The Chiefs’ 72-65 win over the Lions in a Super 14 rugby match which produced a record 18 tries has raised questions over whether new rule interpretations err too much in favour of attacking teams.
The second-round match in Johannesburg on Friday was the highest-scoring in Super rugby history, eclipsing the 118 points scored when Natal, now the Sharks, beat the Highlanders 75-43 in Durban in 1997.
Each team on Friday scored nine tries – beating the previous single match record of 17 tries – and the second half produced 85 points, leaving observers divided over whether the match was an aberration or a sign new rulings are strangling defence.
Waikato coach Ian Foster was among those who saw the match as an anomaly.
“It’s one of those games in some ways you just have to enjoy it for what it was and hope those sort of games don’t happen too often,” Foster said.
“It was at altitude, it was hot and I think our fatigue factor in that last quarter helped them score those last three or four tries. It’s not a usual game of rugby.
“Last year, we had a 63-34 game against the Blues and it sort of felt similar to that. So I’m not sure it’s totally foreign to rugby but clearly I don’t think it’s going to be a weekly occurrence.”
The match was the most glaring reflection of a high-scoring trend in the second round of this year’s tournament.
In four out of seven weekend matches, winning teams scored more than 40 points. A total of 52 tries were scored at a rate of seven per match and 461 points at an average of 65 per game. The second round in 2009 produced 35 tries and 288 points at 41 points per match.
Super 14 officials are working with referees to address acknowledged “problem areas” in the game – principally the tackled ball, the scrum and offside play at kick returns – which impede continuity, inhibit attack or yield an advantage to defensive teams.
Marc Hinton, a Fairfax columnist, questioned whether matches such as Friday’s were good for rugby. Hinton said rule interpretations which sought to improve the quality of matches may have gone too far.
“After sitting through a 2009 rugby season that got progressively more stodgy, one-dimensional and downright boring, the southern hemisphere superpowers have decided to see if they can give things a little nudge in the right direction,” Hinton said.
“But judging by Jo’burg … they may just have unleashed a monster.”
In other high-scoring second-round matches South Africa’s Bulls reached 50 points for the second-straight week, beating the ACT Brumbies 50-32 to go to the top of the standings.
The Hurricanes, who managed only one try in a 34-20 first-round win over the Blues, scored seven in a 47-22 win over a Western Force team which was severely depleted by injuries.
And the Queensland Reds upset seven-time champions the Crusaders 41-20.
In other matches, the Blues beat the Highlanders 19-15, the Cheetahs beat the Sharks 25-20 and the Stormers defeated New South Wales 27-6.
Derm
Roar Guru
Jones writes for the Sunday Times. The author's name is on the article in the pull-quote. Gemmell.
johnno42
Guest
was that stephen jones....?
Derm
Roar Guru
One NH journalist's take on the Lions/Chiefs match written for Sky Sports in UK: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12325_5971033,00.html Don't blame the interpretations is his bottom line.
johnno42
Guest
well pothy, we probably wouldn't... if you didn't jump on your high horse and decry the running game that is sometimes played down here, in the ftrst place.
Derm
Roar Guru
There's a difference between lopsided scores and high-scoring games, OJ. The examples VC gave - 34-51, 13-26, 65-72 and 50-32. along with the 72-65 are all relatively high or high scoring games (excepting 13-26). But hey ho - we're not used to seeing these high numbers in our 9-6 penalty-infested NH matches - so don't mind us. :)
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Was this game any worse when the Crusaders beat the Waratahs 96-19? Or when the Bulls beat the Reds 92-3? I don't know where the good Count has been all these years but the Super 14 has a history of lopsided scores.
bennalong
Guest
Sorry. Can't see why he went upstairs if he saw it being grounded.
bennalong
Guest
DrewB This is the key and why referees must be brought into the ongoing debate Somehow rucking must 'replace diving over ' and 'cleaning out'. The Stormers bypassed the new laws sometimes by driving over (tick) but frequently by diving over [read 'clearing out']....(CROSS) The breakdown has become the breakdown of rugby.......different ref, TOTALLY different rules at the breakdown. Sadly, I do not believe thisa new/old interpretation will work.Where is the evaluation?
