Main rival

Well this time of year both hemispheres have some form of rugby competition. There's no right answer to this question: who do you consider to be your main rival? You can answer your test rival or your club or provincial rival or as many categories as you like but you can give just one.

So for me, NZ's main rival the way I see it is SA. They have the biggest winning percentage against us and even though Australia is our neighbour and we love beating them in anything, there is too much history between the Boks and the ABs to ignore.

Growing up in NZ, Auckland was the main rival of Canterbury. They dominated the NZ rugby landscape for much of my childhood and so the Super successes the Crusaders enjoyed were some payback for the misery of those years.

Just interested to hear what everyone else's main rival is in their opinion.

For England it's got to be France.

With the war history, the clash of styles, the Rosbifs against the Frogs, John Bull vs a bloke in stripey t-shirt selling onions etc.

That makes sense. With Australia close behind probably but good man for picking only one.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:That makes sense. With Australia close behind probably but good man for picking only one.

Yeah, Aus are up there too but I tried to follow the OP

For Ireland it is probably England, lets face it. Our closest neighbour (Wales and Scotland too). In recent years Wales have also emerged as formidable opposition and a rivalry may be emerging there too as Ireland v Wales games seem to be close tense affairs of late.

I think England's proximity to Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and France make them the biggest rivals - well that and the history between them all.

I'd like to hear from Argie Fan and whocares and some Aussie posters who they think is their main rival. I imagine it's NZ for Australia but maybe they prefer the Ashes rivalry with England.

I agree though GunsGerms, Wales and Ireland in recent years have produced some enthralling matches.

Ireland and Wales.

Ulster and Munster.

Interesting Notch. Those appear to be more recent rivalries who have overtaken the traditional ones.

England France
Bath Leicester

With Aus and Glaws close behind

Our next opponent so for now it's Scotland

Every tier 1 nation will probably get most satisfaction from beating England.

For Scotland these days... its Italy.

For the boks its obviously NZ but IRE have proved quite the thorn in recent years... albeit all the matches in the last decade have been in Europe. Can't recall the last time they toured here.

fa0019 wrote:Every tier 1 nation will probably get most satisfaction from beating England.

For Scotland these days... its Italy.

For the boks its obviously NZ but IRE have proved quite the thorn in recent years... albeit all the matches in the last decade have been in Europe. Can't recall the last time they toured here.

Last tour was in '04.

June 12, 2004 - Tour Match - South Africa 31 Ireland 17, Vodacom Park

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/international/3795409.stm

June 19, 2004 - Tour Match - South Africa 26 Ireland 17, Newlands

http://www.espnscrum.com/ireland/rugby/match/24720.html

Both games were close enough even if the scoreboard says different in particular the first match. Fourie du Preez made his debut that day and was quite good.

The Irish backs were in rude health but the Bok pack and lineout dominated both matches and neutralised any Irish threat.

Ireland's main rival is New Zealand. All their matches are very close affairs and you never know who's gonna come out on top.

But seriously.

Ireland's main rival these days seems to be Wales. I think traditionally England would have been the biggest match. But it doesn't seem to be anymore. Maybe because we got used to beating them regularly (although that trend has stopped). Or maybe because outside rugby, relations between the countries have defrosted and become very friendly. It's harder hate them these days.

Although Ashton helps.

...In 2016 Ireland will play three matches in SA. Cant wait.

Nor can Biltong. I think that's why Billy left the boards...

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Well this time of year both hemispheres have some form of rugby competition. There's no right answer to this question: who do you consider to be your main rival? You can answer your test rival or your club or provincial rival or as many categories as you like but you can give just one.

So for me, NZ's main rival the way I see it is SA. They have the biggest winning percentage against us and even though Australia is our neighbour and we love beating them in anything, there is too much history between the Boks and the ABs to ignore.

Growing up in NZ, Auckland was the main rival of Canterbury. They dominated the NZ rugby landscape for much of my childhood and so the Super successes the Crusaders enjoyed were some payback for the misery of those years.

Just interested to hear what everyone else's main rival is in their opinion.

the closest team to us in quality has to be france.

but they are not our greatest rival.

When it comes to England- we just dont have rivals.. We are the rival.

The only sport i can think of us having one is Cricket and that is OZ.

That's certainly the case in penalty shootouts.

How did Will Carling manage to upset an entire global fraternity of rugby so much??? Its quite impressive to be honest.

Before him were England were never hated like they are now.... Perhaps we all had such a strong bond with Diana???

Australia

One day you will beat em dont worry.

Hopefully you can do it in the 2015 wc and we can both knock em out of the groups

Morgannwg wrote:Australia

Surely a rival is one where you are at least competitive with???

fa0019 wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:Australia

Surely a rival is one where you are at least competitive with???

Scotland don't have a rival then, unless you count Italy or Georgia?

mystiroakey wrote:One day you will beat em dont worry.

Hopefully you can do it in the 2015 wc and we can both knock em out of the groups

fa0019 wrote:How did Will Carling manage to upset an entire global fraternity of rugby so much??? Its quite impressive to be honest.

Before him were England were never hated like they are now.... Perhaps we all had such a strong bond with Diana???

No, it's because we were shoite

Morgannwg wrote:

fa0019 wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:Australia

Surely a rival is one where you are at least competitive with???

Scotland don't have a rival then, unless you count Italy or Georgia?

