I think with the scrum the problem is with penalties, not free kicks. They need to reduce the number of infractions that result in scrum penalties. Genge's knee brushing the turf against South Africa springs to mind as a good example of this. Let the power teams scrum but the objective should be to push the opposition back and reduce their ability to leave the scrum once the ball is free, not to milk them for soft penalties. Being pushed back in the scrum should not be a penalty against you, the opposition has already gained advantage by pushing you back, that is enough.
Hamstringing the effectiveness of the scrum and maul as an offensive weapon is a huge step backwards imo. They're such an integral part of rugby union.
So many of these problems have occurred because of fundamentally flawed law changes in the 1990s. One example is the ruck. You used to be allowed to continue the contest for the ball whereas now players are told ‘leave it’. The problem occurs because when players go off their feet they make a heap on the floor. You used to be able to step over and ruck over. This continuous pressure would force the scrum half to use it. I understand that there was a fine line between rucking and stamping but it incentivised players to get out of the ruck. It also drew in players which created space for the backs (as did the open field maul). If you want to avoid making it rugby league then bring back the real competition in the contact area in open play.
I think those laws around the ruck and the in field maul were safety related. Having said that, the Tasmanian unions are having an outsized influence on law changes. Making Rugby Union more like Rugby league doesn't help either code of Rugby.
A bit of an excessive comment, scrums are great, 15 minutes a game of resets and teams playing for penalties isn't!! Watching League is definitely not the answer! 😂
Perfect in my opinion. There’s different variations of the game for different tastes. League, 15s, 7s, 10s, beach, flag, wheelchair.. if you don’t like one version go to the other. Don’t mess with the foundation of the sport.
The jackal is an important part of the game, but we do need to do more to protect the player. The tackled player should place the ball back and then clearly let go. When you get a conflict between the tackler trying to place the ball back and the incoming Jackal trying to pick up the ball then the Jackal should have priority. The less time the Jackal spends crouched over the breakdown the less dangerous it will be.
Rugby is a game for all shapes and sizes. Scrumming is an integral part of rugby. It should work thus: scrum called, clock stopped, ball out of the scrum, time on. Football matches go on for 90 plus minutes, what's wrong with rugby going on for 80 to 90 minutes?
Gaming for penalties is irritating. This is too often the objective for a scrum. In any case now that referees do not demand that the ball is put in straight the hookers can no longer contest in the scrum. My answer is to insist on straight put ins and give an indirect kick, not a penalty for anything that goes wrong. Mauls - 'use it' once the maul is held up: that is the most sensible of the proposals. Limiting replacements? Only if the RFU is happy to get sued by players whose injuries are aggravated by not being able to be replaced. The interpretation of deliberate knock on is often absurd. Yellow cards (if at all) should only be for the most blatant cases. On penalty tries, why issue a yellow card in addition to 7 points? It seems to me that there should be a few more penalty tries but fewer yellow cards. Does anyone have any suggestions how to reduce the number of forward passes? Could a tracker in the ball work? My impression is that there are often passes that stretch credulity, but also many knock-on infringements that are far from self evident.
I agree with all you have said with the exception of scrums. On scrums firstly the average scrum penalties per game is the same level as the 90s, slightly lower in fact, so this isn’t a major issue in the first place. Secondly, your call for only free kicks for all scrum infringements would completely de-power the scrum and result in significant repercussions for the game. With only a free kick, what’s to stop weak scrums from intentionally conceding a FK? Especially in their own 22, etc. it’s much easier to defend a FK than a scrum which sucks in 8 forwards in a small area on the pitch. In fact why would teams have big props or hookers at all? Could replace them with more mobile loose forward types. While they would likely concede a FK at scrum, the benefit of having 6 loose forwards on the field instead of 3 would be huge. Fatties would be completely eliminated from the game and the scrum would become nullified as an attacking platform. In the end every scrum would be a FK and you might as well eliminate it al together. Lastly on the scrum feed, I don’t have an issue with this. There are so many other things for refs to worry about at a scrum and adding to it won’t help but regardless there are other reasons too. With scrums being more technical and powerful these days, if the feed had to be policed strictly, it would put the team feeding the ball at a big disadvantage. The hooker would not be able to focus on powering the scrum and would instead have to focus on winning the ball. All this does is allow the opposing scrum an extra man to overpower the scrum battle and you would see regular turnovers and collapses with the team feeding the ball being regularly penalised or put under significant pressure each scrum and I don’t think anyone wants that. Scrums are the most important set piece that defines rugby. It is THE set piece that allows for players of all shapes and sizes to play. Any change which reduces the jeopardy at the scrum would have a significant impact on the game.
