Just watched Invictus

[dante1]

I liked it and it was rugby not soccer. Haven't one single clue about rugby but it looks just as physical as foot, maybe more.

Can anybody explain it in as few words as possible. Come on you Euro people.

[ehp6737]

Im in the US and its hardly ever on TV, but I watch it whenever it is. I'm totally fascinated by how tough these guys are, no pads, no helments.....nothing

[dante1]

Im in the US and its hardly ever on TV, but I watch it whenever it is. I'm totally fascinated by how tough these guys are, no pads, no helments.....nothing

Do you understand the game? Did you or do you play?

[ehp6737]

Do you understand the game? Did you or do you play?

Never played it. It took me watching about 10-15 games to really start getting the concept and the basic rules. Then I went on Wikipedia and read about it further. If you like rugby, you should really check out Aussie Rules football. Their season is now over until March I believe. But it is more of a cross between rugby and our American football. I actually like it slightly more than rugby.

[rem sleep]

was the movie good?

[Cougar Bait]

I absolutely love watching Rugby. I used to get it on tv until about 2 years ago, now I can't seem to find much. Sometimes a US college game, but the Euro leagues are where it's at. A few rules to get you started:

There are no blocking of the opponents like in football, and there are only five substitutions per game allowed for each team.

A rugby match consists of two 40-minute halves.

Rugby is played on a field, called a pitch, that is longer and wider than a football field, more like a soccer field. A typical pitch is 100 meters (110 yards) long 70 meters (75 yards) wide. Additionally, there are 10-22 meter end zones, called the in-goal area, behind the goalposts. The goalposts are 'H'-shaped cross bars located on the goal line and are the same size as American football goalposts.

The rugby ball is made of leather or other similar synthetic material that is easy to grip and does not have laces. Like footballs, rugby balls are oval in shape, however are rounder and less pointed than footballs to minimize the erratic bounces we see in football.

A rugby team has 15 players on the field of play, both American football and soccer have 11 players on each team. In rugby, each team is numbered the exact same way. The number of each player signifies that player's position. Players numbered 1-8 are forwards, who are typically the larger, stronger players of the team whose main job is to win possession of the ball. These players are similar in size and abilities as American football linebackers and lineman. Players numbered 9-15 are backs, who tend to be the smaller, faster and more agile players. Their main role is to exploit possession of the ball that is won by the forwards, similar to the roles of American football's running backs, wide receivers and quarterbacks.

Just like in American football, rugby is started with a kickoff to the opponent from mid-field. Provided that the ball travels beyond the 10 meter line, any player of either team may gain possession of the ball.

There is no blocking in rugby. Rugby does not have downs, and a team is not required to reach 10 yards and stop. Play is continuous like soccer. The person with the ball leads the attack. In rugby there are several ways to move the ball. Any player may carry, pass or kick the ball. Play is not stopped and continues when the ball hits the ground or when a player is tackled. The ball carrier must release the ball when tackled and roll out of the way so that other players on their feet can play the ball.

Running: When running the ball, players may continue to run until they are tackled, step out of bounds or run beyond the goal line. Players run the ball to advance toward the opponent's goal line.

Passing: The ball may be passed to any other player. However, it may only be passed laterally or backward, never forward. Players pass the ball to an open teammate to keep it in play and further advance it.

Kicking: Any player may kick the ball forward at any time. Once the ball is kicked, players of either team, regardless of whether or not the ball hits the ground, may gain possession.

There are four ways for a team to score points:

Try: Five points are awarded to a team for touching the ball down in the other team's in-goal area. This is much like a touchdown in American football.

Conversion: Following a try, two points are awarded for a successful kick through the goal posts. The attempt is taken on a line, at least 10 meters, straight out from the point where the ball was touched down. This is like an extra point in American football.

Penalty Kick: Following a major law violation, the kicking team, if in range, has the option to "kick for points." Three points are awarded for a successful penalty kick. The kick must be from the point of the foul or anywhere on a line straight behind that point. The ball can be played if the kick fails.

Drop Goal: Three points are awarded for a successful drop kick. A drop kick may be taken from anywhere on the field at any time during play. A drop goal is similar to a field goal in football, however, in rugby the kick is made during the course of normal play. The ball is alive if the kick fails.

There are two methods of restarting play following a stoppage caused by either the ball going out of bounds or because of an infraction of the laws.

Line-Out: If the ball goes out of bounds, it is restarted with a Line-Out. Both teams form a line perpendicular to the touchline and 1-meter (3 feet) apart from one another. A player of the team not responsible for the ball going out of bounds calls a play and throws the ball in the air in a straight line between the two lines. Players of each team may be supported in the air by their teammates as they jump to gain possession of the ball.

Scrum: Rugby's unique formation, the forerunner of the American football line of scrimmage, is the method used to restart the game after the referee has whistled a minor law violation. A bound group of players from each team form a "tunnel" with the opposition. The non-offending team puts the ball into the tunnel by rolling it into the middle and each team pushes forward until one player is able to hook the ball with the feet and push it to the back row players of his/ her team. The Scrum Half then retrieves the ball and puts it into play.

[Cougar Bait]

Hope that helps a bit

[dante1]

Hope that helps a bit

Thanks Cougar

That helped a ton very easy to understand and interesting. However, when watching the game without your instructions I was totally baffled. Now, I at least have a handle on what was happening.

So the championship game between S Africa and N Zealand was an extremely low scoring game. If that was based on the truth. I think it was 15-13 or something like that.

[maersksealand]

I liked it and it was rugby not soccer. Haven't one single clue about rugby but it looks just as physical as foot, maybe more.

Can anybody explain it in as few words as possible. Come on you Euro people.

euro people don't watch or understand rugby...it's a British, Australian, New Zeelandish thing...maybe some crazy french might watch it, but no normal european will watch that sport.

[dante1]

euro people don't watch or understand rugby...it's a British, Australian, New Zeelandish thing...maybe some crazy french might watch it, but no normal european will watch that sport.

sorry I thought I heard a few European named teams in the movie, I could be wrong.

[maersksealand]

there is only one rule you need to know in order to understand rugby...they can't pass the ball forward, it must be passed always to a person behind

[dante1]

there is only one rule you need to know in order to understand rugby...they can't pass the ball forward, it must be passed always to a person behind

lol, that's the only rule they explained in the movie.

[BatemanPatrickl]

Brutal sport. Like paying tackle football with your buddies only rugby players are tens time as strong and ten times as fast.

[Brock Landers]

Aussie Rules Football is EXCELLENT, made a nice wadd of cash late on friday and saturday nights. Its an excellent sport that is 100X more interesting than Soccer.