Australia don’t do civil wars, instead they have this:
State of Origin.
I’ve talked about State of Origin on a couple of occasions before. I saw my first State of Origin match in June 2009 and wrote about it in my post it’s all happening in Queensland. So if you’re not sure what it is, why not check out that post to find out.
I revisited the subject in July 2010 when I was watching my second State of Origin. So you can find out even more about it there if you want. But in a nutshell, it’s a game of rugby.
But describing it like that is doing it an injustice. It might just be the most passionate and hard-fought game of rugby in the world.
But today I’m not going to talk about it again. Because today is Friday and traditionally I like to show you a video or two. So today you can watch some State of Origin for yourself.
Just to get you in the mood, here’s a footballer getting punched in the face. This is hilarious…..
I will be looking at some State of Origin punches in the face a little later, but first here’s a classic tackle from the game in 2002 just to warm you into it gently……
Yes, that’s allowed. It’s a good tackle!
Now let’s see what a State of Origin punch in the face is like compared to our football example. It all starts with a tackle which is not allowed, although I’m not sure why. Maybe because it could have been life-threatening? Be sure to watch the slow motion at 1 minute 11 seconds in….
I particularly like it when the commentator says “well, I think it’s a send-off offence….”
Really? Well, incredibly, it wasn’t. The guy was put on report, whatever that means, but stayed on the pitch. Even more incredibly, only three people have ever been sent off in Origin history.
Only three people! That statistic becomes even more incredible when you watch this compilation of punch-ups from games past…..
This year I’m watching my third State of Origin contest. The previous two were all done and dusted at 2-0 to Queensland after the first two games. But this one is all teed up at one all with the decider on July 6.
If Queensland can win it, that will be six State of Origin victories in a row. New South Wales will be looking to end their barren run. It promises to be an epic battle.
I can’t wait.
The Decider: An Update….
It was worth the wait, what a game!
“I’m still grappling with the rules”- No grappling in rugby leaue, a grapple tackle is against the rules hehe. One more for you to add to your knowledge of league rules. I can just hear you know, next Origin, you’re down at the pub with your mates and throw the words grapple tackle in to sound all knowledgable, until they realise you have no idea what it actually means 🙂
Haha! Any attempt by me to sound knowledgeable is bound to come a cropper. But I’ll give it a go. But first, I’m off to Google ‘grapple tackle rugby league’.
I almost skipped this post when I read State of Origin because I already know the result and didn’t feel like reliving yet another horrible loss 🙁
But I’m glad I didn’t. That was not a good tackle, that was a brilliant tackle. And I think you’ve been in Australia long enough to know which word I wanted to add in before brilliant there if I hadn’t cleaned it up for you’re blog.
And “on report” means a committee will look at it over the coming week and decide on a punishment for those involved. I’m guessing that would have resulted in a couple of suspensions cause that was a bad one. Send-offs are rare in rugby league. It doesn’t mean penatlies aren’t harsh, players can be suspended for weeks or months depending on the offence but this punishes the player rather than the team.
I’m still grappling with the rules Kirri, according to the laws of my preferred sport (English football or soccer as it’s known here) the game would have been stopped as soon as that guy’s shirt got pulled. To see a shirt get pulled so extensively over such a long distance with such great results truly does make a change.
Yes, it’s a brilliant tackle, thanks for limiting your adjectives to describe it down to one word for this blog 🙂
looks like our local crocheting class here in north Wales
Wow! You must take your crotcheting classes seriously in that part of the world.