Laws here to stay
2 Dec 2009
The IRB has decided to retain the incumbent law set in the build up to the 2011 World Cup.
The ELVs sparked plenty of debate when they were first introduced in the 2008 Super 14. Coaches and players such as Fourie du Preez publicly denounced them because they encouraged too much kicking. They were later altered, but still there was criticism about how teams were forced to adopt a more defensive approach. If you don’t have the ball, you were unlikely to be penalised.
These laws are officially here to stay, as the IRB decided on Tuesday to retain the present structures. IRB chief Bernard Lapasset did say they will address concerns when they begin a review of global playing trends in 2010, especially at the breakdown which is a big grey area.
‘The council noted concerns regarding the tackle/ruck area and agreed that in light of a lack of informative data and evidence to suggest clear safety concerns across unions, that the tackle/ruck be captured by the upcoming review,’ an IRB statement read.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the following amendments were made to the breakdown and tackle laws and will be adopted immediately.
- 15.4(c): The tackler who has gone to ground can, when back on their feet, play the ball from any direction
- 15.6(c): The tackler who stays on their feet has to release that player and then only play the ball coming from the direction of his own goalline.
- 16.3(f): Players must not use their feet in a rucking motion with players on the ground.
15 Comments
2 Dec 2009, 08:38 am
Dragon(ian) Laws.
2 Dec 2009, 08:38 am
Ruck the dragons!!!
I say rucking should be brought back, it would solve a lot of problems, players nowadays just lay over the ball and slow it down. Players will think twice about doing illegal stuff on the ground if they know Bakkies is waiting with his nice shiny studs.
2 Dec 2009, 08:45 am
Rugby will evolve past the current kick and chase
2 Dec 2009, 09:10 am
@Nanashi: Agreed. Bring the boot shuffle back and suddenly the whole ruck area gets cleaned up. Its part of the game.
2 Dec 2009, 11:17 am
Can’t understand why every man and his dog wants changes to the laws in the first place.
2 Dec 2009, 12:47 pm
@PissAnt:
…because the NH and RSA dont know how to score tries.
In two world cup finals and 2 semis finals RSA has only scored tries in one of those games.
2 Dec 2009, 15:12 pm
@wallabie.:
Excuse me?
Tell me…
Who scored the most tries in this year’s 3N?
Where did Aus end up in the S14 under the ELV’s on the log and also tries scored department?
In fact, who won the S14 under the ELV’s?
Remember the score?
Remember how many tries were scored?
And against whom?
Clue: The team was viewed as one of NZ’s most attacking sides…
2 Dec 2009, 15:14 pm
I find it funny how those whining ******* like Mark Hinton, Graham Henry and Spiros can spew the **** they do when the Boks ouclassed, outsmarted and outscored them in just about every department in the 3N this year (specifically the tries)…
2 Dec 2009, 15:15 pm
Also how many tries did NZ score in the 95 world cup final (the last one they actually played).
We are talking here and now, since the advent of ELV’s.
2 Dec 2009, 15:34 pm
I watched Wales v oz and Wales definately used the ruck to free the ball. Right in front of the ref. I thought for a while this old rule was back. It was certainly working.
How many tries did SA score v England in the world cup?
2 Dec 2009, 16:01 pm
@kyer:
You have the team to score the most tries in WC 2007 knocked out in the 1/4 finals
You then have the team to score the second most tries win the title…
2 Dec 2009, 16:02 pm
Guess which one is more important and who does not mind coming second in the one department…
2 Dec 2009, 17:07 pm
@PissAnt:
Read the article by Keo on the year that was and he has very different take. He did not mention the appalling refereeing though which gave the Bokke a bit of a hand.
The Bookke v Blacks games were all very close. Bragging rights true, but over the top arrogance? I do not think so.
Consider also that three of the last four meetings between NZ and Ireland were won by the MIB “B” team. I can’t wait for June to hear all the whingeing start again when the Choirboys get another pasting from the side they have never beaten.
2 Dec 2009, 17:12 pm
It’s just after 11pm and I have just got home from the uni. I haven’t had a drink yet but clearly, at about 5pm in RSA, someone has a few.
2 Dec 2009, 19:20 pm
@AiDoc:
Was my post directed at NZ rugby in general, or did you pick up a couple of names mentioned directly specifically at people who shoot their mouths off in the press?
There is a difference between arrogance and being sick and tired of people blaming everything but themselves for a poor showing on the pitch.
There is nothing wrong with the laws of the game, there is a problem with players and coaches playing within them, and adapting to them.
A couple of facts;
The Boks scored the most tries in the 3N
The Boks scored the only 4-try bonus point victory in the 3N
The Boks scored a lowly 6 tries on tour, but it was 4 more than their opposition who only managed to score two (one France and one Italy) – in fact the Boks were never outscored in the tries department on tests in this tour and this against team Spiro reckons are ‘running rugby teams’ (France and Ireland).
The Bulls won the S14 under the ELV’s, klapping a NZ team known for their attacking intent in the final outscoring them badly.
The Boks won the 3N under new laws.
The stats don’t lie mate, and looking back to poor officiating or a ref’s helping hand smacks of bad-loser syndrome.
The All Blacks were ineffective against SA under the same laws they klapped France with.
I read Keo’s article, I commented on it too, it was one of the first 20 comments I think.
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