Comments on: I couldn’t say it better … http://saturdayrugbyday.wordpress.com/2007/06/20/i-couldnt-say-it-better/ Just another WordPress.com weblog Tue, 27 May 2008 19:45:04 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: KLK http://saturdayrugbyday.wordpress.com/2007/06/20/i-couldnt-say-it-better/#comment-909 KLK Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:24:00 +0000 http://saturdayrugbyday.wordpress.com/2007/06/20/i-couldnt-say-it-better/#comment-909 *sigh* I suppose I'm grouped in with the unfeminine brutes...but hey I gotta be a little graceful...I managed to kick my own conversion in last weeks 7s match *sigh* I suppose I’m grouped in with the unfeminine brutes…but hey I gotta be a little graceful…I managed to kick my own conversion in last weeks 7s match

]]> By: Anonymous http://saturdayrugbyday.wordpress.com/2007/06/20/i-couldnt-say-it-better/#comment-906 Anonymous Sat, 23 Jun 2007 23:25:00 +0000 http://saturdayrugbyday.wordpress.com/2007/06/20/i-couldnt-say-it-better/#comment-906 I think the women's game IS different from the men's game. Yes, they may have guys that look a bit different from each other, but not nearly as much as in the women's game. Our college team had women who were over 6' and 200+ but we also had women that barely cleared 5' and 110. I tend to think of all the guys I know who play rugby as "big." You don't find many short guys in rugby (with the exception of our college coach who's rugby name started with Wee for a reason). <br/><br/>I also think the speed of the game varies between men's and women's. Things happen in an ordinary men's game that would only happen at the higgest level in the women's game.<br/><br/>-J I think the women’s game IS different from the men’s game. Yes, they may have guys that look a bit different from each other, but not nearly as much as in the women’s game. Our college team had women who were over 6′ and 200+ but we also had women that barely cleared 5′ and 110. I tend to think of all the guys I know who play rugby as “big.” You don’t find many short guys in rugby (with the exception of our college coach who’s rugby name started with Wee for a reason).

I also think the speed of the game varies between men’s and women’s. Things happen in an ordinary men’s game that would only happen at the higgest level in the women’s game.

-J

]]> By: Anonymous http://saturdayrugbyday.wordpress.com/2007/06/20/i-couldnt-say-it-better/#comment-895 Anonymous Wed, 20 Jun 2007 18:36:00 +0000 http://saturdayrugbyday.wordpress.com/2007/06/20/i-couldnt-say-it-better/#comment-895 Just as aggressive and likely even more competitive. But, to provoke thought, here are a few less obvious differences for which the men might not even have a concept (or pre-concept)…<br/><br/>Team chemistry plays a much larger role in women's rugby and consumes more of our collective energies. It’s also important with the guys, but in women's rugby it is huge. A cynical, and naive, view is that of the 10,000 things to work on in rugby it's no wonder that the ladies focus on the "emotional" aspects. But, fact is we all know that the girls don't let things go like the boys. The guys might go as far as fist-fighting but will be best friends again in an hour. The gals can hold vendettas for years and draw their friends into the fray. <br/><br/>Also, “close” relationships are much more overlaid and intertwined in women's rugby. When a guy is competing for lock he is usually not worried that the other lock is the “special” friend of the flanker. Maybe it’s nice that two highly competitive women can establish a relationship in a close team sport. But, it’s a conflict of interest when two teammates are involved and certainly does not promote a pure meritocracy. <br/><br/>On the other hand, we ladies do tend to use our teammates in the best of fashion – as true support. This means better overall teamwork. The guys are much more likely to see each other as just abstract tools for short-term gain... <br/><br/>Best Regards,<br/><br/>Anneli Jaatteenmaki Just as aggressive and likely even more competitive. But, to provoke thought, here are a few less obvious differences for which the men might not even have a concept (or pre-concept)…

Team chemistry plays a much larger role in women’s rugby and consumes more of our collective energies. It’s also important with the guys, but in women’s rugby it is huge. A cynical, and naive, view is that of the 10,000 things to work on in rugby it’s no wonder that the ladies focus on the “emotional” aspects. But, fact is we all know that the girls don’t let things go like the boys. The guys might go as far as fist-fighting but will be best friends again in an hour. The gals can hold vendettas for years and draw their friends into the fray.

Also, “close” relationships are much more overlaid and intertwined in women’s rugby. When a guy is competing for lock he is usually not worried that the other lock is the “special” friend of the flanker. Maybe it’s nice that two highly competitive women can establish a relationship in a close team sport. But, it’s a conflict of interest when two teammates are involved and certainly does not promote a pure meritocracy.

On the other hand, we ladies do tend to use our teammates in the best of fashion – as true support. This means better overall teamwork. The guys are much more likely to see each other as just abstract tools for short-term gain…

Best Regards,

Anneli Jaatteenmaki

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