why do americans find "soccer" boring?

Originally posted by shortcircuit
I keep laughing at this "toughness" crap being splayed about regarding pads or no pads.

Here are the facts. The fierceness of the hits that occur in the NFL would end [b]any
rugby player's career and possibly life were they administered to them. Hell, some of
those very hits disable players wearing the "body armor" you love to mock.

Yes, Ru ...[text shortened]... rder hitting than rugby ever thought about. Don't kid yourselves in thinking it is
not.[/b]

lol @ "facts"... I love when you get all emotional

NFL is more bursts of specialised players. Sure, the hits can be pretty spectacular, but just generalising that one average player is tougher than the other is just plain stupid.

The difference comes down to two things:

1. Most rugby players need to take and give pretty heavy hits, run and sprint an average of between 4-7km in a game that lasts for 80 minutes.
Rugby players are tougher in this regard, in that they have to give and take, sometimes hits just as hard as any NFL line backer could wish to dish out, and cover the distance some defensive linesmen cover in a season.

2. The type of tackles allowed differ greatly. Rugby tackles are heavily regulated by rules and referees, whereas almost anything goes in NFL. This is also why one wears padding and one not. In purely the hits dished out, the NFL players have to be tougher.

So, it all pretty much cancels out. Both require different skillsets and pretty tough dudes.

Huge ruby hits

YouTube

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
Huge ruby hits

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8v-qZFVYnc

Yeah... More than half of those are illegal and dangerous and shouldn't really be in a rugby video.

Now here's a great rugby video.

YouTube

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
Huge ruby hits

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8v-qZFVYnc

Most of these hits/tackles are now illegal. They would result in some lengthy bans

Originally posted by Crowley
Now here's a great rugby video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU1RzUwBPjs

there wasn't any hits in that video at all, just lines of running, power and pace!

Originally posted by kingshill
Most of these hits/tackles are now illegal. They would result in some lengthy bans

I agree that the 'spearing', and the high tackles around the neck are illegal and
dangerous but now players are required if they pick the opponent up during a tackle to
gently place them down on the turf! Rugby rules have changed more than any sport I
can think of.

Originally posted by shortcircuit
Gee Rich....haven't seen ANY Field Goals that were not kicked.

Well, Shortwearer, I haven't seen any throw-ins in football that weren't thrown, either. Gosh wow.

But, as I said, and as you know very well, most of the time, football players still use their feet, and most of the time, gridiron players still use their hands.

Richard

Originally posted by phil3000
Home grown sports ?

Basketball. Which (coincidentally!?) is also their only watchable sport.

All the rest of their favourite, sorry, favurite, sports aren't home-grown, but foreign-grown and home-perverted.

Richard

Originally posted by Shallow Blue
Well, Shortwearer, I haven't seen any throw-ins in football that weren't thrown, either. Gosh wow.

But, as I said, and as you know very well, most of the time, football players still use their feet, and most of the time, gridiron players still use their hands.

Richard

Come on Rich. We couldn't very well call it "Hand ball" now could we?

Get a grip!!

Originally posted by whodey
So if rugby players are the best athlets, then why don't you see them playing American football? After all, that is where the $$$ is.

Possibly because outside the USA, not everybody believes that your salary is the be-all and end-all of your self-worth.

Richard

Originally posted by Shallow Blue
Basketball. Which (coincidentally!?) is also their only watchable sport.

All the rest of their favourite, sorry, favurite, sports aren't home-grown, but foreign-grown and home-perverted.

Richard

Are you blind too Rich?

They are all watchable.

Originally posted by shortcircuit
Come on Rich. We couldn't very well call it "Hand ball" now could we?

Get a grip!!

Well, shortswearer, perhaps you should.

Richard

Originally posted by Shallow Blue
Well, shortswearer, perhaps you should.

Richard

Come on Dickie.

You know that wouldn't work.

Originally posted by whodey
So if rugby players are the best athlets, then why don't you see them playing American football? After all, that is where the $$$ is.

Contracted rugby players do fine, I don't think they care. Also, playing for your country carries heavy prestige here.

Not every NHL player gets Paton Manning contracts either...