Eddie Jones and the ELVs
Roar Rookie By Shaun, 16 Sep 2008 Shaun is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- Eddie Jones, ELVs, IRB, Northern Hemisphere, Rugby Union, wallabies
Related coverage
Eddie Jones, the great “student” of the game of rugby union, one-time coach of the Reds, Brumbies, Wallabies, and currently the Saracens Director of Rugby, has made his views crystal clear on the ELVs, comparing them to Twenty20 Cricket: a simplified rugby spectacle for the masses.
He sees that they are of most benefit to Australia, and is not in favour, believing their creation to be fundamentally flawed. While he may have his finer points as a technical advisor, his indictment of the global trial of the ELV’s is not one of them.
In a recent column for the Independent, Eddie has slammed the ELVs, arguing that they “quickly achieve the polar opposite [of the IRB’s desired effects].”
Eddie believes that he can make such a judgement after “having looked (at) the opening round of (European) matches”. Eddie’s article was written after one round of the Guinness Premiership, the Magners League and three rounds of France’s Top 14. Now we all realise from what we have seen in the Super 14 this year that the ELVs, let alone any raft of changes, take more than the opening matches to settle down.
Eddie continues, calculating that on average per match in the Guinness Premiership and the Magners League respectively, 3.3 and 1.2 tries were scored. What is clear from a comparison of the Super 14 with and without ELVs (noting the difference between the current and Super 14 ELVs – the free kicks), however, is that the number of tries per match was boosted from an average of 4.76 in 2006 and 4.68 in 2007 to an average of 5.70 per match in 2008.
Eddie then says how the ELVs have created hesitancy and confusion within teams – as above; judgement has been passed far too early.
Now Eddie goes on to tell us, that “there are fewer scrums and line-outs, more kicks (and in his analysis, therefore less “actual” ball-in-play time), less pick-and-drives and generally less set-pieces.
So you ask, what is my point exactly?
Do I believe that the ELVs result in the game that Eddie Jones goes on to describe, as one without a job for his scrum coach Cobus Visagie and with less specialists?
While that question requires further, more long-term and deeper analysis of the effects of the ELVs than presented here, it is my view that Eddie has crucially not actually analysed the true effects of the “sanctions ELVs”, or the “cheat’s charter” as they have been labelled by sections of the English media.
From what I have seen this year in the Super 14, there have been more tries, more scrums, more or less the same amount of line-outs and more of the ball in play – all in my opinion, due to the sanctions ELVs.
Having a free-kick gives you the tactical choice to tap-and-go, take the scrum or go for the line-out as your strategy and situation dictates. It is for this reason that John O’Neill has campaigned so hard for the Northern Hemisphere to trial all of the ELVs (and specifically this one) in some form or another.
While I was annoyed at the way the “ruck/maul unplayable” free kick was refereed in Saturday night’s game and do not believe that the sanctions ELVs are perfect, it remains absolutely clear that without the sanctions ELVs, the ELVs do not function as they were intended.
It then becomes clear to us that Eddie has only analysed the ELVs in isolation, not with a view to the bigger picture, and I would make two direct criticisms:
1) That it was the NH Unions, not the iRB, that allowed the “polar opposite” to be achieved by their collective non-trialling of the “sanctions ELVs”.
2) That he failed to include any constructive criticism of the current global ELV trial, which would have led to him to the conclusion that the “sanction ELVs” were mistakenly left out of the global ELV trial.
No real disrespect to Eddie himself. In many ways he has done rugby proud in Australia, but here I believe he has undoubtedly erred.
PS. I find it quite intriguing that Eddie, as a once strident opponent of “boring” English-style rugby (Eddie playing mind-games perhaps?) and as a Wallaby coach who directed as much time to scrums as they had game time, has now changed his tune somewhat. Would that be Eddie playing games again, or just him playing to the tune of his new masters/country?
Eddie Jones article: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/news-comment/eddie-jones-elvs-produce-only-gremlins-for-a-game-which-suits-all-sizes-928839.html
Recommend this story.
