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In response to a recent Spiro Zavos article, sure, this single game may support your argument. But rules are played over a season, and one must consider the mean of performance over a wide distribution of data.
1. ELVs encourage the breakdown of traditional rugby roles between backs and forwards. Every ELV game has seen the promotion of forwards running with the ball outside a back. This ruins attack. A prop just doesn’t have the same skill as a second five eight.
2. ELVs encourage bodies over the ball at the breakdown, awaiting the referee to determine who wins. The defending team know that the worse case penalty is a free kick to the opposition. That’s an easy trade off compared to slowing the ball down illegally to prevent a try.
3. ELVs saw the reduction of classical backline play. The only time that backs and forwards are completely separated are during scrums, and they were infrequent.
4. ELVs encourage the “field wide defensive trench”. The long horizontal line of players fanning out across the field became more dominate due to the fact that forwards didn’t need to go to the breakdown, as forward play has been eroded under ELVS and modern rugby.
5. ELVs promoted kicking to overcome (4) above. We all have seen this blight on the game. There will be less kicking when forwards return to their traditional roles and more space is found out wide.
6. ELVs destroyed the maul. Further traditional forward play removed from the rugby.
7. ELVs promoted short lineouts, with more opportunity for forwards to stand in the backline. I refer you to (3) above.
So I say, see ya later ELVs. And good riddance!
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.