Comments on: 6 Nations predictions http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/ Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:09:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Thom Brooks http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/comment-page-1/#comment-185965 Thom Brooks Sun, 04 Feb 2007 23:20:32 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/#comment-185965 I'm afraid my money is on Ireland, although Wilkinson does look in excellent form. I’m afraid my money is on Ireland, although Wilkinson does look in excellent form.

]]> By: Chris Bertram http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/comment-page-1/#comment-185905 Chris Bertram Sun, 04 Feb 2007 21:12:35 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/#comment-185905 <i>Interestingly there are more rugby players in the US than that rugby heartland Wales.</i> Wales: population 3 million. USA: population 300 million. Interestingly there are more rugby players in the US than that rugby heartland Wales.

Wales: population 3 million.

USA: population 300 million.

]]> By: Benedict http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/comment-page-1/#comment-185904 Benedict Sun, 04 Feb 2007 20:43:52 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/#comment-185904 The US has a population a hundred times that of Wales, though. The US has a population a hundred times that of Wales, though.

]]> By: Giles http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/comment-page-1/#comment-185902 Giles Sun, 04 Feb 2007 19:21:22 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/#comment-185902 Wales No of Clubs: 239 No of Registered Players: 42,000 No of Referees: 1604 US No of Clubs: 570 No of Registered Players: 63254 No of Referees: 815 Interestingly there are more rugby players in the US than that rugby heartland Wales. Wales
No of Clubs: 239
No of Registered Players: 42,000
No of Referees: 1604

US
No of Clubs: 570
No of Registered Players: 63254
No of Referees: 815

Interestingly there are more rugby players in the US than that rugby heartland Wales.

]]> By: dearieme http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/comment-page-1/#comment-185891 dearieme Sun, 04 Feb 2007 13:56:57 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/#comment-185891 You should be pleased I don't call it Wugger, Justin. The other version was played in Queensland when I lived there: I gather that a pale shadow of it is played in the neighbourhood of the M62. You should be pleased I don’t call it Wugger, Justin. The other version was played in Queensland when I lived there: I gather that a pale shadow of it is played in the neighbourhood of the M62.

]]> By: Justin Horton http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/comment-page-1/#comment-185888 Justin Horton Sun, 04 Feb 2007 12:45:26 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/#comment-185888 <i>We call it Rugby.</i> Well, <i>you</i> do. Proper rugby, however, is in the close season at the moment. What we have here is the Fat Version. We call it Rugby.

Well, you do. Proper rugby, however, is in the close season at the moment. What we have here is the Fat Version.

]]> By: astrongmaybe http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/comment-page-1/#comment-185882 astrongmaybe Sun, 04 Feb 2007 09:31:51 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/#comment-185882 5 away games (3 overseas, 2 on the northside of Dublin) for Ireland is too many. 5 away games (3 overseas, 2 on the northside of Dublin) for Ireland is too many.

]]> By: nick s http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/comment-page-1/#comment-185870 nick s Sun, 04 Feb 2007 04:13:36 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/#comment-185870 slocum's right about Madden, since it's a decent way to learn what's actually going on from play to play, something that American commentators obviously take for granted. As for televising it, ESPN would need to devise a better format than 'Madden Nation', but I wouldn't put it past them. (I believe there have been attempts at rugby games, though not particularly well done.) slocum’s right about Madden, since it’s a decent way to learn what’s actually going on from play to play, something that American commentators obviously take for granted. As for televising it, ESPN would need to devise a better format than ‘Madden Nation’, but I wouldn’t put it past them.

(I believe there have been attempts at rugby games, though not particularly well done.)

]]> By: Slocum http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/comment-page-1/#comment-185858 Slocum Sun, 04 Feb 2007 00:54:41 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/#comment-185858 <i>It is a good long time since we had a sporting thread—and especially one that is utterly incomprehensible to most of our American readers.</i> I don't know if it's true that most U.S. colleges and universities have rugby clubs, but many do. The situation is similar to soccer -- the men's national team qualifies for the world cup but is marginal (more so than in soccer) while the women's national team is a power that has won the world championship: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_national_rugby_union_team I won't be surprised to see rugby follow the pattern of Lacrosse in the U.S. which has boomed in recent years. <i>P.S. It’s favoured by those who find American Football a little camp.</i> No doubt, the hype of the Superbowl is pretty silly (never mind the half-time show), but the non-continuous play of American football that makes it so strange to non-North Americans also makes it complex and interesting -- something like chess with with live pieces. This is especially the case when playing computer versions -- which activity I predict (and half fear) is poised to become a spectator sport in its own right (with televised tournaments). I have no idea how Madden sells elsewhere in the world, but I also predict that if American football ever does become widely popular outside the U.S., it will be through Madden on the XBox and Playstation rather than live matches. It is a good long time since we had a sporting thread—and especially one that is utterly incomprehensible to most of our American readers.

