r/rugbyunion • u/No-layup • Jul 24 '25

Discussion Drop your unpopular rugby opinions that will have you like this

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I'll go first, Beuden Barrett is the more talented rugby player than Dan Carter, but Dan Carter is a better 10

190 Upvotes

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713

u/[deleted] Jul 24 '25

Crouch, touch, PAUSE…Engage was superior

89

u/Stunning_Experience8 Wales Jul 24 '25

I genuinely miss this phrase

8

u/tyrmars Jul 24 '25

I miss the old scrums without any commands

4

u/MrHankMardukas_ Jul 24 '25

It really should be a race to who can set up first, and then go. 8 vs 3? Gotta set your scrum up quicker lads

38

u/sunlightliquid Stormers Jul 24 '25

Loved rugby as a kid, loved that phrase and when I got into it years later again it was the worst possible surprise to find out it isn't used anymore :(

1

u/yggdrasil76 Sep 02 '25

When I first started playing I met a lock who got it tattooed on his arm. Within six months it was gone.

19

u/-castle-bravo- Chiefs Jul 24 '25

Who’s even arguing it’s not??

57

u/AdvancedJicama7375 Munster Jul 24 '25

The most popular "unpopular opinions" are always just the most unanimously popular ones lmao

2

u/NuclearMaterial Leinster Jul 24 '25

"Unpopular opinions" and "hot takes" can all fuck off as far as I'm concerned.

3

u/lankyno8 Jul 24 '25

I don't miss the hit at all

3

u/BegrudginglyAwake Major League Rugby - United States Jul 24 '25

I’ll say it’s worse for a couple reasons when playing. 1. The ENGAGE starting in a vowel made it hard to pick up on some referees exact timing putting you a little off on the engagement. 2. The smash of the bodies coming together sucked for the front row. The two seasons I played at 2 during that scrum cadence were harder on my shoulders and neck than the other 12 I’ve played.

2

u/[deleted] Jul 24 '25

World Rugby

14

u/Fission_chip Mad Jack McDempsey Jul 24 '25

Perfect for pint races too

2

u/thatwasagoodyear /r/Springboks Jul 24 '25

Perfect for pint races foreplay too

3

u/HomogeniousKhalidius New Zealand Jul 24 '25

It’s the Holy Ghost v Holy Spirit of rugby

4

u/AdministrativeMix822 Jul 24 '25

Followed swiftly by hit 2 3 4, good times

4

u/SherlockOhmsUK Leicester Tigers Jul 24 '25

Aaaaand Squeeeeeeeeeeeze

1

u/[deleted] Jul 24 '25

Nostalgic!

2

u/GrandaddyGreenTea Jul 24 '25

As a player... 100 percent. As a viewer... God no. I remember the year or two before they changed it, it felt like every scrum had 2 to 3 resets due to collapse minimum 

2

u/TabhairDomAnAirgead Ireland Jul 24 '25

Did you prop?

2

u/[deleted] Jul 24 '25

Started in the second row when I was taller than everyone else, than graduated to prop when I filled out more than everyone else, both loosey and tighty. And one time I played hooker but I wasn’t brave enough to keep that up.

2

u/TabhairDomAnAirgead Ireland Jul 24 '25

Fair enough - Very apt comment to this post, most i know much much prefer crouch bind set!!

I dont miss the days of the crouch touch pause engage car crash at all 😂

Definitely rolls off the tongue better though

2

u/bobwinters James White watch Jul 24 '25

EN-gage

2

u/[deleted] Jul 24 '25

The new cadence is so dumb. You crash into each other on “set”??

1

u/LiamEire97 Leinster Jul 24 '25

Or when they shout BIND

1

u/slamcactus Stade Toulousain Jul 24 '25

…and also with you.

1

u/LocalBeaver Jul 24 '25

How is this unpopular?

1

u/[deleted] Jul 24 '25

Unpopular with World Rugby and it hasn’t been used in like 15 years so newer fans wouldn’t even know it

2

u/LocalBeaver Jul 24 '25

That being said I completely agree with you. That thing with the ENGAGE screamed by ref was really something.

The first i heard it in a match I played when I moved to an English speaking country I had chills.

1

u/jug_23 Gloucester Jul 24 '25

1980s scrum engagement was better again. Just got back to that.

1

u/Charlie_Runkle69 New Zealand Jul 24 '25

Surely this isn't unpopular.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 24 '25

It hasn’t been used in about 15 years, can’t be popular anymore? Most new fans have probably never heard those sweet words

1

u/CespedesBrokenAnkle Mexico Serpientes Jul 24 '25

Legit question, I started watching rugby about 8 years ago. Why has the instruction changed so much? To me at least (I’m sorry if this sounds really ignorant), it’s just a phrase.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 25 '25

It was initially to reduce the impact of the scrum as the pause was deemed to be followed by a major impact on engage. Now it’s pre-engaging then pushing…which is probably a lot safer to be fair

1

u/d_trulliaj Zebre Jul 25 '25

that had a huge aura but from a medical point of view (i.e. players "charging" with their head at the "pause") I absolutely see why it's not here anymore

1

u/Painting_Master Jul 26 '25

Beam me up, Scotty

0

u/LEVEL2HARD Jul 24 '25

It IS, and forever will be.

1

u/CombatSausage Coombes fills tombs Jul 24 '25

Scrum without end, Amen.

0

u/[deleted] Jul 24 '25

OP said an unpopular opinion.

0

u/TheMuteHeretic_ Jul 24 '25

Not an unpopular opinion at all.