"On the second, I've always been struck by the fact that in rugby there is no such thing as not "running up the score." In almost every other sport, it's considered good sportsmanship to somehow figure out a way to stop scoring (put in your second string, stop throwing the long passes, run down the clock). But in rugby, it shows your opponent extreme disrespect if you stop doing what you're doing. They have worked hard to be on the same field as you, and no rugby player that I have ever met in my life has ever sought "mercy" or letup from an opponent.

There is value in playing the game (no matter which side of the score you are on) because there are a million separate moments of interaction in rugby from which to learn."

von hier