Rough Sports (was Invasion of Alaska )

[Targan]

Is this a good time to mention the fact that Scotland beat the Wallabies (for the first time in 29 years)

Absolutely its a good time. When it comes to rugby I'm a New Zealander . A New Zealander of Scots descent I might add...

[Rainbow Six]

Absolutely its a good time. When it comes to rugby I'm a New Zealander . A New Zealander of Scots descent I might add...

Sorry, forgot you were from the land of the long white cloud...

Have seen Scotland play the All Blacks a couple of times at Murrayfield...awesome sportsmen who seem to have the knack of being able to step up a gear whenever required.

[Legbreaker]

Is this a good time to mention the fact that Scotland beat the Wallabies (for the first time in 29 years)

We thought we'd better give you lot a taste of victory or you'd just give up trying. Is once in a generation enough

[Cdnwolf]

Once more wimpy summer sports... try it with -30 C temperatures and winds howling and zero visibility... then you have a real sport.

[StainlessSteelCynic]

Once more wimpy summer sports... try it with -30 C temperatures and winds howling and zero visibility... then you have a real sport.

Meh... at least you'll get warm with all that running to and fro.
Try the same thing here in summer with 47-50 C and 70-80% humidity when we play our "wimpy summer sports"
For a rough translation for the USA, I think 48 C is equal to 100 F

[kato13]

I think 48 C is equal to 100 F

Closer to 118 F

[Ronin84]

I'll leave it to this...

http://www.youtube.com/watchv=W7tGY-VDx3o

[Targan]

The tests in that YouTube video should have used two roughly equal athletes, not some amateur rugby player vs a professional NFL quarterback. How is that a fair assessment

[StainlessSteelCynic]

The tests in that YouTube video should have used two roughly equal athletes, not some amateur rugby player vs a professional NFL quarterback. How is that a fair assessment

And they should have used equal tests for a comparison rather than the two different types. I have no doubt that a professional rugby player who hard-charged that dummy could have generated a similar force or that a gridiron player could have been just as successful at slamming the rugby player down onto the ground.
The show itself was a little too high-gloss, high-tech wank, sensationalist for my tastes.

[kato13]

The tests in that YouTube video should have used two roughly equal athletes, not some amateur rugby player vs a professional NFL quarterback. How is that a fair assessment

I agree the tests should have been more standardized, but they probably did not want the expense of flying in a Rugby pro. However the fact that the used a cornerback, which is generally the smallest (non kicking) player means that the highend power ratings of the NFL players might have been even higher.

[General Pain]

and what the hell is Real Hockey Figure skating Oh I see now... the girls sport... field hockey!!

Figure skating.....good one m8

[General Pain]

No, real men do really dangerous things -- like tell a girlfriend they're breaking up with that they're an insane bitch...ouch!

That's what textmessages are for on a cell phone.

[Legbreaker]

I'm certainly not suprised that the force of the rugby player was less. Afterall, they were really just lifting their oponent of the ground and putting them down again.
The gridiron player was putting his entire effort into slamming into the dummy with virtually no regard for avoiding injury due to the helmet and padding. He also gets to run off the field every few minutes and have a rest while the offensive team take over.
A rugby player is on the field for the entire game. Depending on which grade they're in, etc they might get lucky and the team gets to change maybe three players total throughout the game (40 minute halves if my memory serves). There are no breaks for television adds, there are no breaks for the change in teams, there are no time outs, it's a pure forty full minutes of smashing into each other over and over again.
Rugby league, a very similar game to rugby union is basically the same situation. Padding is minimal, a little on the shoulders and the occasional man might wear a head protection (a lighter version seen worn by amateur boxers).

[headquarters]

general..

That's what textmessages are for on a cell phone.

these lads mean proper spouses married with a vicar or a peace judge or something like that .

Not the paid for variety thaty you cancel your appointment with .

[Ronin84]

I'm certainly not suprised that the force of the rugby player was less. Afterall, they were really just lifting their oponent of the ground and putting them down again.
The gridiron player was putting his entire effort into slamming into the dummy with virtually no regard for avoiding injury due to the helmet and padding. He also gets to run off the field every few minutes and have a rest while the offensive team take over.
A rugby player is on the field for the entire game. Depending on which grade they're in, etc they might get lucky and the team gets to change maybe three players total throughout the game (40 minute halves if my memory serves). There are no breaks for television adds, there are no breaks for the change in teams, there are no time outs, it's a pure forty full minutes of smashing into each other over and over again.
Rugby league, a very similar game to rugby union is basically the same situation. Padding is minimal, a little on the shoulders and the occasional man might wear a head protection (a lighter version seen worn by amateur boxers).

I have played and currently coach high school football here in the states, I have never played Rugby though I do appreciate the athletic talent needed to play.

In your post you stated it's 40 minutes of smashing into each other over and over again. Now as I have said I have never played and really never sat and watched an entire rugby game BUT I don't remember each player being slammed for a full 40 minutes, I remember seeing one guy with the ball getting slammed and a lot of others just chasing. During the "scrum" I believe, and again not trying to flame, I saw guys holding onto each other while the ball is up for grabs.

I have know kids who have gone on played both rugby in college and football in the States and they have told me that they thought american football was much tougher than Rugby.

I don't believe there is a right or wrong answer and I have friends in Australia who swear that Rugby is the toughest sport there is, and I respect there opinion. Either way, enjoy the sport of your choice!

Done because I don't want to get involved in a flame contest of which is better.