Drew B
Guest
Right on Rusty. Turnovers will come from counter-rucking, as long as the ref's keep the attacking side on their feet. Hard to move two bodies when they are laying on the ground. If this is the end result, I will be very pleased.
Rusty
Roar Guru
2 of those games have involved the Bulls who are notorious for blasting teams away in the last quarter after the combination of altitude and their pack squeeze the life out of the opposition. They were doing the same thing last year (think final) and they will do the same again this year. The Lions v Cheetahs game was an aberration and really only a change on previous years by the fact the Lions actually also ran up a score. It wouldnt even be a discussion point if the score was 72-25
Red Cap
Guest
Diehard rugby league supporters don't watch union. They just laugh at it...
Rusty
Roar Guru
There will be some settling into the current interpretations and for the coaching to catchup. To my mind we will see teams playing less true fetchers and in effect more bigger blind side type flankers as the only way to turnover ball will be by rucking. This in itself should lead to more space appearring as more players on the defensive side commit to rucks looking for a turnover.
tubby
Guest
on the stormmers first try - the ref himself thought it was grounded, and asked for reason for him not to grant the try, so it was the right call.
TembaVJ
Roar Guru
I find it funny that people complain when there is too little running rugby, then once they get high pace game they complain that there is too much running… perhaps the die hard RL supporters finally got a game of union to enjoy. All the games have produced more points and I like it. (All except the Waratahs) This happens when you take away the fight for possession of the ball… I just hope this does not become a regular thing in S14.
bennalong
Guest
No mention in any of the pars I've read about referees. Not a name given or assessment of their performance. In fact the impression of a consistent approach in round one was not apparent in round 2. Keith Brown had a shocker IMO. Not withstanding a poor performance from the Tahs, Brown did NOT apply the new rules in the tryless first half, and allowed the Stormers to dive over and kill the ball This is not to say the Tahs actually pushed the running game to take advantage of the new rules, but the penalties given to them reflected an early dominance that might have produced a try had Brown been pinging the defending side. My main point is that Brown was applying his own rules emphasis (which included pinging Phil Waugh twice for coming in from the side when twice he came from beside the bum of another Tah, driving foreward) The Tahs were standing off at the tackle but watching non-plussed as the Stormers took a more aggressive approach in defence with impunity. I read that the refs would be allowed to be interviewed before and after the match. If true it would be great if we could hear the briefing given to the players before the match, especially how they would be refereeing the breakdown. After match interviews would at least get responses re contentious decisions like Joubert's decision to ignore his own obstruction of a key Brumbies defender which allowed a try to the Bulls or the video refs decision to grant a try to the Stormers when no grounding was evident in replay and the ref was on the spot! The refs performance MUST be included in post game analysis
johnno42
Guest
nahh lets get back to the endless scrum resets... and the boring penalty shots at goal...
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
OMG!!!! Rugby players scoring lots of tries. We can't have that!!!!! I'd rather watch it than the tosh of the last few years. It's an aberration anyway.
Viscount Crouchback
Guest
It's not anomalous. That's four games played on the high veldt so far this Super 14, with scorelines of 34-51, 13-26, 65-72 and 50-32. This is what rugby league looks like when there is no tackle rule.
Lee
Guest
Agree with you there. The Chiefs won't threaten the Bulls or Canes with defense like that.
Brett McKay
Guest
Foster's right, this was an anomaly, a rare cricket score that eclipsed the previous cricket score, which was 13 years ago. And it's week 2 for crying out loud!! Teams are still getting used to playing!! Enjoy it for the rarity it was, and now let's move on..