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The "Volcano" prepares to erupt in international rugby union
Pablo Luna - Moonlighting for Betfair. Pablo looks at the challenges of making the transition from rugby league to union and what we can expect from Lesley Vainikolo
Rugby League is not famous for its grey cells, speed or skill and a player making the transition from League to Union is not easy. Very few players have changed codes successfully, Jason Robinson being a notable exception. I compare it with going from League 1 to the Premiership in football. Rugby Union is a far superior and advanced version of rugby in every way!
After his explosive impact Lesley Vainikolo has now been catapulted into the England Test squad. The Gloucester wing, 28, who played league for New Zealand but qualifies for England on residency grounds, has scored nine tries in nine union games. He is the top try scorer in the Guinness Premiership this season including a stunning five-try display when making his debut for Gloucester against Leeds in September.
Rob Andrew, the Rugby Football Union's director of elite rugby, said Vainikolo had signed a declaration stating he had not played senior rugby union for Tonga, which would bar him from playing for a second country. The RFU and the English public are awaiting confirmation from the Pacific Island Union. He earned his place in the English side after being resident in the country for more than three years - a minimum set by the rugby union board. He has since applied for a British passport.
Lesley Vainikolo (born 4 May 1979 in Nuku'alofa, Tonga) grew up in South Auckland, New Zealand. He is a winger who is 6ft 2in tall and weighs 18st. He has played Rugby League for Canberra Raiders and Bradford Bulls with 12 caps for New Zealand Kiwis. His nickname is 'The Volcano' and he was the most prolific try scorer in Super League history scoring 149 tries in 152 matches.
Who can blame Brian Ashton for being excited about his new try-scoring machine? He said "he has the wow factor, his transition has been straightforward and he does not look like a league player. He is extremely strong and explosive and can also be a bit of a scary defender if you do not see him coming. He is a threat all over the field. He has got the X factor. He is different, we ain't ever seen an England winger like him - that's for sure".
It is true that he is different and I cannot wait to see him in an England shirt. He will improve England. There are those who find a man with no British grandparents, parents and passport playing for England a step too far but the rules of residency are in place so it is pointless to argue when other countries do the same thing!
Despite his bulk he is very fast, he ran the 100m in 10.8 seconds in qualifying for the 1997 World Junior Athletics Championships. I am also told he is intelligent and can hold a conversation. Ashton went on to say "he is not a traditional winger but regarded as a pretty good all-round package and I am not worried about his kicking. Why would you want a man of that size and power, and that quick, to kick the ball away?" With these sort of noises coming from the coach he is certain to play against Wales on 2 February at Twickenham. England are [3.4] to win Six Nations Outright, Wales are [9.8]. For the Grand Slam England trade at [6.4] with Wales [25] and for Triple Crown England are [2.32] and Wales [11.5]. Prices with Betfair.
On the negative front he has had major surgery on his knees and suffers back problems but perhaps this is the modern day Rugby Union player in any case? Some suggested that if Vainikolo had a choice between representing New Zealand or England - he would choose the former. This should automatically disqualify him from representing England. Not sure about that, what do you think?
On the other hand I do not think the Twickenham faithful will ever see the best of Andy Farrell the 32-year-old rugby league convert, who featured for England during their humiliating 36-0 World Cup mauling against eventual champions South Africa. I had sympathy with him, sure he was good enough but maybe one example of making the change too late in his career?
Note from Editor: We'd like to thank all our readers for their comments in regard to the above article. The betting.betfair.com team will be publishing an article in the next couple of days arguing why rugby league is the superior of the two codes. If in the meanwhile you'd like to fight rugby league's corner please submit 250 words to haveyoursay@betfair.com and we will publish the best entries.
Comments (38)
I've seen bias before but this well and truly takes the biscuit.
Tom Williams | 17 January 2008
Is this Pablo bloke for real? What a load of rubbish this person has written. Perhaps Pablo, would like to visit a few Rugby League players, as then he would have a better understanding that Rugby League players often have Degrees behind them and are not as thick as he thinks.
Brad Smith | 17 January 2008
I could not agree more, making the step up to playing rugby after so long playing little league is a challenge that few have managed to achieve.