Tonga.... can't find the Emoticons for Suicidal!!!

fa0019 wrote:How did Will Carling manage to upset an entire global fraternity of rugby so much??? Its quite impressive to be honest.

Before him were England were never hated like they are now.... Perhaps we all had such a strong bond with Diana???

Carling was just too easy to dislike, he dressed like a ponce, he had a massive bum chin, dated a princess and was smug as hell.

For me the most intense rivalry is England v Oz. It really hurts to lose to them where it doesn't happen that often v France to upset me much. After NZ Oz is the biggest scalp with SA next. but losing to either of those doesn't come close to a loss against the Ozzies.

Morgannwg wrote:

fa0019 wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:Australia

Surely a rival is one where you are at least competitive with???

Scotland don't have a rival then, unless you count Italy or Georgia?

We haven't lost to Australia since 2006, and we have a 33% win rate against them compared to Wales' win rate of just 27%

123456789

In fairness to AUS I think when we play them their greatest rival is not us... its the weather.

fa0019 wrote:123456789

In fairness to AUS I think when we play them their greatest rival is not us... its the weather.

Bingo.

Morgannwg wrote:

fa0019 wrote:123456789

In fairness to AUS I think when we play them their greatest rival is not us... its the weather.

Bingo.

Makes those millions you spent on a roof for the MS seem like a waste of money now huh???

Carling and Campese, didn't you just love them?

fa0019 wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:

fa0019 wrote:123456789

In fairness to AUS I think when we play them their greatest rival is not us... its the weather.

Bingo.

Makes those millions you spent on a roof for the MS seem like a waste of money now huh???

I appreciate that you actually know for a fact where the millions (or most of) came from. And if you actually manage to beat Wales for a change next weekend we could be on the way to seeing another great rivalry... Or not!

Morgannwg wrote:

fa0019 wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:

fa0019 wrote:123456789

In fairness to AUS I think when we play them their greatest rival is not us... its the weather.

Bingo.

Makes those millions you spent on a roof for the MS seem like a waste of money now huh???

I appreciate that you actually know for a fact where the millions (or most of) came from. And if you actually manage to beat Wales for a change next weekend we could be on the way to seeing another great rivalry... Or not!

Don't know??? the United Nations 3rd world poverty relief program???

fa0019 wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:

fa0019 wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:

fa0019 wrote:123456789

In fairness to AUS I think when we play them their greatest rival is not us... its the weather.

Bingo.

Makes those millions you spent on a roof for the MS seem like a waste of money now huh???

I appreciate that you actually know for a fact where the millions (or most of) came from. And if you actually manage to beat Wales for a change next weekend we could be on the way to seeing another great rivalry... Or not!

Don't know??? the United Nations 3rd world poverty relief program???

I heard it came from the sale of inflatable leeks and daffodils and pink cowboy hats. Ingenius.

Jokes aide I always thought the Welsh greatest hurdle/their greatest rival was themselves.

I played regional rugby in my late teens (SW ENG) and hand on heart I always found the Welsh academies to be the best... or at least the most talented.

But as we got older they sort of drifted away... when you met them in the bar afterwards it was not a surprise given the way prospective professionals were smoking like a chimney and drinking like it was going out of fashion.... I bet they lose a lot of talent that way.

England <<>> The World

"The relationship between the Welsh and the English is based on trust and understanding. They don't trust us and we don't understand them"
-Former RFU supremo Dudley Wood on Anglo-Welsh relations.

I think Englands main rival is France.....But we do seem to beat a lot mainly at Twickerham.

But England main pain in the butt, As to
be Wales.

fa0019 wrote:Jokes aide I always thought the Welsh greatest hurdle/their greatest rival was themselves.

I played regional rugby in my late teens (SW ENG) and hand on heart I always found the Welsh academies to be the best... or at least the most talented.

But as we got older they sort of drifted away... when you met them in the bar afterwards it was not a surprise given the way prospective professionals were smoking like a chimney and drinking like it was going out of fashion.... I bet they lose a lot of talent that way.

Lost for many years but found again. The Regional academies are looking good but the systems still need to iron out a few flaws. What team did you play against and where?

England is the main rival by a distance, maybe the only one. NZ is quite far away to be honest!

whocares wrote:England is the main rival by a distance, maybe the only one. NZ is quite far away ahead to be honest!

Feel bad nitpicking your otherwise excellent English whocares.

Morgannwg wrote:Australia

You never know one you might beat them. And win a Rugby World Cup, Just like England did.

But, then again. You might not.

Well, you've got all bases covered there maj. How can you be wrong?!

it would be nice if we can square it up 2-2-2-2!

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:

whocares wrote:England is the main rival by a distance, maybe the only one. NZ is quite far away ahead to be honest!

Feel bad nitpicking your otherwise excellent English whocares.

Touche

majesticimperialman wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:Australia

You never know one you might beat them. And win a Rugby World Cup, Just like England did.

But, then again. You might not.

Again you step in and the thread just becomes really unfunny. Give up on posting here the way you gave up on life maj, that's the advice I'm giving you.

Ok then..

I reckon for England there are many contenders. Every match has huge edge. But Australia has to be the main one, perhaps followed by France and Ireland...
Wales and Scotland pretty big too!

All Blacks stats say Australia have won the most matches against them but played most too.Percentage wise Boks are the team closest during touring era.Pro era marginally think OZ maybe one game difference.
England it is Wales records v each other are almost identical.

Wales - Ireland
Scarlets - Munster