againstthehead wrote:Gerald the Mole wrote:Getting desperate, the Baa Baas have long since lost their identity, they are a manufactured team run by World Rugby , they suit the plastic surround of ravers, sorry Kingspunk.
Yeah - hard to get excited about he Baa Baas. I'm surprised clubs still release players for this kind of thing or perhaps they have no option?
It was always s fear that through professionalism the Baa Baa Baas would lose their identity.
Back in the day there was only a handful of competitive games a season and players could play a risk free open game as an antidote to the kicking game that dominated rugby back in the day.
Baas fixtures were hotly anticipated as the best players in the world were free to express themselves and could take on and beat the best sides.
Enter the 5 point try,, changes in kicking laws and professionalism.
Sides were encouraged to keep ball in hand.score tries and honed in systems that made the Baa Baas look rag tag.
The compatible nature of Baa Baa games have been diluted by the advent of World cups and club competitions.
This turned Baa Baa fixtures effectively into friendlies and have been reated by the opposition as such.
I am a rugby romantic and traditionalist however and I love the concept of top players being thrown together to see if they can take on the best.
Its a great antidote to watching over coached sides play defensive orientated risk free rugby within rigid systems.
In my opinion the Baa Baas have as much relevance as ever and I never want that to change and the top stars would agree.
However my dad was one so I am biased.
