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![Not allowed!](images/buttons/up_dis.png)
I think the quality of refs can make the biggest impact.
You could see the rebels scrum last week breathe a sigh of relief and then play Murphy like a cheap fiddle once they got his mind made up.
He's overly technical and pedantic whilst being simultaneously horribly erratic and inaccurate. It's actually quite a spectacle to watch if you're not invested in the team playing.
The others aren't a whole lot better, neither over the Dutch, yes they're more consistent, but they tend to consistently pay fuck all attention to protocols.
If the refs were better we'd se fewer teams booting the ball downfield hoping for a mistake from the receiver or the ref and teams would likely start trying to break defense's down.
Unless they're the Brumbies, then they'd start at maul and move away from it only when the score is suitably comfortable
C'mon the![]()
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Harlequins vs Montpellier is more proof you don't need gimmicky rules in Rugby
I must admit, I'm a fan of anything that can draw in defenders and create more flowing three-quarter movements in the game and less one-out repetitive hit-ups. Whether it's rule tweaks, refereeing directives, better coaching and positioning, more traditional forward play or whatever; I'm open to trying anything that will help us see a bit more flow and backlines having space to create, manipulate and finish...if that's actually possible with the fitness and explosive power of defensive players in the modern professional game.
Last edited by chibi; 24-08-22 at 20:25.
Japan and the Pacific Islands for Aussie Super 9's!
Let's have one of these in WA! Click this link: Saitama Super Arena - New Perth Stadium?
Good point Chibi. The 50-22 and vice versa, among others, are intended to do exactly that. As someone who is into both codes, it's frustrating to watch the likes of Nathan Cleary, Adam Reynolds, Munster, Townsend etc exploit those expertly on a weekly basis. Sam Walker is brilliant at executing and he's a 19yo rookie in his second season FFS. The Kiwis ditto. No good making changes if game plans are so dumb nobody uses them.![]()
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David
The Sevens World Series have put a lot of focus on making the sport move quickly and be entertaining, especially around time management and TMO involvement. Lots of differences between the two versions but still things can be shared.
1. I particularly like the 30 sec shot clock that is displayed at the ground and very few reasons why the clock is stopped and it includes kick off and conversions. 60 secs would be a good start for 15's.
2. When the TMO is called upon they review and provide an answer to the ref instead of endless replays or waiting for the TV director to get the video on the big screen and then find footage for every angle. NRL bunker style would be a good start.
3. Only a significant injury causes a stoppage in play. I saw teams last weekend play one man day as a trainer treated cramp etc on the field.
OK = Its not Rugby but..............
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa
More law variations for SR, including, a scrum clock, reducing the annoying TMO input, no YC's for deliberate knock down? A player draft in the pipeline??
On the scrum clock; there has been a bit of discussion over on GAGR about this, re: dominant scrummaging outfits deliberately slowing things down to earn penalties & (too often) YC's. Lots of good points, but the elephant in the room in all such chatter, to me anyway, is the long-time failure of officials to demand the ball be fed quickly & straight into the centre of the tunnel. IMO this would resolve a lot of issues. Scrums are meant to be one of the defining features of the code: the ball is supposedly contestable in almost all phases of play. Not currently the case.
https://www.watoday.com.au/sport/rug...22-p5bbu4.html
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David
I wouldn't hold my breath on that one - NSW and Qld are unlikely to give up on their promising youngsters (and as they have more players, they are likely to have a higher number of promising youngsters) without a major fight.
Melbourne and us would have to give up something massive to achieve this; possibly something like the draft would only be from players from Sydney and Brisbane club rugby; with Rugby Australia paying for those clubs to be semi-pro (NPC-style), and meaning that any promising players have to move there to be considered for selection, which would ruin the Melbourne and Perth club comps.
Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa
A good point raised in the above was the potential for unintended consequences that may arise through law variations. I think a lot of the faffing about at scrum time can be explained by the decision a few years back allowing the 9 to align his shoulder with the centre line of the tunnel. As if any scrummie worth his salt needs a hand to take piss. Dead set!!
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David