Rugby musings

Wednesday, 1 April 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

With the CWC done and dusted the Lankan sporting public will now turn their eyes to the schools rugby season, which has been underway for the past 10 days. The Lankan performance was average at best and the fact that we got thus far was in itself an achievement. Building for the next CWC will be the talk now and when the squad is to be selected, we will in all probability see a new hymn being sung as done this year. Club Rugby The club rugby season too has come to an end with Kandy bagging a double after a lapse of two years. After the conclusion of the presidential elections in January which now appears to be a distant memory, the scale of interest dropped noticeably. Thus when the knock outs started there appeared to be little interest and with Havies and Navy taking a tumble early the way was open for a clean sweep by Kandy. Take nothing away from the Kandy performance as they ground their opposition to submission with some fast and furious rugby which had the opponents reeling from the start. Their opponents cut a sorry figure in the final and the game was lost even before it started with the superior all round skills of Kandy being no match for a hapless Police outfit. They looked like the traffic cops waving their arms frantically in the midday traffic adding to the chaos as opposed to bringing in a resemblance of sanity.

Six nations The final two games in the Six Nations tournament were from the top shelf and acted as a connoisseur for the rugby purist. England had to win with a margin of 26 points and finally managed just 20. The game was of the highest standard and thee was everything that one could ask for. From the bone crunching tackles, the wide open and expansive rugby dished out, the various mind games that the teams indulged in and to the manoeuvring of the set pieces, it was a delight. The onslaught on the opponents try line was relentless and the defensive tactics adopted by France to preserve the virginity of the try line was sublime. England threw everything that they could think off into the fray and the final score line where 90 classy points were scored in totality bears ample testimony to the openness of the game. Credit must also go to the referee on the day, who, managed to keep up with the pace of the game and then was in the right place at the right time to adjudicate well. To all the budding referees of our land, it would be good to watch this game once again and learn the art of good refereeing. Schools rugby The local rugby enthusiasts are quite vocal in the support of their Alma Mater and at times, they forget the very essence of sportsmanship and the purpose of the game. If after a hard fought game, the players are unable to shake hands and appreciate the finer points of the game, irrespective of victory or defeat, the purpose of participating has been lost. There is no bonding after the game and the players permit animosities to linger, foster and finally boil over at the next available opportunity. Those in charge of the sport must inculcate a sense of camaraderie amongst the school kids and they themselves must mingle with the opposition camp. Even in club games, we have seen payers walk off after the game into the changing rooms, grab their dinner and are in the bus. There is no socialising after the game, which is so important, as the best friends over the past years have been made on the rugby field. I hope greater sanity prevails this school season and whilst we enjoy the thrills and spills, let the kids enjoy it more in the true spirit of the game, if not, the purpose of the tournament has no meaning except for the silverware at the end. This has no value, if the process, has been incorrect. (The writer can be reached via [email protected].)

Rugby musings

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