Good luck to Lesley I hope he does well after putting behind him the dark days of playing league.
Clive Woody | 17 January 2008
Bizarre piece - I`m considering closing my betfair account .
john bates | 17 January 2008
What a load of rubbish, going from League to Union is a retirement from top flight rugby. The Union game has too many rules that stiffle the natural talent of ball handling League players which make the conversion a unhappy one.
Pablo, sort your self out you muppet!
mark | 17 January 2008
This is the most rediculous article i have read for many a year..
"Rugby League is not famous for its grey cells, speed or skill " no thats why england Rugby Union pay so much money for the players to get them into the side.. there is nothing RL can add to RU at all..
you should be ashamed to have this on your site..
Richard Pitchfork | 17 January 2008
go to forums.leagueunlimited.com, you will realise how false Clive Woody's statements are as he is a regular troll there.
Mr. Fahrenheit | 17 January 2008
Rugby Union journalists are not famous for their grey cells, sobriety or honesty and a Rugby Union hack writing about making the transition from League to Union is usually ill-informed, offensive and laughable in every way.
Few, if any, journalists have covered both codes successfully, Pablo being no exception. I compare it with going from writing about what you know to simply regurgitating tired old cliches, nonsense and malicious falsehoods. Rugby League is a far superior and advanced version of rugby in every way!
Daniel | 17 January 2008
Pablo Luna. Is that a Spanish name? Do they even play rugby in Spain? Or is that some made up name to make Union sound more international, something that the 'I'RB does regularly.
Your ignorance is astounding and quite pathetic. Why are you taking little snipes at rugby. You trying to emulate front the French Rugby Union did in World War II by collaberating with the Nazis by trying to keep down the superior game that is Rugby League?
BetFair: You are losing credibility and customers by letting cretins 'moonlight' for you. Lose idiots like this or c*ral.co.uk has found it a new cow to milk
T to the T | 17 January 2008
keep saying this type of thing pablo and one day you might start to believe it.. the best 10 yawnion players you could name would struggle to make the top grade in league. thats a fact.
michael | 17 January 2008
What nasty and ill-informed rot. Why do union fans/journalists feel the need to spout such tosh?
Jay | 17 January 2008
I think the dribbling responses from various league fans here only serve to back up this article. Grey cells are sadly lacking in both players and fans of league.
Hopefully Lesley can leave behind this kind of juvenile behaviour and prepare himself for the step up to playing top flight professional rugby.
League is very much a minority sport isolated in the north of England and a couple of bits of Australia. Lesley will now play on a global stage with TV audiences in excess of 4 Billion (RWC - 2007). Let's hope he can handle the pressure.
Clive Woody | 17 January 2008
We'd like to thank all our readers for their comments in regard to the above article. The betting.betfair.com team will be publishing an article in the next couple of days arguing why rugby league is the superior of the two codes. If in the meanwhile you'd like to fight rugby league's corner please submit 250 words to haveyoursay@betfair.com and we will publish the best entries.
Betting.betfair.com Editor | 17 January 2008
Union is technically far superior.
In league you have to be able to catch a ball and run as hard and fast in a straight line until you are stopped. Even the ref counts to 6 for you to let you know when you've had too many attempts!
Union however involves numerous skills and technical abilities. Players are better kickers, passers and learn how to glide past opponents or offload in the tackle to continue a move. Lineouts, scrums and recycling the ball involves a greater team ethos and camaraderie.
Players literally fight and die for each other - it is simply the greatest team sport there is.
Tall Paul | 17 January 2008
if union is so superior why do they keep employing ex rugby league players as coaches?
lee churchman | 17 January 2008
How anyone can claim in the one paragraph that Rugby League fans and players aren't the sharpest tools in the shed and then claim 4 billion viewers for the RWC is beyond me. Please, somebody check to see if that's the stupidest thing ever written on this site...STAT!
When Boring is made an Olympic sport, England will finally be good at something because they have Clive Woody. If I were a Union fan, I'd want him to follow rugby League.
Oh, and Pablo Luna?
If I wrote like that, I would use a nom de plume too...
Max Emery | 17 January 2008
Was just about to open an account until I read this from Mr Moon. William Hills here I come.
