New Development Coach appointed (RFC Site)

[dwaino]

Muscles I think you've got the wrong game.
This is Super Rugby - Rugby UNION not League.
The point about Union is it is constant running with unlimited tackles. The bigger players that he talks about in the article are second rowers - typically the size of our rucks (Eales was one) who have to jump at Line-outs but must run to adjust and tackle repeatedly in defence, dive on the ball at mauls and run to support in attack.

I spent time in Queensland with a mate who was big into Union and he took me to games. I'd played Aussie Rules but those guys are the fittest fooballers anywhere. Constant running, constant ferocious hits with good skills required under constant physical pressure.   

I spent 20 years in Brisbane. You try telling those ning nong Queenslanders that. Union is definitely a much more pleasant game to watch than League, especially if you're from an Aussie Rules background. The players are of a higher standard than League too.

[Smokey]

Muscles I think you've got the wrong game.
This is Super Rugby - Rugby UNION not League.
The point about Union is it is constant running with unlimited tackles. The bigger players that he talks about in the article are second rowers - typically the size of our rucks (Eales was one) who have to jump at Line-outs but must run to adjust and tackle repeatedly in defence, dive on the ball at mauls and run to support in attack.

I spent time in Queensland with a mate who was big into Union and he took me to games. I'd played Aussie Rules but those guys are the fittest fooballers anywhere. Constant running, constant ferocious hits with good skills required under constant physical pressure.   

I spent 20 years in Brisbane. You try telling those ning nong Queenslanders that. Union is definitely a much more pleasant game to watch than League, especially if you're from an Aussie Rules background. The players are of a higher standard than League too.

Yep, dead right Dwaino but there is no way that Rugby forwards could outrun AFL midfielders as a collective group.  They are most definitely stronger (and I will include tougher), they might even explosively beat an AFL midfielder in a short burst once or twice but they would not ever outrun (for pace and stamina) an AFL midfielder over a full game of football, even over their gametime of 90 minutes.

[Penelope]

the rugby codes are different in the type of fitness required.

Aussie rules you need to be able to sprint repeatedly.

Rugby players get a lot more time to recover and they hardly ever make any big runs, its all in close contact.

To establish the stamina base reaquired for aussie rules will always detract from the power aspect, but like smokey, i dont believe there would be too many 100kg plus blokes quicker than AFL midfielders all the same.

I think the big difference between the types of fitness required is shown in that rugby players can back up and play 3-4 days later, probably not at 100%, but AFL players would really struggle to do that at all.

[HKTiger]

On stamina the AFL has it over Union easily.

For explosive power I would back Union.

For repeat efforts I would hazard a guess that for the first 10 or so efforts the Union players (no's 4 through 15, i.e. excluding the front rowers) would hold the edge.  From effort 15 onwards I would back the AFL guys.

Union players carry greater mass and power and the exercises they do are designed for that.

Based on my knowledge (and I used to follow a power regime) they bounding etc. that the Union guys do would be too damaging for the endurance that AFL is looking for.

I take the point on Loris B.  But read his blog.  Some interesting stuff there and he does know his stuff.  His Brother in Law Gus was one of my coaches.

[Smokey]

On stamina the AFL has it over Union easily.

For explosive power I would back Union.

For repeat efforts I would hazard a guess that for the first 10 or so efforts the Union players (no's 4 through 15, i.e. excluding the front rowers) would hold the edge.  From effort 15 onwards I would back the AFL guys.

Union players carry greater mass and power and the exercises they do are designed for that.

Based on my knowledge (and I used to follow a power regime) they bounding etc. that the Union guys do would be too damaging for the endurance that AFL is looking for.

I take the point on Loris B.  But read his blog.  Some interesting stuff there and he does know his stuff.  His Brother in Law Gus was one of my coaches.

Agree with all that HKT.  And on Loris B, I don't have any opinion on his conduct or ability, just remember him being part of the blame game that Geelong played at the time.  I think he might have even taken them to court?

[RedanTiger]

Agree pretty much with what you've said HKT.
Seems you may watch a bit of sevens up there. 

Think young Cachia was exaggerating a bit but you'd hardly expect him to badmouth the Brumbies while using their staff and facilities.
 BTW if anyones got a pic of the Jonah Lomu fend (Dusty style) then I'd appreciate them posting it to counter the cheeky snap of the Welsh front row.

[gerkin greg]

[RedanTiger]

Thanks Gerks.
He really was a monster when in full flight wasn't he?

Getting back to what was my main point:
What is the opinion regarding adding an Athletic Development Manager rather than another Football Development coach?

[gerkin greg]

Unstoppable. He's a hero of mine. Wish him all the best with his latest health scare.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsXTa7UCGlk

[Willy]

at 0:45 he just mows some unfortunate pom down.

beast.

[The Big Richo]

Never went all in.

[Danog]

Chabal's still my favourite.

[Mr Magic]

Greg Mellor

Happy to see him back.

[gerkin greg]

Post reported.

[Muscles]

Interesting article RT, thanks for posting it;

''He worked with a group of about 10-15 players, and he showed me the results of how much they'd improved their speed over the first 20 to 40 metres,'' Cachia said.

I can't recall seeing too many rugby players ever cover more than 20 metres in a single play.  Sometimes one bloke might break the lines and manage a huffing and puffing 30 once or twice a game, but that would have to be it, tops. 

Most likely Cachia's estimates are out by an order of magnitude - it's more believable that they've improved their speed over the first 2 to 4 metres.   

Muscles I think you've got the wrong game.
This is Super Rugby - Rugby UNION not League.
The point about Union is it is constant running with unlimited tackles. The bigger players that he talks about in the article are second rowers - typically the size of our rucks (Eales was one) who have to jump at Line-outs but must run to adjust and tackle repeatedly in defence, dive on the ball at mauls and run to support in attack.

I spent time in Queensland with a mate who was big into Union and he took me to games. I'd played Aussie Rules but those guys are the fittest fooballers anywhere. Constant running, constant ferocious hits with good skills required under constant physical pressure.   

Oh, mea culpa.  Thanks for pointing that out, RT. 

If I understand correctly, they're talking about the thugs game played by gentlemen rather than the thugs game played by thugs.

When I watch that game all I see is a sort of constantly rolling stacks-on-the-mill sort of melee, with the odd knee-up at boundary throw-ins for comic relief.  Those guys are tough, all righty and do a fair bit of running, but nothing like an AFL mid-fielder surely?

Do they wear GPS units to track how far they run in a game?  How damage resistant are those thingees anyway?