Experimental Rugby laws - Super 14

[Elroy]

OK, the laws are being given a good seeing to in the Super 14, and soem of the games have been high quality, others have not. Personally I don't think the laws have improved the flow of the game though may have changed things somewhat.

The Aussies, according to the Beeb would like to see these changes brought in as soon as possible. Well, thanks Aussies for open discussion and letting the changes be fully tested prior to being brought in! (*sarcasm emoticon - can't be arsed to go through our thousands to find it*)

To recap, the law changes I remember are (with my comments):

• Sanction for all offences, except foul play, not entering through the gate and offside, to be a free-kick.

Has led to a lot of free-kicks being taken quickly when the ball is available. Mainly used to open up the play a little more or to get another 10m. Will speed up the play and stop Dalgio-like figures asking the ref for the 40th time what has been done wrong: they will have to defend. Negative side is when the ball held in somehow then a scrum is uasually called. With the new scrum laws below, then this does still provide an advantage if the team has a good enough scrum and a good enough backline. I'm 50-50 here, because as soon as you have a poor scrum then this will negate the advantage, and not give you the option of a shot at goal. I'll take more notice at what gets given a free kick and what gets given a penalty this weekend (is handling in the ruck a penalty or a free kick? It's foul play....so.....)

• No passing back into the 22 (and then allowing the kick to go out on the full)

This sounds like a good one, but I think has just meant more kicking. There seems to be a lot of ariel bombardment in the Super 14 games that I never realised before. Mainly because the players in these back positions don't have anything on and therefore just hoof it up field, from where it gets hoofed back. I think each team is waiting until the opposition kicks it into their 22 (or kicks it out on the full or rolls it into touch) To me, I don't think this has added anything.

• Quick throws can be passed backwards.

Good one. Doesn't effect the game too much and allows the flow to be improved.

• Five-metre offside line at scrums.

Good one, this has opened up the options at scrums, allowing back-lines to stand more flat and still have room to do things. It will also (has also?) increased the rush defence. Sean Edwards will be a wanted man down below soon!

• Offside line declared at two-man tackle

Hmmm......again, 50:50 on this. Not seen (or noticed) how much it's effected the game, so maybe it's not too important.

I'm not one for "change for changes sake". I think some of the new rules are good, and there are some which have had an effect though sometimes not positive. Anyone else got a comment?

I think it's too early for the changes to be made permanent.

A comment on the Super 14 in more general....improve your defences! Seems each team is confident in scoring a lot of points, and therefore don't worry if a team scores against them, and it's only important in the last 10 mins or so. You've gotta play for the whole match, not just the bits you want to, and defence is one of those areas!

[Fat Bob]

Plagarism! You bastard!