From: Wales.Larrison@ofa123.fidonet.org
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Subject: Re: Football (Rugby vs American) and other neanderthal games
X-Sender: newtout 0.02 Oct  1 1992
Date: 06 Oct 92  23:06:42

>[The Bellman:] From what I have seen of gridiron (which is not
>much) Australian [rugby] players could run you off your feet,
>assuming that we could pass the ball backwards as often as we
>liked.
  
Danger Mouse nods
>Still, I think a decent rugby team could run circles around any NFL
>team, provided they don't have to wear all that damned armour."
  
Liralen adds
>I don't think that rugby players could beat uhm... 'gridiron'
>players at their own game.  Just as I seriously doubt that
>'gridiron' players could beat rugby players at rugby.  The teams
>for each of the sports are formed for the particular needs of their
>game.  The skills needed for American football are far more than
>just running the ball.
 ....
> She shrugs, "Don't know... I've played both rugby (grin... on an
>all-women's rugby team, it was *insane* but *really* fun, too, and
>I've *never* seen a group of women hassel men like these women
>did...) and American football (at Caltech) and the games are enough
>different that I still think that the thing I said above applies.
>Each team would reign supreme in their own sport..."
  
    Wales chuckles from his seat at a table in the back of the bar.
"I've also played rugby and American football -- high school varsity
level American Football, and amateur rugby league in the US.  Even
scrimmaged against some members of the US Eagles (the US national
rugby team)."
   Wales winces at that memory, and rubs his arm.  "I have to agree
that the two games are very different, and that each type of play is
very different.  From first hand experience, I'd say the biggest
difference is the prohibition from blocking in rugby.  In rugby, you
can't go down field and clear the path for the ball carrier by
tackling players on the other team."
   "In American football, this is an integral part of the overall
play strategy, and with the forward pass is what forces much of the
'set piece' plays and intricate tactics.  You know, if I do this,
and throw the ball to him over there, I need somebody here to make
sure that guy over there doesn't come over and tackle him, which
means that if ...."
    "Blocking in American Football also encourages the use of
protective equipment -- it really hurts when you have been
blindsided by a 100 kilo blocker at full run, in a perfectly legal
play.  And to then get up and on the next play get the same thing
from a different player at a different angle.  About the second time
in the game your head is the first part of your body to strike the
ground, followed by your body and an opponent's body, you start
appreciating your helmet."
  "Our worst problem in cross-training American football players to
play rugby was training them out of down-field blocking.  The most
serious rugby injuries I have seen are from people following their
well-honed American football instincts and laying out a downfield
full-speed, full-body block on an unsuspecting rugby player."
   Wales stops and sips at his beer.  "So all in all, its really
comparing apples and oranges.  Rugby players would undoubtedly beat
American Football players at rugby, and vice versa.  Diamond scratch
diamond, as they say."
   "However, I have played a good cross-variant of the two,
which was called 'Hawaiian Football' in the local area where I
learned it.  No pads, no forward passes allowed, up-field
(defensive) blocking was allowed, but no down field mobile blocking
(you could block if you were behind the ball carrier, or block by
being motionless if you were ahead of him, but couldn't move your
position to tackle to clear the way).  11 man teams started off from
an American football set-piece position, but the play continued with
no huddles or scrimmages (or scrums).  Four starts (tackles) had to
move the ball 20 yards downfield, or the ball was turned over to the
other side.  Quick kicks were encouraged as a suroggate to the
forward pass (like rugby)."
  "A mean game, with lots of contact, and difficult to learn as it
forced you to relearn both American and Rugby football rules and
instincts.  Fun too, if you like that type of stuff."
  
    Wales sits back into his chair.
    "Well, just one last comment.  To add to the descriptive phrase
list, I'd like at add this one.  It's not exactly on point, but it
was spoken in English parlimentary debate in the late 1800's
(Gladstone?  Disraeli?)."
  
   "In replying to a speech from a member of the opposition, the
response was
   'Sir, you have accused me of being both immoral and diseased.  To
be the first, sir, I would have to embrace your morals.  To be the
latter, I would have to embrace your mistress.'"
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 Wales Larrison                            Space Technology Investor
  

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