17 Jan '08 09:15>1 edit
So, we will see some of the new experimental laws (http://sport.independent.co.uk/rugby_union/article350299.ece) tried out in the Super 14 this year (http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22868050-23217,00.html)
I like that SANZAR and the IRB are moving the game forward and reviewing older laws in a dynamic game.
The game must attempt to evolve and rule changes are where we need to start.
Here are some of my thoughts on the rule changes:
Line outs
Quick throw in can go backwards.
Good idea, this is happening in any case now, so it's not blown up consistently - good that it is formal now.
Sanctions
For all offenses other than offside, not entering through the gate, and Law 10-Foul Play, the sanction is a free kick.
So what does that include? I can only think of collapsing scrums, although I think that may be included under foul play too... So nothing really changes?
Inside the 22-metre line
Passing a ball back into the 22 means you can't kick directly into touch.
Not sure if this will be implemented - Articles are not absolutely clear.
Good change if it's implemented- hopefully teams will run it a bit more.
Too bad they decided not to implement the: Any number of players in a line-out experimental law - that has been irritating me for some time, although I would like to see them change/clarify the wording to something like: Any number of players can be involved in a lineout, with a minimum of two players present from either team.
Other lineout elements that needs to be looked at are:
- The tackling of a player after catching the ball, which is basically collapsing a maul.
- Scrumhalf entering the lineout should be scrapped.
- The lineout should just end when the ball is thrown in - no more complicated rules.
- If the ball lands beyond the 15 meter line - turnover.
What I would also like to see:
- Better specification of what constitutes 'advantage'.
- Teams need to be able to take quick penalties whenever they want and must not be stopped by the ref, but then the 10 meter rule needs to fall away completely if they decide to take a quick tap.
- Something serious needs to be done about scrums. I believe there should be no more hit-in. Teams should line up, bind front rows and scrummage for the ball - it shouldn't be about who got the best hit at the start. Just get the scrum steady and we'll cut out a whole lot of time wasted.
These are all rule changes that would really make the game faster.
Anyway, it's good to see the governing bodies thinking about the game, but it's too bad they seem to still 'drop the ball' when it comes to turning the game into real spectacle of running rugby.
Another thing I would like to see is a new warning and cards system. It could work like this:
I will use the ruck breakdown as an example, because this is the most contentious issue and one of my serious pet peeves about the current game.
- There will be no more 'coaching' by referees. The ref will shout "RUCK!" when a ruck is formed and will only shout "HANDS OUT!" once. No more continual warnings. Only one.
- If an opposing player continues to infringe, the ref will shout "WARNING: HANDS IN RUCK" and will give advantage (which needs to be looked at on it's own - but that's for another time).
- After 3 warnings has been given for a specific offense - the ref will show a green card to the side, giving them a team-wide official warning for the offense.
- If any player from the side on a warning commits the same offense again, he should get a yellow card - sin binning him for 5 minutes. A side is allowed two yellow cards per offense.
- If any player from the side that has received 2 yellow cards commits the same offense again, he should get an orange card - sin binning him for 10 minutes. A side is only given 1 orange card per offense.
- If any player from the side that has received an orange card commits the same offense again, he should get a red card - sending him off. This should continue all through the game.
A system like this should stamp out some of the crap that happens at ruck time and should get the game flowing again. It will mean after 6 of the same offenses, in this case hands in the ruck, players will start trudging off to the showers, which I think is the only way to deter this type of foul play.
I like that SANZAR and the IRB are moving the game forward and reviewing older laws in a dynamic game.
The game must attempt to evolve and rule changes are where we need to start.
Here are some of my thoughts on the rule changes:
Line outs
Quick throw in can go backwards.
Good idea, this is happening in any case now, so it's not blown up consistently - good that it is formal now.
Sanctions
For all offenses other than offside, not entering through the gate, and Law 10-Foul Play, the sanction is a free kick.
So what does that include? I can only think of collapsing scrums, although I think that may be included under foul play too... So nothing really changes?
Inside the 22-metre line
Passing a ball back into the 22 means you can't kick directly into touch.
Not sure if this will be implemented - Articles are not absolutely clear.
Good change if it's implemented- hopefully teams will run it a bit more.
Too bad they decided not to implement the: Any number of players in a line-out experimental law - that has been irritating me for some time, although I would like to see them change/clarify the wording to something like: Any number of players can be involved in a lineout, with a minimum of two players present from either team.
Other lineout elements that needs to be looked at are:
- The tackling of a player after catching the ball, which is basically collapsing a maul.
- Scrumhalf entering the lineout should be scrapped.
- The lineout should just end when the ball is thrown in - no more complicated rules.
- If the ball lands beyond the 15 meter line - turnover.
What I would also like to see:
- Better specification of what constitutes 'advantage'.
- Teams need to be able to take quick penalties whenever they want and must not be stopped by the ref, but then the 10 meter rule needs to fall away completely if they decide to take a quick tap.
- Something serious needs to be done about scrums. I believe there should be no more hit-in. Teams should line up, bind front rows and scrummage for the ball - it shouldn't be about who got the best hit at the start. Just get the scrum steady and we'll cut out a whole lot of time wasted.
These are all rule changes that would really make the game faster.
Anyway, it's good to see the governing bodies thinking about the game, but it's too bad they seem to still 'drop the ball' when it comes to turning the game into real spectacle of running rugby.
Another thing I would like to see is a new warning and cards system. It could work like this:
I will use the ruck breakdown as an example, because this is the most contentious issue and one of my serious pet peeves about the current game.
- There will be no more 'coaching' by referees. The ref will shout "RUCK!" when a ruck is formed and will only shout "HANDS OUT!" once. No more continual warnings. Only one.
- If an opposing player continues to infringe, the ref will shout "WARNING: HANDS IN RUCK" and will give advantage (which needs to be looked at on it's own - but that's for another time).
- After 3 warnings has been given for a specific offense - the ref will show a green card to the side, giving them a team-wide official warning for the offense.
- If any player from the side on a warning commits the same offense again, he should get a yellow card - sin binning him for 5 minutes. A side is allowed two yellow cards per offense.
- If any player from the side that has received 2 yellow cards commits the same offense again, he should get an orange card - sin binning him for 10 minutes. A side is only given 1 orange card per offense.
- If any player from the side that has received an orange card commits the same offense again, he should get a red card - sending him off. This should continue all through the game.
A system like this should stamp out some of the crap that happens at ruck time and should get the game flowing again. It will mean after 6 of the same offenses, in this case hands in the ruck, players will start trudging off to the showers, which I think is the only way to deter this type of foul play.