There will be blood and some broken bones, maybe some fighting and that's the way we like it, unlike those other guys who play with the round ball and cry when they get tripped.
Watch the video for for some inspiration
There is no "big" sport support in Singapore and the locals get excited when 2000 fans turn up for a local Lions soccer game. Us rugby supporters know what it is to experience the thrill of watching a live game in a stadium filled with fifty thousand plus spectators. It's awesome and for the first time in my life I will not be able to attend a game in person this year. That is sad but at least all the games are going to be on Setanta sport channel and live, not delayed.
Last night Setanta screened the "A decade of Super Rugby" which covered the period from 1996 - 2005 or the Super 12 as it was more commonly known. Watching the program brought back so many memories and to see the great rugby stars and some of the most spectacular games was very special. Ended up watching it twice just for good measure.
Originally the competion started off as the Super 10 between 1993 - 1995 and then became the Super 12. So here are some interesting facts on the Super 12. No South African team ever won it. Three teams dominated that period with winning statistics as follows; Blues (3), Crusaders(5) and the Brumbies(2). Quite a shock to me and a bit of a bitter pill to swallow.
The first game kicked off in Palmerstone North, New Zealand on 01 Mach 1996 between the Blues and the Hurricanes and pushed all the boundaries of rugby at that stage. The teams remained on field for the half time break as was the tradition in amateur rugby. In the next year "Professional Rugby" would come of age and the 10 minute half time break with teams leaving the field was introduced. So was the very first ever Yellow Card handed out and the first ever "Tactical Substitution" legally allowed. By the next year the Television or Third referee was introduced. Pretty amazing.
Gavin Lawless from Natal (Sharks) today scored 50 points in a match and Joe Roth (Brumbies) scored 15 tries in one season, both records still unbeaten today.
Also did not realise what a big star Carlos Spencer was and his contribution to the Blues team during that period. Wow, what a player in his younger years. If I try and mention all the big names the posting will be very long so here is a link with more stats and all the great players. Super Rugby Statistics
Watching a rugby game either at home or at a stadium is a full day affair, typically include a Braai (BBQ) lots of beer, friends and family. I remember the biggest game we went to in 2010, the TriNations match between the Springboks and the All Blacks at Soccer City in Johannesburg. 92000 fans, 50 thousand flags and one hell of a party. Sadly the Springboks lost but still.
I always thought that was the biggest rugby crowd ever but I stand corrected. The biggest ever crowd was recorded at Stadium Australia (ANZ) for the 1999 Bledisloe Cup rugby union match between the Australian Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks which attracted a then-world record rugby union crowd of 107,042. In 2000 this was bettered when a crowd of 109,874 witnessed the "Greatest ever Rugby Match" when a Jonah Lomu try sealed an All Blacks win over the Wallabies 39–35. The All Blacks had led 24-nil after 11 minutes only to see Australia draw level at 24-all by halftime.
Interestingly, the biggest ever South African rugby crowd recorded was at the Original Ellispark (Coca Cola) stadium which played host to 100,000 spectators in 1955 at the rugby game that saw the Springboks go down to the Bristish Lions 23-22. That's amazing.
I am off to watch the opening game and enjoy the rugby all you fans.
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