Use some of these to show how much Rugby Union actually wants to be like Rugby Leaguehttp://www.nzherald.co.nz/league/news/article.cfm?c_id

Jonathan Davies during the Wales v New Zeland on saturday proved once and for all which game is better. As Stephen Jones was taking a penalty to bring Wales to 10 points from New Zeland he said "you dont have to score tires to win". After all South Africa did not score a try in winning the world cup.

Its not called kick and clap for nothing.

Manly anyone?

Difference is you might get 1 game every few years in League where no tries are scored its every week in union.

I don't think it's the lack of tries that is annoying in Union, it's the reliance on set pieces.

In the Scotland vs South Africa game over 15 mins was taken up by scrums. Add in the line-outs and that's a big slice of the match where the ball is not in play.

Union's advantage over League is that in principle the game is more continuous and less "stop start". In practice, however, the rules ensure that the game is very much "stop start".

The set pieces - line out and scrum are the basis of the restart and so that sets the structure of the whole game. Everything revolves around set piece play to gain or retain either possession and/or field position, the result is inevitably a stop/start game. Of the two other 'ball recycling' parts of the game the ruck can be quite quick but the movement beyond that is invariably very lateral and inevitably leads to some form of infringement and then - you've guessed it, a set piece scrum or line out!

The time that the ball is in play in Union is 25-30 mins.
In League it's around 60-70mins.

And this quote sums up exactly what union is,rubbish.

It's difficult to compare RU and RL, they are so different; it's like comparing Test cricket with Twenty20.

RL has taken the parts of the game which excite; such as running with the ball and big hits/tackles, and made them the focus of the game.

RU has taken the technical and strategic parts of the game; such as the contest for possession at scrum, lineout and the breakdown, and made them the focus.

Some people will always prefer RL, some RU, and some, like me, enjoy both codes.

Tell me about it,you made me laugh when you said a certain union player is the best rugby player you have seen of any code,who was it now nick.

The best comment I've heard about Rugby Union came from a flat capped owd codger at Barrow a few years ago. When asked about Rugby Union he replied, "It's the only game I know where the crowd handle the ball more than the players".
He knew his rugby did that owd codger.

I have finally realised you are heading for the asylum.

In terms of ru converts Ray Price, Mr Perpetual Motion, gets my vote.

You know exactly who I think the best rugby player of any code or any era is,can you name him nick.