Rugby treat
We have been blessed with a plethora of rugby games this weekend, after the opening of the World Cup Rugby tournament in France on Friday - Saturday morning our time.
This has been extra special for Stephen and me as we didn’t think we would be able to watch any of the games. It was only Friday night that I remembered I’d installed an app at the last World Cup games in Japan. I hunted through Playstore for this tournament’s app, which I subsequently downloaded. I selected the country I was living in and the team I was supporting (all Blacks of course) after which the app quickly adjusted times for our country. It was then that I spied an ad for Sky Sport, to be able to watch these games. For some reason, I hadn’t thought it was possible to watch if we didn’t have a Sky dish but this was for streamed coverage. In a matter of minutes, I was signed up – this came as another surprise as there were weekly and monthly packages. I hadn’t realised this was possible, believing one had to subscribe to an annual coverage. For only $44.99 for the month, I thought this was good value. And it was so simple. I did notice though, that even though I have just bought a month’s package, the small print tells me the subscription will automatically renew next month. Cunning. I will have to remember to cancel when the games are up.
Another bonus, is there are games at 7am, which is perfect for us here in New Zealand, so for the last three mornings, Steven and I have watched the games live. We can view the other night games on demand, at our leisure.
I haven’t watched a lot of rugby the last few years because of the lack of coverage for free paying tv. I am certainly noticing the changes in the game. This morning’s was an absolutely brilliant display, with us sitting on a knife edge. I do feel Fiji were unlucky not to have won as they had far more possession and territory than Wales. But it is always the final score that matters.
Yesterday’s was a disappointing watch with so many stoppages, and England playing for most of the game with 14 men, after one of their players was red-carded. Kudos to them for still taking the win, against Argentina, though.
As for our game, losing against France, another disappointment, but as the coach pointed out, in the past we have won all pool games but have only won three tournaments, so maybe this early loss, won’t necessarily be a bad thing.
In the three games we have watched, I have been saddened for the players sent to the sin bin, and the English player who had to sit the whole game out. Many of these infringements appeared to be non-deliberate. When one is as fired up as these players are, it must be extremely hard to make that line between what is allowed and what is not, being brilliant or being sinbinned. Each man wants that ball, if I try that little bit harder, I might get a penalty, if I don’t, they’ll score the try. One cannot sit back for fear of being yellow-carded. I do think some of these penalties have been bad luck rather than bad playing. For those whose actions are obviously purposeful, then the players deserve what is thrown at them, but for those whose actions could have gone either way, I feel for them.
I watched the faces of the men as they walked off the field. I saw shame, disappointment, hopelessness, regret and guilt. Imagine the burden they would be carrying. Any score by the opposing team while they are sinbinned, could be attributed to their absence. We watched as the decision was made to turn the yellow card into a red card for the English player. He was visibly angry at himself and immediately left his chair, no longer a player in that team. Imagine how he felt. As I’ve mentioned before, I always believe there is a bigger picture at play, always. The feelings of these players would be magnified due to the sheer number of spectators witnessing their yellow-carding, the disappointment of their country, falling on their shoulders. Why do these people need this experience in such magnitude? It will probably be something they will have to live with for the rest of their lives and come to terms with. Of course, with further selection, they could have a chance to redeem themselves but will they put quite as much fire into their actions or will they hold back for fear of crossing that line.
I also saw the referee taking a bit of flak from one of the players for one of his his decisions, and I watched his demeanor change as well. He was just doing his job and to the best of his abilities but his confidence seemed to wane just a little. He is another who is under a tremendous amount of pressure and any calls will be analysed repeatedly thanks to the coverage we now have these days.
All I can say, is it is difficult at the top. What an honour to represent one’s country, what an honour to be chosen to ref a game, but if things go haywire, what a long way further to fall. I wish for all players that they can stay on the right side of the rules and for those who don’t, that they can learn whatever lesson it is that they need to.