Rugby v American Football

No matter what side of the Atlantic you prefer your egg-chasing done, February is the month you have to be glued to your television screens.

The Super Bowl

On February 2 the AFC and NFC (the two conferences that the NFL is divided into) champions will clash in Super Bowl XLVIII at Metlife Stadium, New Jersey. Wrapped in all the razzmatazz and showmanship you would expect from an American entertainment spectacular, the two best gridiron teams on the planet will square off in perhaps the biggest annual sporting event of the year.

Although at time of press we don’t know who will be playing the Super Bowl yet, there are no teams of the final four standing who haven’t made the Conference Finals of merit.

In the AFC, the New England Patriots will visit the Denver Broncos in a matchup of the two best quarterbacks in the NFL during the past decade in Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.

The NFC’s Super Bowl representative will either be the Seattle Seahawks or San Francisco 49ers, two brash teams with fierce defenses. So whichever two teams end up making the trip to New Jersey, we’re in for a great game. Make sure you don’t miss it.

Head to head
The glamour
Despite Katherine Jenkins’ best efforts, this one isn’t close really. Cheerleaders, flyovers, Beyoncé… when it comes to glitz and glamour the Super Bowl has got the point locked up. Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers will play the prestigious half time show this year, and with stars galore expected to be in attendance viewers will no doubt be subjected to a veritable who’s who of celeb close-ups throughout the game.
American Football 1 – 0 Rugby

The passion
Sure American fans are passionate, but that’s no comparison to the inter-country rivalries forged through centuries of conflict. The countries of the UK might well be on friendly terms with France and each other now, but for 80 minutes any good feeling goes out of the window, and that makes for spectacular rugby.
American Football 1 – 1 Rugby

The physicality
Don’t let the pads fool you, American football is violent, with helmets more often being used as weapons that for protection. ‘Big hits’ are a staple of any rugby highlight video, but they are few and far between in comparison to the regular impacts seen on the football field, as two oversized men run into each other at full speed repeatly for 60 minutes.
American Football 2 – 1 Rugby

The ‘water cooler’ factor
There may be great plays. There may be controversy. But at the end of the day, the Super Bowl is only one game, which means one morning coffee break’s worth of discussion before the result is etched into the history books. The Six Nations is spaced over seven weeks, giving fans the opportunity to pour over ever team selection, refereeing decision and score prediction for the best part of two months.
Final Score: American Football 2 – 2 Rugby

The Six Nations

Each February fans of Northern Hemisphere rugby clamour in hope and belief that their team will be one holding the Six Nations trophy aloft come the middle of March. But who are the frontrunners, and who will likely be looking down at the wooden spoon?

The Championship
The Six Nations (formerly The Five Nations, and previous that The Home Nations) championship is the annual rugby tournament between England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, France and Italy that takes place in February and March. Each team plays each other once in a league format, the winner being the team with the most points (two points are avoided for a win, one for a draw) or the biggest points differential if points scores are level after all five rounds.

The Teams
Wales
Wales are sure to start the Six Nations as favourites to win the tournament and even secure a fourth Grand Slam (the title awarded if any team wins all of their matches in the tournament) in nine years. Welshmen also comprised the majority of the British and Irish Lions team that won a first tour since 1997, so confidence in the camp is sure to be high. A powerful and explosive backline is Wales’ biggest weapon, even without Lions standout Joanthan Davies (who will miss the majority of the tournament through injury) George North and Leigh Halfpenny will lead an impressive unit that will look to intimidate opposition both at home and on the road.

Ireland
For a decade Irish rugby has been dominated by one name; Brian O’Driscoll. The rugby legend is playing in his last Six Nations in 2014 and will be desperate to end his career on a high note, particularly after Ireland’s disappointing showing in 2013, and being dropped for the deciding game of the Lions tour in Australia. Ireland are still very much in a rebuilding phase following the breakup of 2009’s Grand Slam winning team, but with old heads like O’Driscoll, winger Tommy Bowe and No.8 Jamie Heaslip binding the side together, they can still beat anyone on their day, as they proved by falling inches short of beating world champions New Zealand in November. If Ireland are going to make a run at this year’s championship then fly-half Jonny Sexton will have to be the championship’s outstanding player.

Italy
Perennial underdogs Italy will come into this year’s championship on a high, having recorded victories over Ireland and France in 2013. In captain Sergio Parisse Italy perhaps have the most talismanic player in the tournament, but once again making the big step up from being competitive to title challengers seems a reach too far for the Azzurri in 2014.

England
Twelve months ago it was England who were knocking on the door of the Grand Slam, only to have said door firmly slammed in their faces by a much better Wales side. Coach Stuart Lancaster will have revenge on his mind in 2014, but despite having the reputation of being the goliaths of the championship England have only won the Six Nations once in the past ten years, a dismal record considering their dominance of the early 2000s. Much of England’s success or failure will be determined by the play of halfbacks Owen Farrell and Ben Youngs, both have been erratic throughout their young international careers but will now be asked to perform better, with capable replacements in the wings should they fail again. England have the players to be the best side in this year’s championship, but once again it will be a question of turning up and putting on assured displays that will determine how far the team goes in 2014.

France
France are always the biggest enigma at any Six Nations, fluctuating between the sublime and the ridiculous almost from game to game. Predicting which French side will appear at the Six Nations in 2014 is impossible but, with four championships in the past decade, what is guaranteed is that when the real France show up they’re a force to be reckoned with. Wesley Fofana might be the most exciting player in northern hemisphere rugby, and with a number of old heads in the pack it wouldn’t surprise anyone if France turn around last season’s fortunes and go from worst to first in 2014.

Scotland
Scottish rugby has been in slump for over a decade, Scotland haven’t won a Six Nations title since the tournament’s format changed to include Italy in 2000. Still, with a potential superstar in the making in Stuart Hogg and some victories under their belt in 2013, don’t be surprised if they run some of the more fancied sides close this year.

Where to Watch It

Rugby – Porter’s Pub
Brimming with expats, Porter’s inevitably has a great mix of nationalities on rugby match days. Expect lively banter whoever is playing. Grand Millenium
Al Wadha, www.milleniumhotels.ae (02 495 3935)

American Football – Stars and Bars
Located in the heart of Yas Marina, Stars ‘N’ Bars is a classic American diner serving good yankee food and beverages. There are plenty of screens showing American sports both inside and on the terrace, so get down there to enjoy the show.
Yas Marina, www.starsnbars.ae (02 565 0101)