M Finney | 17 January 2008
Union is technically far inferior.
In league you have to be able to catch a ball, pass a ball, run creative offensive lines and be able to tackle. Even the ref counts to 6 for you, which means you have to create an opportunity instead of just hoofing it into the crowd.
Union however involves numerous skills and technical abilities. Players are more experienced kickers, eye-gougers, kickers, stampers, kickers, fat knackers, kickers knockers-on, kickers and kickers.
Players literally sing the national anthem loudly while looking constipated (union fans mistake this for 'passion'), before trudging through a negative, passionless, low-skilled and unexciting 80 minutes - it is simply the dullest team sport there is.
Daniel | 17 January 2008
Rugby League comes from Rugby Union but a 100 years ago or 12 years after the split from the RFU to***rs,Northern Union had to change it's rules for the entertaiment factor as well as being easier to understand for players and fans alike.
100 years later Rugby Union is doing the same.
Union just copies of Rugby League.Look what happend in 1895 Northern Rugby Union went professional,100 years later Union did the same in 1995.
I think Union would make the game 13 a side but it be too obvious who is there main influance is.
chris | 17 January 2008
I can't speak on behalf of the Northern Hemisphere, but here in Australia, rugby league players are far superior athletes and rugby players. The Australian Super 14 teams are littered with NRL reserve graders, players who simply could not make the grade in rugby league. Rugby league just breeds a better player. The ball is in play for longer, players make more individual tackles than an entire game of union, learn to run, step, offload instead of succombing to the tackle, are faster, harder, stronger, fitter etc. Union put too much emphasis on scrums, penalty goals and kicking.
The above article could not be further from the truth. Pablo surely must be one delusional man. I hope people dont start to believe his lies.
Nathan | 18 January 2008
Clive, typical union bu****it...the old 4 billion lie .
Tall paul ,the only thing union has over league is it's ability to cure insomnia.
players are better passers in union ...lol
Wingers hardly see the ball as someunfit lard kicks it out long before it gets out the backline.
Do you realise in the history of the RWC only NINE tries have been scored in total in the final.
& 2007's tryless kickfest/snorefest just proved that the game called "running rugby" is a myth.
Phil Mac | 18 January 2008
umm...Rugby Union World Cup Semi-Final 2003, Australia vs New Zealand. Lote Tuqiri, Wendell Sailor, Matt Rogers, Brad Thorn. 4 league players (3 Brisbane Broncos) all playing in the second most important match Rugby Union can provide (bar the final itself). Remember now, those three Wallabies went on to contest the final, the pinnacle of world Rugby. You can't achieve a higher accolade. Therefore how did these players not succeed at their crossover to Union? Some authors revisionism of history is astounding.
Jaw Dropping | 18 January 2008
Clearly Rugby League is far superior to union, the presence of so many ex Rugby League players and coaches in the the Union coaching ranks proves that.
In Union you have to be able to catch a ball and then kick it away as fast as you can or shout "mark" so that the fattys don't have to bother waddling up field to sit on you.
Rugby League however involves numerous skills and technicaly abilities. Players are better kickers, passers and learn how to glide past opponents or offload in the tackle to continue a move. Granted some of these skills are being picked up in Union now from the ex Rugby League coaches but its a slow process and, as the Union world cup final showed, dull is still the name of the game.
Some players fight and die in Union, thankfully such behaviour is unknown in Rugby League.
James Monger | 18 January 2008
Firstly, poor players usually make great coaches.
And if Union is the poorer relation why does any player bother switching from league at all - I would want to be playing in the better form of the game. Or is it money that drives them not success and the love of the game.
Tall Paul | 18 January 2008
Well Clive and Tall Paul it seems your kinda lonely in here.
