"Please try to be a bit softer in the tackle Sam, you're too tough for us."



McGeechan's got a lot to say for himself given that Sam Burgess has apparently only had to make three tackles so far for his RU club. And one of those it looks like that petrified guy tried to sit down when he saw Burgess coming at him

To blame all RL failings on other people or what happened decades ago are just excuses, RLs shrinking footprint is hardly ever blamed on RFL incompetence and yet is the primary reason {though even if RL started to attract masses of new fans, Tre Cool would only deride them as not being real fans} You don't see this type of self-pitying thread on any other sporting forum, just regularly on RL ones.

Don't talk rubbish, the RFL gets heaps of criticism and blame, far more then ru.

And where did I say new RL fans aren't real ones?

I was just making the point that just because ru gets huge international crowds it doesn't mean it has this awesome fanbase that loves the game. Don't twist people's words to suit your sweeping statements.

Oh hello, Dutoni's back.

Yes, that's exactly what McGeechan's saying. No, really it is.

Tackling in Union has a slightly different objective to League. It's an opportunity to compete for the ball and win possession, either by turning the ball carrier so he's facing the wrong way or standing him up in a "choke" tackle and preventing the ball getting to ground, thereby winning your side the put-in at the scrum.

Simply smashing someone as hard as you can - assuming it's done legally, using the arms rather than as a shoulder charge - and taking him to the floor isn't always the most effective tackling technique in Union. If Burgess runs around a Union pitch just lining people up to smash them, he's not necessarily going to be doing the best possible job for his team.

Given his record, I'm going to go with McGeechan and my interpretation rather than yours, if that's ok?

Tre cool, you prejudged 82,000 people on the few that you know, that's quite a sweeping statement and generalisation in itself. And I have asked you but you still haven't answered, if RL fans are as passionate as you claim, how come our international attendances have been generally very poor for a number of years?

Don't talk daft. It is obvious to any one eyed bitter moron that the 4 time lions coach and grand slam winning coach doesn't know what he's on about. Slamming Sam is your man....even playing in the front row

No I didn't I made a statement of opinion based on my extensive knowledge of rugby union culture. Do you disagree that the vast majority of England fans in a Twickenham crowd couldn't name all of their elite club league head coaches? That was my point. Do you disagree with it?

I also had already explained that the main reason for their big international crowds are historical and cultural, so I didn't need to answer your question.

RL international crowds are on par with our active club fan base, ru's are far far higher.

66,000 fans attend 6 aviva games at the weekend on average, 72,000,attend SL games.
82,000 will attend the opening of an envelope at twickenham paying £60 each but it takes double headers to get close to the SL average or it's normally about 36,000 paying £15 a pop.

Not disagreeing with you that many union international fans are not über fans but I think even the most narrow minded league fan would take 82,000 ax murderers paying £60 at a stand alone RL international.....decrying union for it is just being bitter

Talking of Union's fallen glitterati now trying to scrimp a crust from media work and pretending they understand Rugby League, it seems Clive Woodward is waxing lyrical about Sam Burgess. And quite rightly so.

[urlhttp://tvnz.co.nz/rugby-news/sir-clive-woodward-waxes-lyrical-over-sam-burgess-6199065[/url

Much of the arguments/debate on this thread (actually, on this board) are futile. Everyone seems to be in agreement that league is the better product but falls way behind on exposure, international set up and attendances, well I'd rather have the former (substance over style). League will never get the same exposure as RU much in the same way that football will always dwarf union and badminton will never even get a look in! Leagues aim should be and will be to maximise its potential and.appeal though not to compare with union where the above is concerned, culture and history will always keep league behind union In this regard no matter how good a job the NGB do.