Rugby comparison is the thief of joy

[max_ratcliffe]

If you're interested in rugby, especially the 2003 vintage, there's a really good interview here with Will Greenwood and Mike Tindall.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/02RUF9 ... =copy-link

They very briefly discuss rowing around the hour mark.

Greenwood 2k: 6.42, 1': 359m
Tindall 1' 377m.

377m is really going some.

[aussie nick]

thanks for the share!

Tindall is a huge and very powerful man, so it's not a surprise that he can sprint on the erg. Greenwood also a very nice length and weight

Ben that he refers to is Ben Fennell who was Rosslyn Park during my era and is also a very strong man

(I was there that day in 2003! one of my very best ever sports viewing memories)

[cannondalerugby5]

Gareth Archer did BIRC 2009
Won men’s open 5.51 and beat the GB squad
Great achievement,great engine

[max_ratcliffe]

Gareth Archer did BIRC 2009
Won men’s open 5.51 and beat the GB squad
Great achievement,great engine

5.51 is serious, but beating the GB squad is ridiculous.

I'm a bit surprised there aren't more ex- internationals smashing it on the erg. Strength, power, stamina and often height too.

[gouldilocks]

The late, great Andy Ripley held the 50+ WR for many years, and toured with the B & I Lions.

The guy currently playing who I would most like to see on an erg is Eben Etzebeth - massive power, endurance and 2.03m tall to boot!!
He is also very quick for a man of his size.

Paul G

[Tony Cook]

The late, great Andy Ripley held the 50+ WR for many years, and toured with the B & I Lions.

The guy currently playing who I would most like to see on an erg is Eben Etzebeth - massive power, endurance and 2.03m tall to boot!!
He is also very quick for a man of his size.

Paul G

Etzebeth v Itoje would be interesting.
Not sure if the England squad still use Ergs. 20 odd years ago I was impressed with Martin Johnson’s 6:19 2k but players now who have been professional all their careers have raised the bar.

[max_ratcliffe]

The late, great Andy Ripley held the 50+ WR for many years, and toured with the B & I Lions.

The guy currently playing who I would most like to see on an erg is Eben Etzebeth - massive power, endurance and 2.03m tall to boot!!
He is also very quick for a man of his size.

Paul G

Etzebeth v Itoje would be interesting.
Not sure if the England squad still use Ergs. 20 odd years ago I was impressed with Martin Johnson’s 6:19 2k but players now who have been professional all their careers have raised the bar.

How about Sam Whitelock vs Etzebeth?

Johnson's 2k isn't too shabby but I wonder what Richard Hill could do at his peak. From a more recent generation of Englishmen, how about Tom Croft? An absolute freak of an athlete.

[Tsnor]

Rugby, US football, rowing, and Olympic bobsled all need the same burst speed, mass, strength. Google says the Australian and Canadian bobsled teams had Rugby players..

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/w ... 349164002/

[cannondalerugby5]

From my own personal experience, rowing a 6.20 2k is much harder than playing international rugby.

1st 10 secs is ok, the last 10 secs is ok, its the 6 min in the middle that is incomparable.

Never would you be on your limit for a full 6 mins in a rugby game.

There are many opportunities to drop the intensity, there are no opportunities on the ergo till the pm states 0 meters

Andy Ripley,Roger Uttley we both great rowers from the amateur era, however I believe Gareths effort would take some beating!