Stop the clock whilst any scrum forms up. Reduce number of replacements. 4 is a good number, 2 forwards and 2 backs. Perhaps replacements just for injuries. Medical person to agree. It’s a 80 minute game not a 50/30.
My suggestions are: 1. At the ruck when the ref says “use it” you can not add players to the ruck / caterpillar. 2. To stop teams giving away free kicks if they have a weak scrum, the second free kick becomes a penalty. 3. at a maul if you are in it next to the opposite scrum half you are off side if you break off or attempt to handle the player or ball. You are only onside once the ball is handled by another player or if the scrum half goes past the rear foot of the opposite side of said ruck. 4. At a maul or ruck a blocker is only onside if he remains behind or level with the scrum half - at present the blocker gets in an onside position but then when the scrum half picks up the ball he will step back to take his kick and this makes the blocker offside 5. During “kick tennis” the ref can & does call players moving in front of the kicker as offside but this never happens when the ball is run - in future ALL players in front of the ball are deemed offside and must remain still, thus not blocking defenders. 6. At a ruck the clear out but be straight as at present start that but then turn & clear out to the side - this should be treated as side entry. 7. If foul play, which is determined by the offending player getting a straight red card or getting cited, results in a long term injury then the offending player can not return until the injured player if fit or until 1 year has passed if said player has to retire due to said injury. Harsh but it would stop some of the serious injuries. 8. Any form of blocking of kick chasers if illegal, ie if the kick if going over a players head they are offside and have to stop moving - they can not run back towards the receiver! 9. I’ve used ref link for years and is absolutely brilliant except once when I had it for a Wales v France game & the ref spoke French to the French players! There was a French only channel but not an English only channel and this needs to be considered. This would mean three ref link feeds when you have teams from two countries that speak different languages eg France v Italy would have the actual ref on one channel, a French channel & an Italian channel and this could be increased to four if you wanted a English & Welsh channel in Wales. Also maybe it should be trialled that you can also hear the assistants as well!
Alot of rule changes some i do like the extending of the shot clock to scrums and lineouts for instance and referees calling use it before a caterpillar is formed Somd im not to keen on like the ref calling use it when a maul stops the 1st time As usually the maul is just changing direction rather than actually stopped Eitherway there is alot to ponder and discuss with in the rugby community
The rule changes I'd like to see are: 1. A rip should not be a knock-on. A player who dislodges the ball should be rewarded, not punished. 2. A limit on goal-line pick-and-goes. The resulting head collisions may not result in concussions, but the cumulative damage is still substantial.
I like change number 1. For your second point, I would keep the offside line as the back foot of the ruck and not the try line. Having the offside line on the try line is the reason for multiple ‘ pick and goes’ which go nowhere. More tries in my world.
The game is more complicated than it needs to be because a player has to learn not only the laws, but also the interpretations. Some laws are routinely ignored, such as feeding the scrum straight, and at least two major laws are broken at almost every kick-off. When the American referee gave a penalty against England in Saturday's women's international for not immediately obeying her "use it" call, the players were simply astounded. It is understandable that the authorities are trying to outlaw high tackles and head contact, even where it is accidental. To do this, they have permitted red cards to be issued for mere accidents in an effort, they say, to get players to change their habits. While there is some merit in that, it is short-changing the public to give a team a one- or two-player advantage for a whole game as a result. Some sort of "orange card" system should clearly have been introduced at the same time. This was such a foreseeable consequence of the lawmakers' stochastic approach that it reveals how little thought is given to overall sporting fairness and to the experience of the paying spectator.
