The Northern Hemisphere is lazy when it comes to ELVs
Roar Guru
By Gatesy, 26 Apr 2008 gatesy is a Roar Guru
Here’s a theory. Why does the Northern Hemisphere seem hell bent on opposing the ELV’s without even trying them? I think it is just sheer laziness, and an in-grained dislike of trying anything new.
In the South we take the view that you can have change for the sake of change, and you can have change for the sake of progress, and we are not afraid to try new things,
I believe that there is now overwhelming proof that:
A. this is not just a Southern Hemisphere initiative
B. it is not intended to make rugby more like rugby league
C. there is a genuine belief that rugby has become over-regulated by laws which are hard for the players to follow, let alone the spectators
D. that it has become a game with too many stoppages
E. it is time for an overhaul
F. the ELVs have breathed fresh air into our game.
They have not ruined the fabric of rugby, there are no losses of contest. The scrum has become more of an attacking weapon. There are not significantly fewer line-outs, and the game is generally a better spectacle for the watchers and the players.
I’m just sorry that we haven’t trialled the collapsing of the rolling maul, because it would introduce a new element of innovation.
Let’s face it, the rolling maul is one big offside event anyway, and it doesn’t really make sense to me. Allowing sides to bring it down would be interesting, and certainly within the spirit of the tradition of the scrap for the ball at the breakdown.
Nobody in the Southern Hemisphere is in favour of the quick re-starts that league has now introduced. No one is advocating getting rid of scrums or line-outs or rucks or mauls.
You might be interested to know that the RFU has instituted a survey to ask people whether they should even embark on the trial. What a great show of leadership! They need to do the trial before most people would have a clue as to whether the laws are worth exploring.
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jools-usa said | April 26th 2008 @ 2:04am | Report comment
Gatesby,
There may be another reason.
The average age of northern teams has to be older than southern, when you compare players in Super 14
vs Heiniken & other northern competitions.
If that’s correct you know Europe’s been watching Super 14, & have seen it’s a relentess test of endurance
and maybe they don ‘t have (currently) the players for such effort.
I don’t really care if the north never goes for ELV. The Super 14 has made my watching great again
after the boring RWC that is fast rivaling World Cup soccer as a massive anti-climax.
Regards
Jools-USA
bob said | April 26th 2008 @ 3:06am | Report comment
Gatesy, you’re making some pretty big assumptions there… I would contest every assertion you made, A through F… and we have trialled the full ELV’s, in Scotland and in the Englsih county game… although we’ve only seen the ARC and S14 in the pro game. But we like the game as it is, and if you look beyond te internationals you see a very vibrant, flowing game, played by all shapes and sizes, and plenty of pace as well as power.
Nobody is denegrating the14, it’s just that style of play is yours, not ours, and we don’t see why laws should be introduced to encourage a style of play that is alien to our rugby culture and conditions. But we are not as ignorant of theELV’s as you think, and we are not as interested in pleasing TV execs as your administrators seem to be.
I can’t see why you are so driven to introduce the ELV’s, and if you want them so badly.
Lindommer said | April 26th 2008 @ 10:36am | Report comment
The RFU’s ELV website is http://www.rfusurvey.co.uk/
Have a look and vote.
Gatesy said | April 26th 2008 @ 4:37pm | Report comment
Thanks, Lindommer,
The moderator edited out the survey link from the article. I reckon we should all fill it in. I did!
Bob, the point of the article is that the RFU should trial it first and take comments later.
mudskipper said | April 26th 2008 @ 4:58pm | Report comment
Northern Hemisphere Diplomacy, it never changes, old world politics that offer only a disparaging contribution. “If we’re not driving we’re not on the bus” mindset… only visionless mutterings…The Northern Hemisphere can compete playing with the ELVs if they desire to develop their game.
Get on the bus, lets make a better game…
Dublin Dave said | April 26th 2008 @ 8:17pm | Report comment
Gatesy
Let me address your points
A. this is not just a Southern Hemisphere initiative
Irrelevant point. It’s not a case of who introduced it; it’s a case of who most enthusiastically supports it. And the evidence, from this site and elsewhere is that the SH (or at least Australia and New Zealand) is more positively disposed towards the initiative than Europe.