I don’t know if it’s true that most U.S. colleges and universities have rugby clubs, but many do. The situation is similar to soccer—the men’s national team qualifies for the world cup but is marginal (more so than in soccer) while the women’s national team is a power that has won the world championship:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_national_rugby_union_team

I won’t be surprised to see rugby follow the pattern of Lacrosse in the U.S. which has boomed in recent years.

P.S. It’s favoured by those who find American Football a little camp.

No doubt, the hype of the Superbowl is pretty silly (never mind the half-time show), but the non-continuous play of American football that makes it so strange to non-North Americans also makes it complex and interesting—something like chess with with live pieces. This is especially the case when playing computer versions—which activity I predict (and half fear) is poised to become a spectator sport in its own right (with televised tournaments). I have no idea how Madden sells elsewhere in the world, but I also predict that if American football ever does become widely popular outside the U.S., it will be through Madden on the XBox and Playstation rather than live matches.

]]> By: marcel http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/comment-page-1/#comment-185857 marcel Sun, 04 Feb 2007 00:30:54 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/#comment-185857 My college age son used to play (rugby) his freshman year. Not that he was much of an athlete - that's why he was playing rugby. I dreaded Monday's that year. Every week, I'd hear from him about his strained neck, his back,... He was on crutches for a week with a knee injury. One of his closest friends ended up with 24 stitches in his face after a game with the Coast Guard Academy. Thank god he - my son - became engrossed in politics during the 2004 campaign. Lacrosse may have been deadly when the Iriquois played it, but rarely when white college students do. The only game I enjoyed watching was against Middlebury - they had some Kiwis who had taught the team not only how to play but also the Maori war chant. That alone was worth the drive. My college age son used to play (rugby) his freshman year. Not that he was much of an athlete – that’s why he was playing rugby. I dreaded Monday’s that year. Every week, I’d hear from him about his strained neck, his back,… He was on crutches for a week with a knee injury. One of his closest friends ended up with 24 stitches in his face after a game with the Coast Guard Academy. Thank god he – my son – became engrossed in politics during the 2004 campaign. Lacrosse may have been deadly when the Iriquois played it, but rarely when white college students do.

The only game I enjoyed watching was against Middlebury – they had some Kiwis who had taught the team not only how to play but also the Maori war chant. That alone was worth the drive.

]]> By: Gene O'Grady http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/comment-page-1/#comment-185840 Gene O'Grady Sat, 03 Feb 2007 22:49:08 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/#comment-185840 Hell, I used to watch rugby when I was in college forty years ago. Hardly that esoteric. Although Theodore Roosevelt did think it was too rough. Hell, I used to watch rugby when I was in college forty years ago. Hardly that esoteric. Although Theodore Roosevelt did think it was too rough.

]]> By: stostosto http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/comment-page-1/#comment-185833 stostosto Sat, 03 Feb 2007 21:28:11 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/#comment-185833 <i>utterly incomprehensible to most of our American readers</i> I am Danish and I am as in the dark about this as the next guy. utterly incomprehensible to most of our American readers

I am Danish and I am as in the dark about this as the next guy.

]]> By: Chris Baldwin http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/comment-page-1/#comment-185830 Chris Baldwin Sat, 03 Feb 2007 20:57:20 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/#comment-185830 Bloody soft southern sport! Bloody soft southern sport!

]]> By: Chris Bertram http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/comment-page-1/#comment-185826 Chris Bertram Sat, 03 Feb 2007 20:26:41 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/#comment-185826 <i>Just goes to show how provincial Europeans can be.</i> Not to mention the Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans, Samoans, Tongans, Argentinians .... Just goes to show how provincial Europeans can be.

Not to mention the Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans, Samoans, Tongans, Argentinians ….

]]> By: Kieran Healy http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/comment-page-1/#comment-185821 Kieran Healy Sat, 03 Feb 2007 19:16:36 +0000 http://crookedtimber.org/2007/02/03/6-nations-predictions/#comment-185821 <i>several of us would have (most likely) answered lacrosse.</i> No, that's for people who find American Football not camp enough. several of us would have (most likely) answered lacrosse.

No, that’s for people who find American Football not camp enough.

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