You mention outlawing the ‘croc rocll’ on 9th May, but Red Roses lost a player to a red card from just that, so has the law changed already or was there no need for a new law.
Some interesting changes here. I like the idea of a mark option from a restart. Shorter kick offs could result in more contests there. So long as these changes are done for the right reasons; for player safety and for making the game simpler for casual fans
The problem is not more or less scrums, but the extreme power of the scrum. Because a penalty is such a big momentum swinger, teams put a lot of effort into scrummaging which is why there is so much time set up. So rather than getting rid of scrums, just give them less impact on the game. Instead of a penalty, give the beneficiary team a 10m walk forward and then a free kick. I think you’d find everything else would speed up from that. My other idea is instead of a scrum for knock on, just give a free kick.
I have a dream... Would be interesting to see the top 4 of each world rugby league play a straight forward knockout format till there's a winner. I know it's fanciful thinking due to congested fixture lists. But I would imagine the two European cup finalists automatically qualify and that allows the 5th ranked team in that respective league to qualify. Also applicable for English teams. So for example the 5th teams placed in the URC and Top 14 as Leinster and Toulouse will automatically qualify being European Cup finalists. If Sarries played then the 5th English Premier gets a look in. Then the top four from the URC, 4 from the French Top 14, 4 from the English premiership and 4 from SuperRugby then maybe invite the winners of the Japanese league and the best South American club. This way each top tier nation will be represented and will create renewed interest among club supporters. Each play home and away like the soccer European cup with away points counting more. Each winner on to the next round and a home and away final winner takes all so no one can complain about home advantage. Maximum 8 games. Play it in the year between RWC's and knock international games on the head for those two months. We already do it for the RWC so it can be done. Start all games on the same weekend and complete the competition in 6-8 weeks. None of these long drawn out fixture lists that take months and months to complete where fans lose track and interest as it just takes too long. Best total score between the 2 games determines the winner. Imagine your club playing the second final at home knowing that they only need to beat their opponents by a certain margin to be world club champions but knowing that the opposition points are worth more due them playing away from home. Players play for the club that employs them. There are some serious international World Cup winners plying their trade in the Japanese league. I wouldn't want to play a Japanese team with Ardie Savea, PSDT, Kwagga Smith, Damian Dallende, Jesse Kriel, Beauden Barret, Aaron Smith, Richie Mounga, Brodie Retallick lurking around. I'd definitely watch these games as it would give a strong indication of which league has the most powerful teams and the different styles of play. Imagine your team being known as World Club champions... How cool would that be. It would also maybe encourage teams to play outside their normal strategies due to away points counting more. Something like the home teams converted try counting the standard 7 points but for the away team it counts 10. This will bring in new tactics and ways of playing. The teams playing the second fixtures know away points count more so they'll go gang busters for the win...I can hear Dr Rassie's brain whirring away already 😁. Each group will only have teams from other countries in it. For example you can't start with a group having Toulouse and La Rochelle in it. But it's also possible that 2 teams from the same country could reach the finals. So a group would have the no 1 ranked team from their league for eg Leinster then nr 2 from another League (Exeter Chiefs for eg) then 3rd placed team in SuperRugby (possibly The Tahs or the Highlanders) and the 4th placed team in the Top 14 (Castres or Bordeaux). Imagine the endless possibilities in match ups. Clubs will be strongly incentivised to retain players and to grow strong youth academies. Imagine a Toulouse vs Auckland Blues home and away finals played on back to back weekends and there's only a 5 point difference between the teams....or Stormers vs Harlequins at Newlands and Twickenham respectively or Leinster vs the Canes, Munster vs Fijian Drua, Los Pumas vs Wild Knights in Tokyo and Buenos Aires one weekend after another. One can only dream... Thoughts?
I just cant understand why they dont want you getting messages to your team. Its what coahing is about. Also sounds like they want rugby union to be rugby league and to please NZ
I think the Red Card for 20 minutes is a great idea, as otherwise it can completely ruin a game. Especially as the game itself has imposed these harsher sanctions. Also the person committing the foul does not get to come back on, so they are get most of the punishment and the team still loses a player for 20 minutes. It would help those games where a player is sent off after say 10 minutes and completely ruining the chances of their team competing for the win.
