The answer lies in fans ignorance...most RL fans dont have a clue about RU and vice versa, mainly as key points in RU such as lineouts,scrums and mauls etc are non existent or mean very little in RL. The problem then is as a fan of the other code you watch the game with your codes eyes wondering...what the hell is all that about, why did he not kick then etc.
My post (which I never intentionally meant for it to be a thread originally) was just to highlight the fact that a lot of people dont understand the sport. Rugby IMO is unique as the games are yes ARE similar, but at the same time different. If an american football fan watched baseball for the first time then he wouldnt have presumptions on how the game should be played, they would just watch and learn, but rugby fans have knowledge of their own code and so judge the opposite one totally differently.
My main point was that both codes should give the opposite one a go and actually watch a few games. To make it more bearble I'd suggest the internationals (Lions tour 2013 is a must by the way) for RL fans to get a taste of union, and for RU fans then any of the big games such as Saints v Wigan or Leeds vs Bradford.
Your right that people should watch what they like, but most rugby fans dont give the other code a chance, thats all I was trying to get across
This is the thing though mate, try as people might, it's not a sensible discussion to enlighten "the other sides" views. This threads been a bit of a case in point for me. What followers of each code have to realise is that 99% of the people who watch the other side don't like the other code. Doesn't matter if it's through ignorance or if you've been brought up that the other way is boring, you won't change people's views. I've watched RL, being in NZ it's on in the pub all the time and it honestly bores the tits off me. I hate the fact that you've got 6 tackles, that once the tackles made you do all the wriggling, etc. It's not that it doesn't make sense to me, it's just that I find it utterly tedious and pointless.
Which is exactly what other people on here think of RU. Neither sides actually give a toss what the other thinks of it, the only people who really care are the players who went from amateur RU to professional RL, like Jonathan Davis did. I've never read about him moving over so I don't know why he did it, if it was a want of a new challenge, cash, whatever. Now that RU is professional as well it's even less of an issue.
I do agree that there's ignorance on each side, accusations of people being toffs is antiquated, as is saying that all RL fans come from St Helens, Leeds, Wigan and Bradford and they wear flat caps.
I personally don't get why you'd be frustrated by what RU fans think of RL or vice versa. I honestly think those that don't get the other aren't interested in the game to learn it, so there's no point in trying to "discuss" it as it comes down to, like i've said "my sport is better than yours"
Which ends up all a bit pathetic in the end doesn't it. And i'm not trying to be patronizing/condescending or any other big words that i barely know the meaning of, just kinda stating my point.
At least none of the sports are as boring as baseball eh