OT: Video of Rugby player that should have played in NFL

[Mike the Brit]

The point about off-loading is a good one. Also, remember that the game is often a lot more fluid, so that there is more broken-field play (defenders more likely to be off balance and unable to anticipate the direction of play) and these guys don't have the helmet and pads of the NFL.

On the other hand, I'm pretty sure that the "conditioning methods" of the NFL (*cough* *cough*) are more extreme so it would be very hard for a rugby guy to compete. Lomu was a phenomenon, no doubt, but I wonder if even he in his prime could have taken the relentless contact of the NFL.

Anyway, at least rugby players can punt the ball without shanking it. I can't believe what I'm hearing about Mesko -- it should be as rare for a pro punter to shank a punt as it would be for a pro golfer to shank a drive.

 

[Big-T]

Anyway, at least rugby players can punt the ball without shanking it. I can't believe what I'm hearing about Mesko -- it should be as rare for a pro punter to shank a punt as it would be for a pro golfer to shank a drive.

Pat Richards (Wigan Warriors) is looking at moving to the NFL for next season to punt, in the World Cup he hit a drop kick 90 yards and probably has the longest punt in the game, can see a team taking him to training camp.

 

[resdubwhite]

Too bad none of those tacklers put a shoulder or a body into the guy--I would have liked to see if he could handle a proper NFL collision.

They could say the same about guys wearing pads.

Please. Lets not get into the My Dad is bigger than your Dad argument

 

[Scouse Patriot]

The tackling suits the game, Rugby is very rough house and most can tackle and wrap up guys as it's taught, the games just scrappy. The pondering if these guys could handle a NFL hit/tackle is confusing. These are Rugby players, they tackle and hit hard non stop for 80 mins. That also means they recieve them amongst other various methods of aggression. I had a training session at Waterloo (a local team by me) years ago and it's organised chaos, the tackling drills are great.

Remember these are guys who by and large don't watch the NFL because they think it's soft.

Wether Rugby players would translate into Football is another disscusion but they could more than handle the physical nature. They get hit and then get another one in the shape of a elbow on the floor for their troubles. No wonder it's the game of choice for the British Army, mayhem.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Pat Richards (Wigan Warriors) is looking at moving to the NFL for next season to punt, in the World Cup he hit a drop kick 90 yards and probably has the longest punt in the game, can see a team taking him to training camp.

I'm on board!

 

[upstater1]

Tackling is also very different between the two sports in a way only an American can perhaps appreciate. In football, we're taught to hit the player square as we lead with the shoulder, which often means our head is to the side of the opponent's body which comes to ground first. Often defenders land underneath the tackled opponent in football. In Rugby it's the complete opposite. You lead with the shoulder and take the tackle to the side of your body, with your head outside the part of the opponent's body that comes to ground first. In Rugby, the defender wants to land on top of the tackled. This literally means the degree of impact changes.

 

[upstater1]

Here are a couple of others:

Christian Cullen:

YouTube - Christian Cullen's All Black Tries

Rupeni Caucau:

YouTube - Rupeni Caucau-Best rugby winger of all time[part 1]
YouTube - Rupeni Caucau-The BEST rugby winger of all time[Part 2]

When I see these videos I lament the fact that in the USA we are taught old school Rugby rules while the rest of the world more or less operates similar to the NBA's traveling rules. Releasing the ball on a tackle, knock-ons when the ball isn't handled on a pass cleanly (one of the Caucau tries shows him bobbling the ball), no help jumping in a line out, obstruction, infractions against wheeling the scrum, none of this happens around the world. In the USA, we're taught a 1930s version of the game.

 

[Big-T]

Tackling is also very different between the two sports in a way only an American can perhaps appreciate. In football, we're taught to hit the player square as we lead with the shoulder, which often means our head is to the side of the opponent's body which comes to ground first. Often defenders land underneath the tackled opponent in football. In Rugby it's the complete opposite. You lead with the shoulder and take the tackle to the side of your body, with your head outside the part of the opponent's body that comes to ground first. In Rugby, the defender wants to land on top of the tackled. This literally means the degree of impact changes.

It depends on which code of rugby, in Union you can't shoulder charge so you have to use the technique you described, whereas in League shoulder charging is allowed so you see more head on collisions with the shoulder.

YouTube - Big HIt Sampson
Like that for example, it's a few years old now and the commentary is in a broad Yorkshire dialect, but that sort of hit is fairly common and happens a few times a game. If the NFL were to take players from Rugby, then the 2 different codes would provide different players with better skills, the Union players would make better kickers/punters whereas league players would produce better results as Linebackers & Tight Ends. In fact, the Jets had a League player at training camp a few years ago and he was played at DE.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3ubaBTR7ZM&feature=related
Another example of the difference in tackling between the 2 rugbys.

 

[upstater1]

It depends on which code of rugby, in Union you can't shoulder charge so you have to use the technique you described, whereas in League shoulder charging is allowed so you see more head on collisions with the shoulder.

YouTube - Big HIt Sampson
Like that for example, it's a few years old now and the commentary is in a broad Yorkshire dialect, but that sort of hit is fairly common and happens a few times a game. If the NFL were to take players from Rugby, then the 2 different codes would provide different players with better skills, the Union players would make better kickers/punters whereas league players would produce better results as Linebackers & Tight Ends. In fact, the Jets had a League player at training camp a few years ago and he was played at DE.

YouTube - Vainikolo Smashes Aspinwall
Another example of the difference in tackling between the 2 rugbys.

You're right, we were taught Union.