If everyone had a balanced opinion we would be saying, we still want the scrum, just not at the cost of ten mins playing time. It is by all means been turned into yet another way to waste time but it doesnt need to be. We can have it both ways. We can have scrums and have plenty of playing time and it is STOP THE TIME WASTING!.
The more law changes the more complicated the game becomes. I personally don’t think a lot of these law changes has improved Rugby from a spectator perspective over the last 20 years. Try enforcing current laws, feeding the ball in straight at the scrum. Hookers should be penalized if they throw a line out standing inside the field of play.
I'd be ok with the 20min red card change IF world rugby were consistent with bans. No reduction because they apologized, no reduction because they went to tackle school. Those things should be mandatory. The only thing that should determine the length of the ban is the nature of the foul play itself.
I dont know which is more tedious ... all these law changes or employimg the services of touchline timekeeper. They would start and stop the match clock accordingly, and they would ping the referee when time infringements were committed.
I’d rather see all offences by the defending side within 5meters should be a penalty try but no red card. From that you would reduce the repetition of head contact, no kick straight seven points. Restart the game. More attrition less size wanted as more speed more attrition. Not one law change. Also if the TMO comes in a says to the referee there’s a penalty. No mothers meeting game back to where it occurred, restart ?
Fine with the TMO, but only if the referee is challenged by the TMO, or only if the ref asks in certain situation such as a try scored or foul play, otherwise the ref decision is final. But FFS don't ever ever have the Bunker again !!!!
More kicking will be the result as the field remains cluttered . Scrums can be sorted out with one law change , Make props keep the outside door forward creating a three point balance more stability . No micro phones for water carriers .
For years now World Cup Rugby Union Committee have always changed rules and it's not about what happens on the field regardless of the rules. If you want safer scrums, play league. If you don't want scrums, go and play netball. At the end of the day World Rugby are disgruntled, disturbed and intimidated by Southern Hemisphere dominance of World Cup Rugby. Why can't you be just straight up? I say this to the committee. It makes no difference, Southern Hemisphere Rugby will always dominate World Rugby. They always adapt much faster and better than Northern Hemisphere countries. So go ahead do what you've done for years, Southern Hemisphere will still dominate.
I’ve always thought that the scrum offences should be free kicks and not penalties as the scrum is a way of starting the game again from that particular place on the pitch,it doesn’t seem right to be gaining 50 yards then the throw in at the line out
Think you need to really think this through. Is a FK easier to defend than a scrum with more players on their feet instead of sucked into a scrum? Especially defending scrums in their 22? Will teams with weak scrums absolutely exploit this? Will teams start to consider replacing big front rows with 3 loose forwards instead reducing mismatches and space on the field? Maybe have a think about this and then decide if you really want to remove jeopardy from the scrum.
If it were up to me, as soon as the ball appears at the back of a ruck the ref would call "ball available" and would then count "3...2...1...play" and at the word "play" it's fair game for the other team to run round the ruck and go for the ball. So it's up to the team in possession to get the ball away from the ruck much more quickly, either with a pass or a kick, or by the scrum half running with it......
Fewer subs absolutely. Having two front fives is ludicrous. Absolutely straight put ins to scrums that take minutes to set and then the ball is chucked up to the second row.
I'd like to see reserve players removed from the in-goal area and entering the field of play when a try has been scored or about to be scored. More stopping the clock for time wasting, eg during kicks for goal and scrum resets. 2-point penalties and no marks at all would be good improvements to the game to make it flow better. And my pet hate, intentional knockdown when going for an intercept and it doesn't go to hand. That is friggin' ridiculous.
The Kiwis really don’t like losing. All these measures are aimed at strong forward teams. Hence, the Boks, Ireland, France and now England again will be disadvantaged.
Tbh, I don't know about a lot of these things. Water carriers not coaching or passing on messages seems like a no-brainer. I don't care for the supersizing that is going on right now, yes I'm thinking of France in particular, but it'satrend in general. When are players big enough? Used to be the case that a 19 stone player was huge. They could be undersized if the current trend continues. Are we going to see players who need knee braces, like you see in American football? Are morbidly obese players a good look?
