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Rugby's experimental law changes get thumbs up
Law changes improving game
Friday, March 30, 2007, from QRU.
Australian rugby’s first experiment with the IRB’s proposed law changes has received the thumbs up from coaches, players and spectators.
“The game is quicker, it’s really set up the game and it’s better to watch,” was the reaction of Souths coach Ian Cameron after the first four rounds of Trinity Queensland Premier Rugby (QPR) played using three of the experimental law variations (ELVs).
QPR was the first competition in Australia to sample some of the variations being trialled internationally and aimed at making the game easier to referee and better to play and watch.
The three ELVs being tested in Queensland and due to be played in Sydney’s Shute Shield are:
1. Downgrading most penalty offences to free-kicks
2. Backs must be 5 metres behind rear foot at scrum
3. Ball cannot be passed back into 22 and kicked out on the full
As well, touch judges have been handed the extra responsibility of alerting players and referees to breaches of the off-side law.
Cameron said the ELVs promoted a more expansive game, tailor-made for attacking rugby and making the game more enjoyable for spectators.
Cameron said his players are also enjoying the experimental laws and described them “as a positive move”.
With backs now forced to be five metres from the back of scrums, attacking backlines have been given the extra space to unleash their attacking potential.
Former Canada World Cup coach David Clark said while the changes were to be applauded, the application of the ELVs needed closer attention.
“Touch judges are alerting the referees to offside but in some cases they’re not being listened to and the referees are ignoring the advice,” said Clark, who coaches the Sunshine Coast Stingrays in QPR.
Queensland University coach Nick Stiles agreed that touch judges needed to improve communication with referees to enforce the offside law.
“I think it’s a very positive rule, but I haven’t seen one penalty (for offside) and I can guarantee you’ve they’ve (players) been within the five,” said the former Wallaby and Reds prop.
The downgrading of most penalty offences to free-kicks is aimed at making the game faster and Norths co-coach Bill Gordon-Thompson said it had worked to keep the ball in play more.
It also forced teams to rethink and adjust their structure.
“You normally get a penalty and either kick for the line or for goal, where now you’ve got to decide whether you are going to pack a scrum or tap and go,” Gordon-Thompson said.
On the downside David Clark said some teams had initially exploited the quick tap, resulting in cynical play that wasn’t in the spirit of the game.
“With a free-kick from an infringement at the lineout, players from the attacking team are automatically playing on straight away and running into an opponent (to milk a penalty).
“The referees could stop this by walking slowly to the mark to award the free-kick, giving the defending team time to retreat,” Clark said.
University coach Stiles said the referees also took a little time to get used to the different penalty rulings.
“What we found early on with the referees was they were …not using a (full arm) penalty enough; teams were infringing and giving away a lot of short arms because it wasn’t that much of a deterrent. It was nearly becoming a game of touch.”
Attacking rugby has definitely been a feature of the opening rounds of QPR.
Competition leaders GPS have played four games for four wins, scoring 179 points at an average of just under 45 points a game, while twice amassing over 60 points.
GPS has recorded a four-try bonus point in all of its matches so far this season, Gold Coast has three, Wests two while every other team except University has a four try bonus point to their name.
Souths coach Cameron gives some of the credit to the ELVs.
“If you’ve got a good backline, if you look at Brothers, Wests and GPS who have exceptional back threes with tremendous pace, that’s why they’re scoring so many tries,” Cameron said.
The ELVs were initially trialled at Stellenbosch University in South Africa after being developed by the IRB Laws Project Group, which included former World Cup winning Wallaby coach Rod Macqueen, former Springbok coach Ian McIntosh, former Scotland coach Richie Dixon, former French player, coach and current IRB Regional Development Manager Pierre Villepreux, IRB Referee Manager Paddy O'Brien and IRB Development Manager Bruce Cook.
Other ELVs being trialled in Scotland include allowing the use of the hands at the tackle/ruck and allowing the maul to be pulled down.
If approved, the new laws may be introduced to all rugby after this year’s Rugby World Cup.
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Originally Posted by Burgs