 

[Timbo717]

I would imagine the tackling differences between the sports also are affected by Rugby Union's nature in terms of possesion control and rucking. In football once you have the offensive player down, the play is over(sans fumble that is). In Rugby (at least Union I believe?) you have to remember that as the ball carrier is going down both he and the tackler are trying (if possible in the mayhem) to position themselves to help their teammates coming in get better position when rucking over and trying to get the ball out to their side.

I am by no means a Rugby expert so pardon any inaccuracies or tentative statements. I played in college and fell in love with the game but being in the states I do not get a lot of chances to watch games live or on T.V. We also played more or less Union rules I think so I'm not as familiar with the League rules. It sounds like it would be interesting to see this.

Oh and from all the video I've seen Lomu was an animal, would've loved to see him line up on the football field. In fact, I would've loved to see him play in person. I envy you overseas who get to see competitive rugby on a regular basis.

 

[resdubwhite]

Heres an american making a name for himself in th Heineken cup last year.

Super try.


YouTube - Takudzwa Ngwenya amazing try vs. Ospreys

 

[Nonentity]

I would imagine the tackling differences between the sports also are affected by Rugby Union's nature in terms of possesion control and rucking. In football once you have the offensive player down, the play is over(sans fumble that is). In Rugby (at least Union I believe?) you have to remember that as the ball carrier is going down both he and the tackler are trying (if possible in the mayhem) to position themselves to help their teammates coming in get better position when rucking over and trying to get the ball out to their side.

Exactly right, nicely put dude.

In rugby the tackled player has to try to turn their body so that their back is to the opposition and the ball is closer to their own teammates. This makes it much easier for them to retrieve it. If the tackler is successful in positioning the tackled player away from his teammates then it's much more likely that the defending team will get the ball.


It may look like mayhem, but there's a huge amount going on in every ruck

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

I don't think I have seen anything more scary than the Kiwi Hakka dance. Worse than the Ray Lewis war dance.

 

[Batman]

After working with the Newcastle Falcons back in june I have much more respect for them every amateur team seem to make fun of american football but them pro's were great. however with the pads on a few of them were shocked how much a hit hurt them. We have had a few come back to train with us since as their strength and condition coach is a huge american football fan he worked at uni of texas when I asked him what he thought was a the harder game we couldn't come up with a winner. What we did agree on was that rugby would be better if more Americans played at higher levels and American football would be better with more players from a rugby background.

 

[larryo]

Not one mention of Sebastian Chabal?! Dude is intense.

YouTube - Sebastien Chabal vs All Black (Amon Amarth)

 

[Big-T]

How about Sonny Bill Williams for Linebacker:
YouTube - Sonny bill big hit
YouTube - Sonny Bill Williams Big Hit

Or young Sam Burgess:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66_lgih1eOc&feature=related

RBs wouldn't like it too much

 

[jsull87]

I certainly won't deny his athleticism, but that video showed some pretty terrible tackling on the vast majority of the plays. Why on earth so many guys tried to arm tackle him high, I'll never understand.

Note that I say this as a guy who played college rugby at 6'3, 255-260. I didn't have nearly the speed that guy did, but I, and many of my fellow forwards, could easily run through high arm tackles like that as well (when playing against appropriate competition).

Mate the standard over there is poor at best and believe me when i say this you can comment on the arm tackles but lomu is a legend in the rugby world the reason it looks like people are poor at tackling him is because he was that big but ran sub low 10's in the 100 meters. He was just an out and out genetic freak. Look up Lomu vs england in the world cup and watch him steamroll the fullback

 

[jsull87]

Here are a couple of others:

Christian Cullen:

YouTube - Christian Cullen's All Black Tries

Rupeni Caucau:

YouTube - Rupeni Caucau-Best rugby winger of all time[part 1]
YouTube - Rupeni Caucau-The BEST rugby winger of all time[Part 2]

Caycau is my favorite, he was never going to get the same press as lomu but the rumor around the fijian camps were he ran sub 10... on numerous occasions. It was such a pity when he left the super 14 and went to Europe and gained weight. the back 3 of muliaina, caucau and rokocoko was up there with umanga, lomu and cullen. He was one of the best and most balanced runners i have ever seen. I'll never forget how he won fiji a game against scotland... from the wing

 

[jsull87]

Seattle tried signing Greg Inglis this year apparently to play TE and return kicks, he's 6'5" 236lbs:

YouTube - Best of Greg Inglis

YouTube - Greg Inglis Tribute

Brilliant, brilliant player.




Wouldn't get that problem with a Rugby League player, every tackle has the same impact as a 40mph car crash and they don't wear padding.

Yeah i completely forgot. You could show these guys videos of. Sonney bill, Israel Folau, Greg Inglis, Jarryd Hayne, Justin Hodges, Wendel sailor, Lote Tuquiri (When Young)

And if that guy who said Americans tackle harder wants to watch how about you look up state of origin mate. I still think that is the toughest 80 minutes of sport in the world.

 

[Wheelssps]

SO I was studying abroad in New Zealand in 2001 when Lomu was still playing in his prime. He was every bit as good as the videos and other posters have made him out to be. A story one of my New Zealand friends told me (completely unverified by the way) was that the Dallas Cowboys had sent Lomu a video of American football and made an offer to him, something in the 6 yrs, 24 million $ total range. Again, completely unverified, but my friend may be correct, still. The story went on that Lomu watched the tape, but didn't like that American football stopped between plays and much preferred the continual play of rugby.

As a side note, in New Zealand if you are an All Black, you are a hero for life, and for someone of Lomu's stature, he was revered as a god, so 24 million wouldn't have bought him much he didn't already have.