Think the free kick idea is great if a scrum is a bit shit shouldn’t be giving away free points as world class kickers are going to slot from anywhere in the opponents half. Obviously getting rid of the DuPont law as the kick tennis is stupid. Means you can’t just have a backfield booting the ball to each other one of them must put everyone on side will most likely result in more comparable kicks/ less kicks Definitely don’t eliminate the jackal is such a great part of the game can really switch momentum and penalises lazy teams with one up runners. Have more of an emphasis on counter rucking not all this “leave it” because the attacking team have fallen over the ball. The more people in a contestable ruck the more space to play. Definitely speeding up 9s who might as well be sitting having a cup of tea getting the ball out. If they life with their hands in a ruck automatically the ball should be in play. Hate the caterpillar ruck so definitely on the time on these so a better exit strategy needed
Personally I think WR are being daft...the more "dead time" the more ad space...capitalize on it...use the monies from ad revenues to support struggling unions...by the way more people are watching rugby now than ever before with the current laws,America is investing into the sport...we need to find creative ways of appealing to big American brands...ad space people...srums provides us that !
The ref should not suggest to the TMO that he thinks a try has or has not been scored. That puts pressure on the TMO to try and find a reason to support the refs decision. The question should be " was that a try or not ?" Simple as that .
Depowering scrums and mauls and nerfing the jackal will reduce space and fatigue. Rugby League but with 15 players for the time being. Good luck scoring against the Boks without tying up numbers in scrum/maul or committing cleaners to counter the jackal. To spite South Africa we shall now destroy Rugby Union. How very Kiwi
Three ideas to speed the game up. 1. no penalties from scrums, just a free kick so teams don’t play for the penalty. 2. Only use line outs in the 22, just use a throw in style restart like teams do quickly to themselves. 3. “Touchdown” style tries, where you only have to cross the line and not actually apply downward pressure- you’d keep the open play and avoid loads of penalties and restarts 5 m out.
I see you are a heretic just like me. Be prepared for the criticisms. Here’s something to elaborate on your touchdown style try. When teams enter the in goal area the rules for the other 100 yards of the pitch go out the window. I would scrap the held up rule and the try line as offside, keeping the rules the same as the rest of the pitch and awarding more tries.
What I object to I if the opposition is massively bigger and stronger than you in the scrums, you get penalised time and again just because you are not as big as the opposition. It must be the only sport where you are penalised for being smaller. Also, as a front row forward in ne er fails to amaze me that refs have no idea what happens in the scrum, there were several times in the 6n when scrum penalties were given the wrong way.
Stop crooked scrum feeds, problem solved. Go back to the old law about feeding the scrum. Want less collisions? Go back to the original kick into touch Australian Dispensation law.
Weve just had a fantastic WC a great 6 nations whats there really to dislike?Personally I think the problem is ball in play time.Why dont they stop the clock at the scrum until the ref says set.If it takes 3 minutes to have a scrum and there are 10 scrums a game thats 30 mins more Players will soon speed up scrums as its often used to eat up time.
The problem is SA winning two in a row. Do you think it is a coincidence that so many of these law changes aim to take away or defuse their strengths and tactics?
Why are all law changes made to predominantly benefit the professional game , which accounts for only approximately 10% of the worlds rugby players . Perhaps the reason for the reduction of the number of players at community level is that the law changes always speed up the game and require higher levels of fitness and training - which require too much commitment for amateur players .