Jim Beam Devil's Cut
As bourbon ages, a portion of liquid is lost from the barrel due to evaporation. This is known as the Angel's Share. When the bourbon is taken from the barrel, a certain amount is left trapped within the wood. It's that extracted liquid, and the rich flavours from deep within the barrel that are in Jim Beam's Devil's Cut.
Click here to learn more about Jim Beam's wicked new bourbon.
- Explore:
- Eddie Jones, ELVs, IRB, Northern Hemisphere, Rugby Union, wallabies
September 16th 2008 @ 10:12am
Benjamin said | September 16th 2008 @ 10:12am | Report comment
Hayden, I am not going to argue that Jones is a great coach but his involvement with SA was very beneficial and although he stayed with the Wallabies for too long he certainly over-achieved for a reasonable period.
Although Jones refers to Visagie he also has Census Johnston, a great player in the loose. Saracens have a team made to prosper under the ELVs – a light, mobile pack an excellent kicking fly half and intelligent running backs. I doubt he is hitting the plan F button already. The point he makes about Visagie is that it is possible that scrum technicians like him may dissapear from the game.
September 16th 2008 @ 11:20am
onside said | September 16th 2008 @ 11:20am | Report comment
Eddies opinions are moot.
There are two types of Rugby. NH Rugby and SH Rugby. (Eddie may interpret SH as meaning
something other than Southern Hemisphere). Regardless of all opinions on ELV’s, the greatest
blight on Rugby is not so much the way the game either is or could be played, but rather the
referees interpretation of whatever the rules are ,ELV’s or not. How many international team
sports exist where the style of play is dermined by the subjective whim of a referee. Some
coaches select different types of players depending on who is going to control the game.
A rugby international can be an absolute ‘cracker’ under the existing rules as easily as it
might be with the introduction of ELV’s. In either case it all depends on what part of the world
the referee calls home.
September 16th 2008 @ 1:23pm
kenneth mortimer said | September 16th 2008 @ 1:23pm | Report comment
Jones track record is questional in several areas particularly with regard to the Wallabies and in particular his jumping ship after a dreadful performance with the Reds juming ship and deserting his team. I was surprised that Saracens appointed him. So he is simply commenting on the ELVs as an interested spectator rather than a successful coach. As such they must be judged.
September 16th 2008 @ 1:48pm
stillmissit said | September 16th 2008 @ 1:48pm | Report comment
Shaun – ‘No real disrespect to Eddie himself. In many ways he has done rugby proud in Australia, but here I believe he has undoubtedly erred.’
I cant see where he has done Australia proud I think he has done Eddie proud. The guy is a walking headline and loves the sound of his own voice particularly in the media. That is why they call him up. I think the best thing for a media circus would be a debate between Eddie the eye and Campo the opinion.
The ELV’s are neither a god send or a blight on the game but a change in approach rather than as Eddie has it ’20-20 criket’. The great game on Saturday was due to a bunch of things one of which was the ELV’s but mostly player intensity.
The ELV’s to my mind are there to ensure that the RWC is watchable by part time rugby lovers without dying of terminal channel hopping as happened in the 2007 cup.
The thoughts, quite rightly were the game could die if there was no change at the games highest profile event.
September 16th 2008 @ 2:08pm
ADH said | September 16th 2008 @ 2:08pm | Report comment
Benjamin,
how do you qualify Eddie Jones as “over-achieving”? In what aspect as coach did he over-achieve? He started off well-enough with the Wallabies. He then went on to lose every trophy in their cabinet.
He is one of the most committed and hard working coaches going around, I’ll give you that. He won a good percentage of games at home, but he consistently lost on the road. This can hardly be called over achieving.
September 16th 2008 @ 2:21pm
Jerry said | September 16th 2008 @ 2:21pm | Report comment
He probably overachieved in the 03 World Cup by winning the semi and taking the final to extra time though.
