Smith looks fatter and slower already. He'll be at a mid table SL side within 18 months.

The sad thing about this thread is that every single english RU back mentioned are far better rugby players than any english RL back

No they're not.

If there were such strength in RU backs, their clubs would not be pursuing signings of rugby league's part time fullbacks.

Mega lolz init.

I'd say Delon Armitage is a better Full Back than any British RL Full Back around at the minute...

At RU yes at RL it's a non comparison because the 2 positions aren't exactly the same!!
The fact that RU worldwide always chases League players more than the other way round says more about the comparisons of both sports imo.

IMO Armitage would have no problem at League he's a fantastic attacking dynamic runner with the ball, creative and offers a lot more than any of our backs, I Personally think that can be said about a lot of the British Union Backs in comparison to League Backs...
I think the lure of a very creditable International game aswell as many European Competitions helps players make the move, I for know if i was a Union International i wouldn't waste my time thinking about a move to League as it doesn't exactly offer them much does it?...

Again yer comparing 2 sports where the actual positions aren't like for like.
As for most british union backs you are joking right???
We've just witnessed the last 2 yrs where the England backs can hardly string 2 passes together and other than boot it or run into the other teams forwards they've created hardly anything through their creativity!!
It's all hypothetical,when we signed John gallagher he was an All Black and after getting smashed in a game he wasn't the same player.
Like i said if all these union Backs are so good why do the RU clubs and the RFU keep chasing league backs??????

Andy Farrell signed in RU after gradually moving through the pack to prop for Wigan - played in the backs for club and country at RU

Nuff said!!

That'll be the high fitness requirements that come with playing kick, clap, maul, line out, stoppage stoppage, kick, clap, maul, maul.

If the England union backs are so good could somebody explain to me how they managed to play 3 games in the Autumn and only manage 1 try - some attacking prowess there.

The game is not just about attack - it is also about defence and given the trys they conceded in those internationals it would suggest that is not up to much either.

I would like to Armitage under the high ball with Greg Inglis or Israel Folau challenging him for it!! - not quite the same as catching it unchallenged in your own 20 and being able to mark the ball

true, but Armitage does actaully have some flair, and some real pace, rare commodities, with which you can work.

Armitage, Strettle would walk into the England RL team, Monye after he's learnt to catch would be in the England team. I also think Care would make a good RL player.

There was an article in the Telegraph a few weeks ago which said that in RU teams have now found that passing it from side to side did not work - mostly because ex-RL coaches had taught the backs to tackle and get their defensive positioning right - therefore they were now trying waves of vertical attacks - where they repeatedly attack the ruck area. Seems to me that this will make RU even more boring to watch than it is now.

For me, I find they have too many forward type players that get in the way of flowing moves. In league, if you went wide, i'd say at most that the two props might slow it down whereas in union you have the 8 forwards and then sometimes centres who either make the wrong options or completly slow down the attacking threat.

Quote ="Rhinofan" Seems to me that this will make RU even more boring to watch than it is now.'" www.thefreedictionary.com/oxymoron

Quote ="Rhinofan" Seems to me that this will make RU even more boring to watch than it is now.'" www.thefreedictionary.com/oxymoron

What you are saying a an international player cannot catch!! - says it all really - England might actually do a little better if Wilkinson was able to pass a bit quicker

in reality that no different from a RL trying to bang it up the middle and offload, if you have the players to do its good watch, the 97 lions did it in SA (granted they were rammed full of ex league players), and some of their rugby (not particularly in the tests) was absolutley brilliant to watch.

Same as either code if u make inroads somewhere, the defense becomes unorganised and gaps start to appear - then all you have to do is put people through the gaps, easy!!

One of the reasons Slater is such a phenominal player is his ability as a support player his ability to read the game's ebbs and flows - Webb has similar qualities albeit not quite at the same level.

Armitage maybe a great athlete but to cut it in RL being a great athlete is taken as a given. It is what else you bring to the party - and I struggle to see what Armitage brings other than his ability to run fast!!!

The majority of English wingers and full backs have howlers under the bombs at the start of there career, likewise Monye does, once he improves this he'd easily walk into the England RL side and comfortably be the best player.

As for Armitage, he is no Slater, but he would walk into the England RL team. He is a good runner, good under the kick, has a good kicking game and has good vision.

I'm far from convinced on that. Despite what we may think the games can be very different.
I don't see any reports that SBW is setting the RU world alight as he did in RL. Likewise I watched Stade Francaise at the weekend & Gasnier who IMV was an outstanding RL player just did not stand out.
I also recall the greatest rugby fullback in the world at the time, signing to play RL & he made no impact except on his own head. Arguably a better player than Armitage.
All irrelevant & academic since there isn't a chance that we'll ever find out how good or bad he would be.
Al least with Lee we'll soon know one way or another.

This is a troll, isn't it?

You don't seriously believe that Ugo Monye would be a better rugby league player than Gareth Ellis or Sam Burgess - do you?

As I said Armitage maybe able to catch a ball unchallenged and boot it 30 metres unchallenged that is the lot of RU fullback - that is not what is required of RL fullback.

How often does Armitage get tackled in a game? I bet their are a number of games where he doesn't get tackled once - retaining possession in the tackle is vital in RL in RU you simply turn on your side and release - completely different skill set.

Yep, not to mention that his passing and handling would have to improve along with lines of running and support play as most full backs are often used in the 2nd phase of an attacking line nowadays.

I think sometimes people see Union and think its relatively similar to league with only a few differences, but those differences affect everything else. Passing, tackling, defence, lines of running etc all are different in league than in union.