WR are losing the plot on scrums. If they want a game without scrums or at least a game where one side cannot use a clear advantage at scrum time to wear down the opposition then WR should go over to rugby league. Scrums are one of the unique characteristics of rugby union. Strange that WR still refuse to crackdown on crooked feeds. Third phase ideas 1. reducing shot clock is excellent, 2. being able to call the mark from a restart though is nonsense. We have seen plenty of examples of teams not being able to manage an exit strategy efficiently and gifting the opposition field position, that should be encouraged. 3. The 1 stop maul rule is also complete nonsense and will come close to eliminating the rolling maul from lineouts, teams will simply stop competing at line outs close to their line and drive immediately on the catcher feet hitting ground, if the maul goes backwards even an inch that counts as the first stop, effectively before the maul has had a chance to properly form. 4. Scrum half protection idea, my first comment is why? What is this designed to stop? What I would like to see stopped is the rather pathetic push/shove antics we too often see between the 2 scrum halves once the ball has been put in. 5. New "not straight" rule for lineouts is excellent. 4th phase ideas 1. 20 min red card - just no, or at least not for the majority of red cards ie not for dangerous or reckless play, so all those red cards for connecting with the head of a player in a tackle or clear out should be for the entire game. 2. Breakdown safety review - reviews are also a good idea, it is just the results of the review that are frequently the problem! IMO good jackling should be rewarded but I like the idea of bringing back rucking in a big way - just as long as we are allowed to tread (delicately of course!) on the player on the ground. 3. Streamlining the TMO process - yes please, and I have yet to meet a rugby fan who would not like that. 4. Reducing number of replacements - definitely yes, and as an added bonus it will reduce the influence of power rather than stamina 5. Fan experience review - fine not important to me 6. Tackle height review, in principle I agree but I would like to see the current laws in place for a while longer to see if the generation just starting pro rugby have changed behaviour Biggest problem for me is that changes seem to be about reducing the success of South Africa rather than consider what is the ethos of the game and how do we both enhance the fans enjoyment and honour that ethos.
More scrums! If you want to watch kickball, it's over there somewhere ===> And put the chuffing ball in straight. Interceptions are exciting but the rules discourage it because if they go for it and fumbled it's a red card and six years in jail.
I have a massive problem with changing the laws a) midseason, b) every year. Players, coaches and to a lesser extent, referees having to reassess how the interact with the laws instead of how they innovate or perfect their play is just going to reduce the amount of spectacle. How often are we complaining that the outcome of tournaments is dictated by refs. If we're getting to the end of the season and suddenly the landscape the coaches and players has changed and the referee's are expected to do things differently are they more likely to make "errors"? It's a committee somewhere thinking they have the right to be the creative force in the game, circumventing the expertise of all the current players and coaches.
Anything that leads to more ball in play time, and speeds up the game is good imo. Less subs as well would mean more athletes; if we want to grow the game globally then it has to be accessible, both to the fans and players. Not every nation can produce 8 20st forwards with another 4 on the bench. Obviously allow for temporary replacements for blood or head injuries. But reduce the permanent replacements to 4. Still have 8 on the bench, but different situations will depend on which 4 you use. Every player will then need to have the ability to last 80 minutes if need be. And if a few of them are blowing near the end then it will open up space to attack.
I have seen several remarks by posters concerning the fan experience, but none have even considered why I hardly ever go now, and that is noise in the stadium when play is not going on. You can not talk to your mates or visiting fans and it is not going to be practical having anything interactive on the phone without a full noise cancel head set. Having the music so loud spoils the humanity of what used to be a friendly atmosphere where fans discussed things not hated the opposition.
doesnt sound like the right thing, sounds shit. Some laws are obvious but the less scrums, and less reserves are clearly aimed at springboks, something they have done before.
On the jackal, I think it needs to go. Teams should be rucking past the ball. The issue with this is when the play is out wide so, my idea would be this: Only the person that makes the tackle can make a jackal attempt
Yea I agree, the law rewrite on the kick off is going to create new issues. The law should say the kickoff must land between 10 and 22mm lines. If not receiving team gets scrum on halfway line. The shot clock applied to setting scrums, and lineouts is good also. Croc roll must go. Jackal must stay. It's important tool in defensive play. I don't recall seeing many injuries from Jackal. If you remove Jackal how does defensive team get access to the ball to counter attack. In my view this aspect adds drama and dynamic change as attack and be flipped in an instant.
Re Caterpillar ruck, the half should not be able to be in front of players bound in a ruck and touch the ball, eg half has to be at the back and players forming the caterpillar must ruck the ball back to the half?
Scrums are already being organized more quickly in Super Rugby (higher ball in play times). Teams should be allow a full bench, the whole squad. Then lower the number of total replacements to two per side a game.