September 16th 2008 @ 3:11pm
brad said | September 16th 2008 @ 3:11pm | Report comment
No matter what the rules if the stakes are high teams will choose to kick the ball down field. The elvs allow for more time for the flyhalf to kick from a scrum. the only rules that need changing are the 5m rule – awsome, bringing down the ruck-now a fair contest and the referees should be giving free kicks instead of penalties. the no direct kick form 22 results in kicking duels.
September 16th 2008 @ 3:46pm
LeftArmSpinner said | September 16th 2008 @ 3:46pm | Report comment
Hayden, I’m with you but he did win an S14 comp, got to a RWC final and assisted with the winning of the RWC.
I suspect that since 2004, his Achilles heel is overcomplicated plans and very poor man management skills. These rantings are just the latest, public example.
But, yes, he is a walking, human headline…..
September 16th 2008 @ 4:25pm
Spanner said | September 16th 2008 @ 4:25pm | Report comment
Eddie Jones is largely responsible for the decay of Australian rugby, at all levels, during his Wallaby tenure, and has no place in the debate because he knows nothing of running (real) rugby. Eddie does not want to play running rugby so obviously does not like the ELVs. I suspect it will take many years for the basic skill levels of our juniors and grade players to reach the standard required to play running rugby thanks to Eddie. Thank God Robbie Deans is now leading the charge because all coaches from S14 down will play in the manner of the Wallabies, and Robbie has got it right.
Lets face it, if Stirling Mortlock had not intercepted that pass in the RWC semi, and gone all the way for a 14 point turnaround, Eddie would (and should) have been gone long ago. I suspect he will not be long at Saracons, like the Reds, because he is a dinasour in todays game and will not win many with his bully boy style.
September 16th 2008 @ 5:41pm
joeb said | September 16th 2008 @ 5:41pm | Report comment
Fox’s Greg Clarke in the wash-up of last Saturday night’s TN/Bled decider at Suncorp made the alarming point that it was the first time since “1946″ that the Wallabies have leaked “12 tries” in TWO consecutive test matches…
Phil Kearns interjected this being the case then the Wallabies need to immediately revert to their old defensive pattern as instilled/coached into them by departed defence coach John Muggleton…
And at the start of the game’s coverage on Seven Stu Wilson rightly described our Ellis Park effort of two weeks earlier at the breakdown with utter disdain as “rubbish” and “crap” which we well know it embarrassingly was, and for all the criticism of Eddie J did the team ever perform as poorly? Speaking of classic games on the other thread “And the winners are: the All Blacks and the ELVs!” the 2003 semi where we knocked the ABs out of the WC final race, and then even in the final our guys played some absolutely great rugby under EJ’s tutelage. Those two games really were “classic matches” and there were no ELVs within cooee.
But okay, the argument is the ELVs are intended to “speed up the game” so that we have more exciting open field running and passing and less trench warfare thru the forwards which some deem “boring”, yet thinking back to the 1980s when the Ellas came on the scene shortly followed by Campese, watching a Saturday afternoon game down at Coogee Oval invariably it was a showcase of exhilarating open running rugby ball-thru-hands display and many New South Welshmen will still remember the effort it took to convince the conservative selectors of the day that choosing Mark Ella (and Gary at FB) ahead of Paul McLean at pivot and whoever was fullback at the time would result in a far more exciting spectacle for the supporters than having to endure McLean’s endless kicking away of hard fought for possession.
Yet now under these ELVs we’re again returning to endless silly kicking away of quality possession ala McLean instead of running the pill thru the backs — and this is under the cherished ELVs!? One of the problems we’re having with backline execution of late is we’re playing players out of position, i.e. Barnes (or Norton-Knight or McKay or Beale) is the man to fill Larkham’s shoes, Giteau is an inside centre where he’s far more effective being put into gaps by someone inside him who draws defenders, and Mortlock remains our best outside centre and leader. The thing about Ryan Cross is he can actually handle either centre position if need be. What disappointed last Saturday night also was that first penalty kick needed to be taken by Morts (if Eales was still playing he would’ve taken it as a matter of urgency for points on the board) as it was obvious Gits was going to struggle with range.