Having watched the Waratahs and then the Force last night I got the feeling that with the amount of kicking that is happening this season we may as well watch AFL.
At one stage in the Waratahs game I think there was about 5 mins where both teams just made aimless stupid kicks up and down the field. Is this what the ELV’s have become or is it that attack cannot dominate defence?
If the ELV’s have deteriorated into a kick fest then the idea behind them of keeping the ball in play longer is an unmitigated disaster. I believe that this is caused by not applying all the changes and therefore the new laws can be undone by the governing bodies whilst claiming they have given them a chance to prove themselves. The old game of giving yourself an each way bet.
On the other hand if it is a case of defence dominating attack then it may be just a temporary thing with a smart coach taking advantage of the ball that’s kicked to them (as the Crusaders did last year). If a coach can define new attack that’s emphatic in its success it would bring a balance back to the game.
The Reds v Stormers was a much better game to watch as both teams tried to throw the ball around and took more chances. Still we cannot expect any change soon in Australia as both the Waratahs and the Force won but the Reds went down playing attacking rugby.
As an AFL substitute Rugby Union is fairly poor and if the World Cup administrators believe that the level of rugby that has been on show in S14 this year will bring the crowds and new TV supporters to rugby in 2011 then they will have to think again.
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February 23rd 2009 @ 8:12am
Hoy said | February 23rd 2009 @ 8:12am | Report comment
It does seem to be the way these days for teams without much sting just going to the air. If the coach won’t train the team in the spirit of the game, then the game will be interpreted another way. Through aimless kicking in this case.
I suppose there is nothing that can be done if the coach won’t embrace the ideals of the ELVs, or any rules for that matter. Remember the outcry when the Pom’s played boring 8 man rugby? Not really in the spirit of running rugby as it was intended, was it? When a coach wants his team to have a go, then the difference is amazing, ala Crusaders almost every year, and as you say, the Reds/Stormers game.
Results will beat the spectacle every day unfortunately.
February 23rd 2009 @ 8:32am
Michael C said | February 23rd 2009 @ 8:32am | Report comment
Major distinction,
rugby needs to do away with the off side – - until then, don’t compare aimless stupid kicks in Rugby to Australian Football. Because, we have no off-side, therefore, in the main, the kicks are NOT aimless and stupid.
Rugby Union though, treds a fine line MORE so in a country like Australia than anywhere else in the world. IN that, Rugby Union is the poor cousin of Rugby League (in many key respects – - – not in all though), and likewise to Australian Football. As you say, As an AFL substitute Rugby Union is fairly poor , however, in France, Japan, Argentina or England it may not be so viewed/judged.
February 23rd 2009 @ 8:40am
stillmissit said | February 23rd 2009 @ 8:40am | Report comment
HOy – I suspect that there would be a fair amount of worry at the ARU and NZRU. We both need bums on seats to bring in the cream cash as I believe the TVmoney covers the basic running costs.
These tactics will not put bums on seats. It is just one kicking bum kicking to another bum. You can see that anytime you like on any paddock around Australia for nothing, as youngsters kick a ball to one another.
I believe that we have all become very conservative apart from our defences. Some of the defensive effort was excellent ie the Crusaders v Brumbies but as much as we admire a great defence it is not what we pay our money to see.
Not sure where we go from here as this has been the norm for a few seasons now.
This type of play could send rugby back to amateur status quickly.
February 23rd 2009 @ 8:44am
stillmissit said | February 23rd 2009 @ 8:44am | Report comment
Michael C – A predictable reply but I was using it as a pointer to the problems associated with this. Don’t take everything literally.
I was going to continue my tongue in cheekiness by suggesting that the ARU was trying to emulate AFL to bring in more money and maybe some of the professionalism of AFL.
It strikes me that the rugby supporters community is not singing from the same hymn book as the coaches and players.
See my post above.
February 23rd 2009 @ 8:45am
Nashi said | February 23rd 2009 @ 8:45am | Report comment
On many ocassions it seems that the kick is employed when defensive lines are settled and a rush defence can be employed. What struck me about the waratahs game was that the waratahs did not have a plan B for that type of defence apart from kicking down the middle of the field to create 50/50 ball, surely if a rush defence is used then the attack must take a few steps back and give their backs space to operate. A rush defence is vulnerable when it is uneven. Varying the attack creates uncertainty in the defensive structure of your opponent. Maybe the amount of kicking that Beale does is because he and his backline are relatively immature and therefore a bit one dimensional. All of the Australian 10s suffer the same inability to adjust their attack to keep the opposition guessing either by playing at more depth or by employing the chip kick. God help us if rugby union ends up like league where the kick is used inside the opposition 22 the create 50/50 ball.