The 1991 world cup final got through 35 scrums and 80 minutes of play in under 84 minutes with no tactical replacements allowed. Modern front rows couldn't keep up with that pace - the front row has gained 50kg since 1991. The problem isn't having scrums - the problem is the milking rest time, penalties, and cards from them. Penalties from scrums going backwards and up/down under pressure rather than an actual infringement like boring in, binding on the arm, or stepping your hips out should be changed to a free kick - give the team who won the scrum the ball and tell them to get on with it - no "scrum again" option. The point of the scrum is to restart with a contest for the ball. If more scrums resulted in a quick free kick instead of a load of backslapping and a 40 yard stroll to the lineout, then the game tempo would increase as would ball in play. I am a big fan of the 20 minute red - I would rather it was 10 and the sanction on the player afterwards was heavier.
in MHO the laws DO NOT need to be changed or even tinkered with just enforced (sorry maybe wrong choice of words) if the refs knew they had the backing of world rugby or IRB then there would be no issues/problems. Enforce the 5sec rule, when the ball is at the back of the maul/ruck or even maybe the scrum, let the ref shout ”5secs to use the ball scrum half” then immediately start a verbal count down (5-4-3-2-1) as for kick tennis, (if it is that boring and slows the game down) just tell refs to enforce the off-side rule, every one in front of the kicking teams kicker is off-side until the kicker has chased the ball to the point where it lands or is caught, obviously the kickers team mates can follow the kicker once the kicker has passed them. At present we have a situation where the kicker kicks the ball and then hangs back waiting for the kick to be returned, as a result we have a session of kick tennis re the scrum, unless the ref is an ex-front rower ‘and knows the dark arts’ it is very hard for the ref to know whos doing what and to ensure it is a good, fair contest, however with reset after reset it can take up/waste time (a tactic used by many teams), maybe start with a “straight” put in/feed, not crocked put in almost direct to the second row
some posetive some pathetic. A few problems could be sorted out by the refs.... five second rule and stopping the clock. World rugby is trying to change a game that is growing and still is the most popular form of rugby. Changing it it a super &'s is not the answer, viewership much lower. The subs are good as it keeps the game interesting and fast., in the ols days with no subs the game got sloppy in the end and boring. Eliminate all the kicking by awarding a scrum from where the ball was kicked for a mark. Instead of WR changing the rules constantly rather concentrate on the basics and leave the game alone.as we the fans don not support the yearly changes... you are going to kill a lovely game
Exactly who identified these “problem” areas? And for what audience? Scrums could be fixed by not giving penalties so freely. Teams clearly train to win penalties at the scrum. If the incentive is removed to try and win a penalty then players will just get on with it. Requiring the ball to be placed down the middle will bring back hookers -smaller players with different skill sets than the third prop that currently wears the # 2 jersey. And at the end of the day how much additional time in play are we talking about?
Rugby has lost it's innovation and spontaneity. It is machinated and predictable now. Coaches depend too much on planned plays and too little on the inventiveness of their players. Scrums are a unique part of Rugby and have been spoiled by refs who make no effort to understand them and allow laws to be broken. The ball put in at the second rows feet and never straight. Get rid of caterpillar rucks, force players who are injured, have lost contacts, broken laces etc off the field and let play continue. Most of that faking will disappear. Refs say Use it, then make them use it. Stop the conferences before set pieces. Stop the water creatures and their kith from running onto the field at any moment. You do not need to destroy the games essence to get better flow.
There should be laws for bad referees, mostly to encourage newer and lower level division referees to improve their game, thus improving all those involved. Hands and knees on the ground is 100% not supporting your body weight. I would say there is a gray area for having the forearms and the person to assist seal the ruck. But instantly going to the ground is absurd.
Stopping jackling would kill my interest in the game a bit I can’t lie , even suggesting it as a possibility triggers me. Rugby is dangerous, that’s the point.
If kick-offs had to land between the 10 & 22; that area would become very congested, making it easier for teammates to block the opposition from making a tackle 🤔
oo...I didn't think of that one! Great point. I guess you could split your chasers left and right evenly to mitigate this a bit. But I take your point, thanks
