RL v RU, would a match-up be closer now?

Big Papi

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Back in the mid 90s, the powers that be decided to match the best of English RL (Wigan) against the kingpins of RU (Bath). [Wiki] Wigan had won their 7th challenge cup in a row and Bath had won six of the previous RU league titles. The premise was that they were to play one game RL and one game under RU rules.

The result was carnage. The fitness, strength and conditioning of the RL players compared to the RU players was immense. Even the big RU players didn't look all that muscular compared to the RL me. Wigan won the RL game 82-6 and Bath the RU game 44-19, leaving an aggregate 101-50 in favour of Wigan.

My question is, after nearly 20 years of professional Union game, could two sides - say the All Blacks and the Kiwis or Wigan/ Leicester face off with a much closer result? Could the Union side win?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clash_of_the_Codes_(rugby)
 
RU has come on in leaps and bounds since 1996, as the GAA has here in Ireland. Given the RL was already professional, I would assume the gains would be less noticeable, but would the RL have made significant enough gains to keep their noses in front?
 
Big Papi said:
RU has come on in leaps and bounds since 1996, as the GAA has here in Ireland. Given the RL was already professional, I would assume the gains would be less noticeable, but would the RL have made significant enough gains to keep their noses in front?
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Rugby League, in terms of fitness and athleticism, has improved alot since the 90's too. There's no fat boys playing prop forward anymore, when it really was a position filled by 18 stone lager louts who could run a bit, barging through the opposition. Still, I think RU has made bigger strides since then than RL, because RU had more room for improvement. In terms of fitness and athleticism, I would guess that both codes are quite evenly matched now. I couldn't possibly say how level they are in terms of ability. I still think each team would win its respective code's game, but I don't think it would be a landslide like it was between Wigan and Bath. I believe goal kicking is on another level with Union, which is down to the game having a much more heavy reliance on goal kicking, and not just as a conversion after a try. Those Unions boys are excellent kickers.

I don't really know the state of the professionalism of RU back then, but I know that not all top flight teams in RL were professional until Super League started in 1996. Wigan had been for a few years, but the majority were still semi-pro until Murdoch's money took Super League onto another level, and essentially untouchable from the rest of Rugby League in Britain. Bath were semi-pro back then, just as the majority of Rugby League was, with the exception of a few top teams.
 
Thank you. When you see the likes of O'Connell or David 'no neck' Wallace, you have to see that RU has made great inroads with regards to fitness.

I'd love to see a match up again and see how much the gap has closed.
 
Really don't know enough about RL to answer this but I think it would definitely depend on the teams. The all blacks for example are at ease with the offload game which is (I think) essential for RL?

I guess there's some sort of point to be made about Sonny Bill Williams who switches codes a lot..
 
Irwinwastheking said:
What's the attraction of rl over ru for both fans and players?
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Generally quicker paced
You don't get that period where the ball is stuck in a pile of bodies for 20-30 seconds
Or any of that back and forward kicking between the fullbacks
Less players means more space, more tries
You seem to get bigger hits

I like them both, but am moving towards preferring league the more I watch them
 
Irwinwastheking said:
What's the attraction of rl over ru for both fans and players?
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Union's shite.

More seriously though, I just don't find it enjoyable at all. Instead of playing your way out of defence you'll just belt one down field and chase it. The opposition full back is the only one there and the rest of the team is tackling high up the pitch, so before he can get anywhere with the ball he does the same thing. Egg chasing. I also dislike the rucks (mauls?) in union. It's like a free for all. Someone gets tackled in there's a Gridiron-style pile on as the attackers do their best to stop the defenders getting the ball by simply throwing themselves at people.

In league you'll try play your way out for six plays before sending one long. There's also little reason to kick for points as you'll get two for a penalty and one for a drop goal. So whereas in union they'll attempt a 50 metre penalty, in league they'll send one deep into opposition territory to go for a try.

I can't comment on the pace as it's nothing I've ever noticed, but I find union dull to watch, whereas league is much more exciting.

In England, league is more popular (except for international level, where league is still fairly fledgling - here's hoping the WC is a success! - and union is much more popular) despite only being played really in Lancs and Yorkshire.
 
Liam147 said:
Union's shite.

More seriously though, I just don't find it enjoyable at all. Instead of playing your way out of defence you'll just belt one down field and chase it. The opposition full back is the only one there and the rest of the team is tackling high up the pitch, so before he can get anywhere with the ball he does the same thing. Egg chasing. I also dislike the rucks (mauls?) in union. It's like a free for all. Someone gets tackled in there's a Gridiron-style pile on as the attackers do their best to stop the defenders getting the ball by simply throwing themselves at people.

In league you'll try play your way out for six plays before sending one long. There's also little reason to kick for points as you'll get two for a penalty and one for a drop goal. So whereas in union they'll attempt a 50 metre penalty, in league they'll send one deep into opposition territory to go for a try.

I can't comment on the pace as it's nothing I've ever noticed, but I find union dull to watch, whereas league is much more exciting.

In England, league is more popular (except for international level, where league is still fairly fledgling - here's hoping the WC is a success! - and union is much more popular) despite only being played really in Lancs and Yorkshire.
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Absolutely agree with all of this post. Here is one guy that will literally leave Brian Habana standing with the pace he has; the great Martin Offiah. The guy was amazing.



As far as pace is concerned, relatively few of the Union players are as quick as the league players. League also had its characters including Barrie McDermott and Marc O'Meley who were no-nonsense-type players:

Barrie McDermott:

 
League is surely not more popular in anywhere but the North of England?
 
Phil said:
League is surely not more popular in anywhere but the North of England?
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Hard to say, though it is being played down south. Oxford now have a side, London Broncos etc.

But I do believe it's the second most watched team sport on Sky Sports. Make what you will of that. You've also got a bit if Wales too, and even small parts of Scotland. To be honest I'm not sure where club rugby union is popular at all.
 
It is my opinion that, in the long run, RL will completely take over the rugby world, making RU a more niche 'market'. It's just far better to watch.

And I say this despite being a Union player.
 
Isn't RU constantly being modified to make it more like RL?

Turning pro, far more crash-bang-wallop running, scrums watered down etc. I watched one of the league playoff games recently and did find it easier to follow as the game was 'cleaner'. In that, I mean that contact was with fewer players and it was easier to make out who was doing what.

RU is constantly tinkering with the rules.
 
Big Papi said:
Isn't RU constantly being modified to make it more like RL?

Turning pro, far more crash-bang-wallop running, scrums watered down etc. I watched one of the league playoff games recently and did find it easier to follow as the game was 'cleaner'. In that, I mean that contact was with fewer players and it was easier to make out who was doing what.

RU is constantly tinkering with the rules.
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Indeed. There's nothing particularly wrong with 'tinkering' if it ends up with a better product though.
 
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