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Fri 11 Sep 2015 | 03:20
Friday Funnies - The Samsung School of Rugby, with Jack Whitehall

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Samsung have launched a humorous new campaign that features comedian Jack Whitehall taking on England legends on the training field. Martin Johnson and Lawrence Dallaglio put him through his paces, along with the likes of Jason Robinson and Maggie Alphonsi.

The campaign leads with six short videos, all themed around key attributes of rugby. It focuses on Whitehall being schooled in the sport by a who's who of England rugby legends, as they talk him through elements of the game with hilarious effect. 

"Rugby is a fascinating and sometimes utterly baffling sport and the Samsung School of Rugby offers a light hearted look at the game to really get people excited about rugby," said Whitehall. "I had to sacrifice my health and well-being as I battled it out against the likes of Lawrence Dallaglio and Jason Robinson but think the end results are worth it.

"Though I doubt Martin Johnson will want to ever see me again."

There is also an additional 360-degree virtual reality shot that provides a completely immersive experience, with fans able to experience a lesson up close with Jack.

Watch all the videos below, or if you can't see them, click view all now

 

Martin Johnson and Lawrence Dallaglio teach Jack Whitehall a lesson in power. Jack starts confidently but how will he fare in a maul with Jason Leonard?

 

Jack Whitehall questions England Legend Martin Johnson on the importance of style in rugby. Lawrence Dallaglio quickly puts Jack to the test on the pitch. Can he swan dive like Jason Robinson?

 

Jack, a self-styled speed merchant, joins England Legends Martin Johnson, Lawrence Dallaglio and Jason Robinson where he quickly learns he is all talk and not much faster than a walk.

 

Jack Whitehall tries his hand at tackling under the guidance of England Legend’s Lawrence Dallaglio and Martin Johnson. However when Lawrence suggests Maggie Alphonsi as tackling partner things go downhill for Jack.

 

England Legends Martin Johnson and Lawrence Dallaglio teach Jack Whitehall the importance of accuracy in a lineout situation. Can he go up against an England Legend and win the ball?

 

Immerse yourself in this interactive 360 degree video as Rugby Legends, Lawrence Dallaglio, Martin Johnson, and Jason Leonard try to teach Jack Whitehall the fundamentals of Rugby. But will they able to recreate England’s famous drop goal? Simply drag on the video.

Posted By: Grant Constable

10 Comments

  • drg
    10:55 AM 16/09/2015

    That is because you and I clearly have different sense of humours...

    If you find it funny then that is great. But I personally enjoy the likes of the jackass skit, where eejits were invited to a training day of sorts.

    But still the Maggie scene was funny!

  • stroudos
    8:45 AM 16/09/2015

    It's quite clearly scripted, but probably with a bit of leeway for improvisation. I don't see why that has to mean it's bullshit.

  • drg
    10:30 PM 15/09/2015

    Mate I'm aware of the fact that that lot have retired, however their brains have not yet turned to mush and they're pretty experienced folk who can lend a realm of knowledge to the countless other bunch running around the grass....

    Not to mention the fact that they're standing around 99% of the time.

    If you find Samsungs advertising hilarious then good for you, I'm simply trying to ascertain whether this is simply scripted bullshit or a training day created with a comedian let loose like a cat amongst the pigeons...

  • stroudos
    12:25 PM 15/09/2015

    Jesus DrG, of course it's not literally a training camp! Dallaglio, Johnson, Robinson... Jason bloody Leonard!

    Talk about analysis paralysis.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFcqGGMPc3k

  • 10stonenumber10
    8:27 PM 14/09/2015

    It is all set up, at the heart of this humour is an advertising campaign for Samsung... Check the massive logos in every scene, even on the tackle bags. Toshiba, Canon and Fujitsu are the technology sponsors for the RWC, England cannot show Samsung as their sponsor on the field, so they have to create a stir somewhere else. Big names + a brand, in my eyes, not really about the rugby.

    The Jackass one was a bit different, 2 stuntmen/idiots with a camera turning up to a training session to get wild footage for a scratchy homemade TV show. The Footy show and Wraparound stuff in Oz is good too, a proper laugh without them trying to sell you something.

  • drg
    5:01 PM 14/09/2015

    That's what I'm getting at, I mean is this literally a training camp and MJ and LD were told that a comedian was being invited along for these adverts, get him a bit battered, try and introduce some rugby aspects to it and be warned he's a nutcase so he'll no doubt just take the piss... or like the above, it was all totally set up and when the cameras stopped rolling MJ had a laugh and a giggle because he was playing "bad cop"....

  • 10stonenumber10
    3:02 PM 14/09/2015

    Johnno would make a good thug in a brit gangster film. Or a silent vinnie jones style henchman.


    Failing that, that eyebrow would make a very good Frankenstein's monster.

  • drg
    12:34 PM 14/09/2015

    Getting smashed by Maggie was definitely real and no way of acting that, it was damn funny, the rest I wasn't sure whether Jack was literally making it up as he went along and MJ and LD were told to try and teach the guy some stuff, in which case it's amusing, or whether as it was an advert for Samsung it was like "cut, MJ, look meaner and more fed up when he does that, take 3"

  • stroudos
    9:01 AM 14/09/2015

    I reckon you're trying to over-analyse the comedy. Personally I found them funny so I laughed. Quite a lot in fact.

    Best one is where he gets smashed by Maggie Alponsi.

  • drg
    11:28 PM 11/09/2015

    That 360 degree video thing is trippy as anything! To start with I hadn't noticed (or read) that you could control it, so I was wondering why I was staring at guys doing drills in the distance haha... But it's a very clever concept. I suspect its potentially very expensive thing to pull off...

    I'm not sure about the whole series of videos, there were slight chuckles. MJ looked really happy to be involved in the lineout practices. I'm sort of sitting here going "It's either really really scripted, in which case it's not funny" or "It's really not that scripted, in which case it's even worse that MJ and LD aren't laughing that much, because they clearly don't find it that funny..."

    Billy Whizz is still looking well, Jason Leonard looks like he's fallen right into a pub landlord role...

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