Even educated buffoons as yourself must see that by holding secret ELV Law trials in South Africa, which will be used in competition in this years Super 14 series that even Senior Management at SANZAR and the IRB realise the game is in poor shape at the moment. How can any Union fan sit and wax lyrically about the brilliance of their code when the 'top brass' are runnning around like headless chooks trying to breathe some life into the game. Rugby Union is wilting and it is only 2nd and 3rd generation fans that continue to attend. Sure you were brainwashed by Daddy about the 'evils' of Rugby League and there 'demonic' pay structure enticing the Union breatheren across, soiling their name for all eternity. Well boys, the world is a much smaller place and people are becoming more independant at an earlier age making decsions for themselves. The Australian Rugby team which has won 2 World Cups and appeared in another final draws from the smallest junior sports base in the country (TOP 4). They barely have 200,000 playing the code nationally (ignoring the stats where they count people who walk past a school clinic) and they still compete at the level they do. These numbers are at best stagnent whilst AFL, NRL and most notably Soccer are flying. The sport of Rugby at Provincial has lost any free to air exposure and support due to pathetic ratings and the Test matches regularly get out rated by two suburbs playing against each other in Rugby League (Wallabies V NZ 850,000, Bulldogs V Roosters 910,00). The ARU pay the ABC to show the club competition that would average about 450 people to a game (Grand Final 11,000) and they have dropped the ARC competition after sustaining and projecting losses of over $8 million dollars.
The NSW RU has started it's membership drive today with a rider saying that there is a 25% dip in membership renewals. THis after there crowd averages wet from 33,000 in 2006 to 22,000 in 2007 with the first ever sub 20,000 crowd in history. Before you say how good that crowd is, don't forget they are the only team for a population of over 7 million people with 3 million within a 40 min drive.
Whilst all this goes on the AFL and NRL are running out of I.P. to sponsor, they can't get enough money in quick enough. Besides earning $130 million per year in TV rights alone the NRL released a figue yesterday because supply can't keep up with demand on their licenced merchandise range. In 2002 the NRL sold over $1 million worth of merchandise in just one year. In 2007 they sold over $2 million per WEEK.
Wrapping this up, I hate defending league because we go about our business and enjoy our sport, it is only ill informed pretenders who think because they follow Union it gives them a pseudo jet setting international lifestyle, affording them to speak any dribble that comes into their mind. Stuff that has usually been jammed in there by Daddy.
SHAME ON YOU BETFAIR
Big P | 19 January 2008
Hollywood is running out of comedy writers ,suggest Pablo apply forthwith.
Having spent 5 years of my ill gotten youth playing union(private school) and 1 year of rugby league.
The most taxing and physically demanding of these sports was league, and it was also the one which afforded me more opportunity to run the ball and offload in tackles.
To suggest the ruck,maul, lifting in lineouts are somehow technical skills, or the constant resetting of scrums and perpetual kicking for territory is a thing of beauty,need look no further than the RWC2007 snorefest.In addition union has gone backwards in Australia since the 2003 WC.
It is no surprise that some officials within the FRU in 1941 lobbied the then Vichy govt to have rugby league banned.They could see rugby league as the real threat from a player and spectators' perspective.
The cynical comments by some union tragics,who throw up the tired old "league played in 2 countries" furphy,only expose the weakness of their arguments,more so now league is being played in more countries than any time in its history.
There was rugby union,it evolved into rugby league ,from chrysalis to butterfly.
Global Yawning | 19 January 2008
Why would betfair feel ashamed to publish this article...... surely its all about the debate of contrasting opinions. Everyone has their own reasons for and against a topic such as league vs union and betfair have achieved exactly that! If everyone was in agreement journalists wouldnt have a job!!!
Personally i find the two forms very different and equally enjoyable. League is full of power and pace and has a lot more "raz-a-matazz" feel to it which in turn brings entertainment. Union has more complex tactics, different options of attack and mini battles between opposite numbers which create more variety in the game. These things bring their own entertainment. I guess i am one person who is happy see them as very different games which happen to use the same shape ball.
Jack Kelleher | 20 January 2008
The league fans are still bleating, not only are they ignorant of the history of their own sport they are a delicate bunch.
The Rugby World Cup is the second biggest sports tournament in the world after the Olympics, with over 4 billions viewers watching games during the competition. The rugby league world cup is a joke of made up teams and is watched by very few. The RLWC is held at random intervals generally resulting in a loss, although the league authorities try and cover this up.
League is the jealous little brother of proper rugby, you only have to see how many things league has stolen from rugby to realise how desperate a sport league is.
