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Rugby's tactical penalty: cheating or genius?

19th April, 2012
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19th April, 2012
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Since the dawn of rugby, every small advantage which could be used to win a match would have been employed. Some are fair and reasonable, some may be considered cheating, some you may not even realise exist.

In this modern age where the sport of rugby is broken down through game films, replays and most importantly, statistics, these edges can be found and exploited more readily.

This statistical analysis is used to discover trends in regards to where the ball will be thrown in the lineout, on which side of the field a referee gives more penalties, and where the opposing place kicker may have certain weaknesses.

It is this last one that I would like to focus on quickly. The tactical penalty. In the current day and age, yellow cards and penalties for slowing the ball down are more prolific, the speed of the game paramount, and trying not to over-step the boundary is important.

But could a captain know where an opposing kicker’s weak spot is, and while on the back foot, deliberately commit a penalty in the ruck?

He knows that the chance of the opposition getting three points is less than their chance of getting seven with the result of quick ball from the ruck. He knows this will also give his players the opportunity to rest and regroup after diffusing the assault, albeit under dubious circumstances. So my answer would be yes.

Is this cheating or is it just a testament to how knowledgeable some of the current players, most notably the captain, are?

The ability for someone to be able to make these tactical infringements during the heat of battle in a Super Rugby or Test match is something I imagine only a select few can achieve. Guys like Richie McCaw, David Pocock and a bit of a throwback to George Smith.

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Think about when you become most frustrated watching a game of rugby. Your team is attacking, everything is flowing, you have momentum, you look like scoring, then in a marginal portion of the field a penalty is given at the ruck. Who is the last one to pop up and get a talking to? One of those guys.

Could they have known, through the analysis of statistics, where it would be safe to give these penalties? I think so.

If you stick to the exact definition of cheating which is to “act dishonestly or unfairly to gain an advantage” or “to deceive or trick,” then it is cheating. But if this is the case then you could not actually play a game of rugby.

The game is full of deceit, lies and trickery. Coded calls into the line out, dummy runners, fake jumpers and dummy passes all contribute to the elaborate deception during a game.

I declare the use of the tactical penalty as tactical genius.

Rules are meant to be bent for our advantage. If you do not think so, here is an everyday example.

We have road rules for when we are driving. If you are late, you might speed. If the parking spot is two hours but you know you will be longer, you might run the risk. Why?

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Because it may save you time, money or effort. It is a risk versus reward situation. You might get a fine, but only if you get caught.

This is the same in rugby. The use of the tactical penalty is very much risk versus reward. Get caught deliberately doing it and you will be in the bin for 10 minutes, make it look like an accident and you will stop a probable seven points and give up an unreliable chance for three.

The tactical penalty may be spoken about in the rugby world in hushed whispers, but it is a part of the game. A part of the game many might not know about, nor its level of significance relating to the outcome of a match.

It is a testament to how complex and intellectual the game has become. No longer do you employ a huge forward pack to rumble you up the field and then pass to some backs with flair.

The modern rugby player needs to have a balance between intelligence and physicality. A kind of violent nerd. It is a perfect example that the modern athlete is more educated, more aware of his surroundings, situation and possible outcomes.

It also proves that if you know your stuff and listen to the stats man, you can get away with murder and be loved for it, in your home country at least.

These few players are the ones currently living by the 11th commandment.

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Thou shalt not get caught.

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