Geo, i totally agree. In my view American football is soft, we dont play that game here and hopefully we never will. Australia is a Rugby (As witnessed by our World Cup victories and upcoming victory in the next one) and Australian Rules Football country. We dont play games that involve more padding then they involve bodies. We play games that dont involve what amounts to a second team sitting on the bench. You play forward but you also have to be able to play back. You score tries and you lay tackles. You tag a bloke but you also kick goals (Aussie rules footy). None of this "side change" crap. You have to be adaptable. Its like life, things always change and a good Rugby player can adapt to that easily, quickly and with aggression.
Theres nothing like feeling your shoulder drive into someones stomach, wrap your arms around their waist and drive them into the ground. Theres nothing like forming a rolling mall and doing just that, rolling over anything that gets in your way. I've got scars on my chest from being rucked, you dont get that in American football thats for sure. Feeling 800kg pushing against you in a scrum, but know that you'll push it back. Thats what its all about!
Rugby is, as the great saying goes, the game they play in heaven. The most protection you'll ever need can't be more then 1cm thick on your shoulders. Not reinforced steel 3inches thick that covers your entire upper body.