I’m in the middle of watching the All Blacks predictably slaughter Japan. I’m thinking that there is a case for a handicap system for what we all know are the (lets be a bit PC) less able teams.
It shouldn’t be too difficult to work out and come up with a system that helps to redress the imbalances. The central problem would be team pride. The weaker teams probably don’t see themselves as such and may well resent being thus labelled.
It is important for the future growth of rugby that national teams should be given a chance on the world stage and a handicap system could help to establish some kind of level playing field (sorry about the pun)
John Green
By: John Green - 1st October 2011 at 11:16
Crikey,
Tonga beating France ! Who’d have guessed that one? Makes a bit of a mockery of my handicap support for the ‘underdogs’. What a game.
John Green
By: John Green - 23rd September 2011 at 18:41
I think that some of the recent ‘cricket’ scores more than underline my comments regarding handicapping. It must be pretty soul destroying for the supporters of an up-and-coming national side to anticipate and then to see their pride and joy being steamrollered.
Lets hope that these scores do not kill off support.
John Green
By: John Green - 16th September 2011 at 21:39
We use the handicap system for sailboat racing, air racing, horse racing and golf to name just a few. I know that these aren’t team games apart from – now and again – golf, but if it works for them it could work for rugby providing an incentive and an encouragement to the weaker teams.
There is also the paying public to consider. None of us particularly wish to sit thru a predictable drubbing that has cost two arms and two legs to attend. In order for teams to grow and prosper the financial support of the paying public is required. Arenas need to be full with enthusiastic rugby supporters not half empty with many seats occupied with apathetic fans.
John Green
By: inkworm - 16th September 2011 at 17:36
It’s unfair that Tigers have lost the first two games of the season due to so many players being down under, however I’m sure that Wasps and Exeter aren’t complaining. Playing club rugby during the 6N, Autumn Internationals, RWC isn’t exactly fair but such is life.
I think NZ worked hard to put the demons of their opening game behind them and took it out on the Japanese who weren’t as bad as the scoreline suggests.
I once went to the Indian national side v Tigers, who were almost an academy site, final score was 144-3 in favour of the home team.
By: Grey Area - 16th September 2011 at 16:31
Doesn’t this belong in the ‘other’ RU World Cup thread?
Anyhow…. to be fair, Rugby Union has been gathering pace in Japan for some time now and the Japanese are seldom on the wrong end of an utter tonking like this one.
Maybe it was also a case of the All Blacks having an awesome day at the office?
No realistic handicap system could save the ‘smaller’ teams (and some of the ‘bigger’ teams too, for that matter) from a hiding when everything clicks for the All Blacks.
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September 16, 2011 at 10:42 am