B. it is not intended to make rugby more like rugby league
Not INTENDED maybe. But by de-emphasising many of the facets that make union different from league, it is almost certain to make the two games even more indistinguishable from what they already are. My contention is that down south you don’t see this as an issue. Because you’re the only place in the world (outside of northern england) that lilkes league anyway.
C. there is a genuine belief that rugby has become over-regulated by laws which are hard for the players to follow, let alone the spectators
The laws are actually quite simple. What is difficult is enforcing them properly. There is a need for better and more consistent refereeing. Starting with giving touch judge more say.
D. that it has become a game with too many stoppages
And you want to replace it with a continuous monotonous drivel of tap and go? This sounds like the tone-deaf Austrian emperor criticising Mozart’s music for having “too many notes”.
E. it is time for an overhaul
F. the ELVs have breathed fresh air into our game.
Take these two together. Ever heard the phrase “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”? Rugby ain’t broke. It’s growing like an express train in Britain. In Ireland all three top level provinces are investing in building up their stadia to cope with demand from spectators. Mini rugby clubs are having to stagger their sessions to cope with the numbers of kids of all ages who want to play. It is making inroads into places where rugby was seen as the spawn of the devil until lately.
And you guys want to mess it all up?
No.
Rugby’s laws need continuous amdendment but that doesn’t mean creating a whole new game. Which is what the ELVs are doing.
Gatesy said | April 26th 2008 @ 8:58pm | Report comment
Dublin Dave, Bob et al,
Tell us something new – you are all sounding like broken records. Ask those kids that you refer to whether they like to run with the ball in hand..!
mudskipper said | April 26th 2008 @ 9:43pm | Report comment
Dublin Dave….its broken it needs fixing…ASAP if possible. The old rules don’t stand up to the professional rugby area.
Jock M said | April 26th 2008 @ 9:56pm | Report comment
Forget the crap please-the ruck and maul is barely any different from a play the ball-Rugby is a disaster especially in the SH-as journalist Paul Sheehan wrote-’the game they play in heaven is dying.
The law makers must prevent the tackled player playing the ball on ground-the defence must have a chance of stealing possession or must feel inclined to put pressure on at the breakdown.
I am relieved that I retired long before the carpet baggers got hold of the game -who would want to play that rubbish-the players must be bored witless.It does not require a great deal of skill either when you are allowed to roll over and place the ball after you have been tackled.
Wasn’t it good when the English boxed Australia in their world cup game-our fellows had got a little to used to limited overs non urgency Rugby-the English pack drove us so hard that George Gregan and his hand waving antics were severely curtailed.
Cannot help but notice that the stands at Super 14 games are looking a little empty-it will be a real coup for the money men if they can stuff the game in NZ-that takes real class.
London bureau said | April 27th 2008 @ 12:20am | Report comment
I agree with Dublin Dave’s “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it comment”. I have found myself enthralled with the high quality of rugby that has been produced in the NH throughout 2008 in the 6 nations, heineken cup and domestic club competitions. I personally cannot see what the ELVs have added to this year’s Super 14 comp. Most games I’ve watched have been dour, passionless affairs. I am an aussie expat so I’d like to think I have somewhat of a balanced view.
I don’t think anyone watching, at the ground who watched the exciting 11 try Saracens v Wasps game last weekend would agree that the rugby laws are broken in any way shape or form. I am starting to think the problem with rugby in the southern hemisphere these days is not the “product” itself but the seemingly impatient, fickle fans who may not appreciate that the state of rugby on this side of the world has, arguably, never been better. Northern hemisphere unions being lazy; that’s bullsh^t. Club games are regularly packed out, you cannot get a ticket to an international (even a Heineken Cup semi in Coventry!) for love nor money; why would you want to tinker with the current state of affairs just because the quality of the Australian “product” has not been up to scratch in recent years? Lets get some perspective guys and lay off with the parochial BS.