have a positive influence in Australia. But in the state of QLD at least, i doubt you would have been able to predict the full extent of the success.
Not purely limited to the longer season, the increase in domestic matches and the reinvigoration of state rivalries. NSW v QLD in 2011 was at levels of intensity not witnessed in years, there was no love lost in the other matches either, with QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC and the Force all winning at some point against there Australian rivals.
4. Shorter Tri-Nations
I love the shorter Tri-Nations and subsequent Bledisloe, its more cut-throat and in turn more exciting. Dead-rubber Bledisloe matches in hongkers did nothing but wet the appetite until the following season.
Im positively excited by the concept of watching the Wallabies play in front of a rabid Buenos Airies crowd!
5. Competitiveness
Its no secret the Wallabies have been distinctly second-rate compared to the All Blacks in recent years, but thats all turning the corner again.
The golden era was highlighted by some breathtaking wins and losses, no one can forget Eales penalty goal at fulltime to win the Bledisloe, or Lomu scoring the winning try 83 minute back in 1999 at Stadium Australia, or the Toutai Kefu swerve and bust to send Eales out a winner in 2000.
These are the games that people remember, and Australia rugby has begun to experience them once again. 2010 had Beale kick a goal after fulltime in South Africa, and Samo's 105m spectacular will be one to go down in history as well.
Lets just put the icing on the cake and win that dam William Web Ellis Cup!!
1. Characters
The characters are back!! in the late 90's and at the turn of the century rugby in OZ was at its most illustrious. Burke, Larkham Gregan, Eales and Kefu were as well known as any.
Tuqiri and Sailor did bring a boost, but they always had the mungo shadow looming behind them, a month wouldnt pass where these players werent mentioned in the same sentence as some NRL reference. Larkham and Gregan were still about, but their stars had begun to fade following the 2003 RWC.
2011 has seen the emergence of a new generation of rugby bred characters, QC (Quade Cooper), KB (Kurtley Beale), Genia, Samo, JOC (James O'Connor), Fat Cat and Ioane are crowd favourites, the fans love them and young players idolise them.
2. The Rivalries
Some people will disagree with me, but i find it remarkably satisfying to actually see players on opposing teams show disdain towards each other. Im sick of watching opposing teams come together at the end and joke about. I like to think that the players take the game for more then just the pay check they will earn at the end of the week..
The Quade v McCaw battle is a breath of fresh air, whether you think its cheap shots or not.
3. Super Rugby
Ok, so you didnt need to be nostradamus to predict that a longer season would have a positive influence in Australia. But in the state of QLD at least, i doubt you would have been able to predict the full extent of the success.
Not purely limited to the longer season, the increase in domestic matches and the reinvigoration of state rivalries. NSW v QLD in 2011 was at levels of intensity not witnessed in years, there was no love lost in the other matches either, with QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC and the Force all winning at some point against there Australian rivals.
4. Shorter Tri-Nations
I love the shorter Tri-Nations and subsequent Bledisloe, its more cut-throat and in turn more exciting. Dead-rubber Bledisloe matches in hongkers did nothing but wet the appetite until the following season.
Im positively excited by the concept of watching the Wallabies play in front of a rabid Buenos Airies crowd!
5. Competitiveness
Its no secret the Wallabies have been distinctly second-rate compared to the All Blacks in recent years, but thats all turning the corner again.
The golden era was highlighted by some breathtaking wins and losses, no one can forget Eales penalty goal at fulltime to win the Bledisloe, or Lomu scoring the winning try 83 minute back in 1999 at Stadium Australia, or the Toutai Kefu swerve and bust to send Eales out a winner in 2000.
These are the games that people remember, and Australia rugby has begun to experience them once again. 2010 had Beale kick a goal after fulltime in South Africa, and Samo's 105m spectacular will be one to go down in history as well.
Lets just put the icing on the cake and win that dam William Web Ellis Cup!!