Clive Woody | 21 January 2008
Well written, factual, a good read. Whats everyone getting upset for??!! Some of these responses are a tad of the top!!!
jessica stamp | 21 January 2008
I really do love that "4 Billion" Clive, any chance you could repeat it perpetually for us? We Union fans need to stick together in the face of this onslaught of "facts" and "reality" - who needs them? If 4 billion is good enough for my chums at HQ to bleat about then it's good enough for any union fan to repeat without question or any attempt at critical thought. That's what being a union fan is all about.
I wuv my 4 billion | 22 January 2008
Has any Rugby Union player ever transferred to Rugby Leaque?
Sut Mae | 22 January 2008
Dear Sut Mae,
Most of the Wigan team during their glory years were former rugby players who had opted for the easy life and headed north to play league.
Since rugby went professional in 1995 players have had a level playing field to choose from and most have stuck with the original and best form of rugby. Rugby has purchased a number of league players who we thought might be good enough to make the step up, few have made any impact, Jason Robinson being the notable exception. Jason played rugby before his dark year playing league, followed by his glorious return to rugby and success in the Rugby World Cup.
Clive Woody | 22 January 2008
Clive Woody, I didnt want to bite as I know you are lying to get a bite from us people who actually know the truth, but I couldnt help myself. The rugby world cup is not the second biggest event you fool, it is a great tournament which is extremely successful, but well behind the summer olympics, winter olympics, FIFA world cup, commonwealth games, cricket world cup, Asian Cup, Euro Cup (football), as well as other major football tournaments around the world.
Rugby Union is full of league juniors who couldnt cut it in rugby league, but excel at union due to the less physical toll of union and smaller amount of skill required, and no, most of the successful Wigan team from the glory years are not former union players. I dont want give you the satisfaction by responding to your dribble, but I would hate it for others to believe your lies.
Nathan Hutch | 23 January 2008
Dear Nathan,
You need to check your facts mate, like so many league fans you are ignorant of the history of your own sport let alone have the first clue when it comes to rugby.
Like so many bitter little league fans you try and bad mouth rugby and deny the truth. The Rugby World Cup is huge, more than 4 billion viewers for the last tournament, huge profits and a fantastic exhibition of fast flowing rugby.
Compare with the last RLWC, crowds mostly absent from games, a joke Lebanese side made up of second rate Aussies, players standing around so much they get hypothermia and amusingly the whole silly mess made a big financial loss.
Clive Woody | 23 January 2008
Clive(the 4 billion viewers' man,) rugby league fans are generally well acquainted with the history of their sport,especially union's involvement with a despised gov't, in desperately trying to kill off league in France.Thankfully our code did not get entangled with apartheid in Sth Africa nor the Vichy govt in France,so much for union's proud tradition.
After 100 plus years union supposedly this global sport,still has one country NZ and a couple of Pacific Island nations,as the national code. Hardly setting the known world on fire.
The pending RLWC in 2008 in Oz,has already generated govt,sponsorship monies to guarantee financial success without a ball kicked.
The cynicism on the 2000 RLWC and Lebanon's involvement,has resulted in a club competition being established since,with all local players and officials.
To even suggest the 2007 RWC was an exhibition of free flowing rugby,would send even many union journalists into fits of laughter.
The world population currently stands at over 6 billion,using the famous Clive Woody/ union calculator, every rice paddy farmer must be a closet union fan.
Global Yawning | 24 January 2008
Can I remind readers that the subject of this debate is quote - "the challenges of making the transition from rugby league to union and what we can expect from Lesley Vainikolo". May I suggest that further comments are in that context rather than the mud slinging that these comments have deteriorated too. Some people support Union, some League, and there are even those who enjoy both - get over it!
Sut Mae | 24 January 2008
Not wanting to get involved in a league/union debate just yet, i would like to say that the league fans really make a rod for there own back for reacting so viciously, forgetting the league/union divide for one moment to remember what vainikola did for rugby league and surely what he will do in union, fair play pablo very interesting read, look forward to more.
kai harwood | 23 March 2008
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I wonder what makes Pablo Luna-tick? Whoever he is, his article is ignorant, offensive and just plain wrong. Its probably even actionable. Shame on you for publishing such ordure.
John Marchant | 17 January 2008