February 23rd 2009 @ 8:53am
stillmissit said | February 23rd 2009 @ 8:53am | Report comment
Nashi – Good point.
I also think that we dont use a good chip through although Beale is good at this kick. We also insist on lining up flat therefore giving ourselves no natural room to move. I am pleased to see the refs are more inclined to call a forward pass this year.
The slide defence can be stopped if we had a good ball distributor from the tackle. Where is a new Artie Beatson, who wants to play rugby, when you need them?
The idea of a back beating their opposition number seems to be almost dead, although Mortlock ignores this and tramples them underfoot.
February 23rd 2009 @ 9:29am
Pippinu said | February 23rd 2009 @ 9:29am | Report comment
For me it has always been a curious fact that rugby supporters do not place much value in kicking, and as a consequence, rubbish any team that does do that, and as a furher consequence the national team is incapable of developing anyone who can kick a football over a jam tin.
You need look no further to when England won the world cup, and how vehemently Australian supporters responded to the heroics of Jonny Wilkinson.
Yet from my point of view, he did no more than what is allowed in the game, on the periphery it has to be said, but he did it exceptionally well – the best ever in terms of what we are talking about here.
Just two examples that spring to mind that helped England on its way to a world cup:
1. that cross field kick that must have travelled close to 50 metres and hit the right winger on the chest as he caught it without missing a step on the way to scoring a blistering try (absolutely brilliant play in anyone’s book, and something any one from any code can appreciate); and
2. the final field goal he kicked, under extreme pressure, and with his weaker foot (something you see very rarely in rugby).
These are both skills that any AFL fan can readily appreciate, and yet they are skills that are spurned amongst the Australian rugby fraternity.
I’ve always wondered why we don’t have blokes who can put the ball over the bar from 50 metres when we are in desperate need of some points late in a game.
The argument isn’t really about too much kicking – it really is about aimless kicking – as is metioned in the article – there ain’t nothing wrong with kicking that meets its objective – so surely the solution is to develop players that can kick a footy over a jam tin?
February 23rd 2009 @ 9:43am
True Tah said | February 23rd 2009 @ 9:43am | Report comment
Pip
agreed – where kicking is done well and with some plan in mind, then no one complains. People complain about the Chiefs game, but Beale’s kick was based on Wilkinson’s technique of kicking to his winger.
I suspect the fact many Aussies whinged about 2003 was because of sour grapes.
Sadly it seems that a poorly coached team uses it becauses it does not have the confidence
February 23rd 2009 @ 9:46am
Pippinu said | February 23rd 2009 @ 9:46am | Report comment
tt
thanks for the response – what you say makes good sense – I guess like: let’s just get it out of here any way we can!
February 23rd 2009 @ 9:52am
Michael C said | February 23rd 2009 @ 9:52am | Report comment
Pip -
I had a whole entry ready to go,
lamenting the Australian Rugby fraternity – - and celebrating the Poms and Johnny Wilkinson. And the ABs and their ex AFL player as a kicking coach. And what’s the best that the Wallabies could do – - not take their kicking coach to the 2007 RU WC. (he quit and labelled it a crap game anyway!!).
RU can be okay – - there’s more ball movement and scoring options than in predictable tackle count RL. However, it seems that many RU folk are inspired/infected by RL and seek to make RU a 100% try scoring game. Wierd – - it never was designed that way.
But certainly re the aimless kicking – - I’ve observed that often over the years (along with aimless headers in soccer going back and forth). I just figured it was during a period where all players were so stuffed that they were doing ‘recovery’ kicking. Fair enough. (perhaps 4 qtrs rather than 2 halves??). Anyway, if it’s MORE apparent now, then gee. The reality is that they run of the mill RU player isn’t that good at kicking – - and in Australia the focus on kicking is not that great (seemingly). So, the kicks will tend towards aimless!
So – I lament the lack of kicking focus in Australian Rugby. I celebrate the Kiwis, many of their aspiring Rugby players have been taking up Aust Footy during their off season. It improves their fitness and their kicking skills. The ABs might embark on an era of domination of Australian Rugby by virtue of dabbling in Australian Football. How would be the irony!!! Some of those exclusive Sydney Rugby schools might be advised to encourage a bit more school boy Aust Footy to develop/enhance their Rugby XV.