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A few other articles recently have stimulated enough ideas, for me to need a dedicated article to articulate these thoughts.
Is modern rugby healthy? Is it healthy for fans or for the players? The answer is no and no.
Fundamentally, at the higher levels, modern rugby is a highly professional sport, with highly trained athletes that are bigger and stronger than generations past.
Through training, coaching and physical attributes, defensive structures are far better than a generation ago, and thus open running rugby is becoming less common.
Also the modern game seems to be cursed with extended periods of either no play, or dour play, due to scrum resets, penalty kicks, or injury breaks.
For the audience, this has become a far less attractive spectacle, and fans are fleeing, seeking out and watching games with more excitement and colour.
David Campese would rarely see the ball these days, and would not have scored a fraction of the tries that he did.
Rugby purists are steeped in the traditions of the game, but what will be left of rugby, if it is only the old purists (a diminishing population) that are left to watch.
The facts are that things have changed, through professionalism and better athletes, rugby has changed as a game and as a spectacle, and hence, in response to this, the rules and make-up of rugby need to change. The problems as I see it are:
Bigger stronger players colliding with each other create more injuries and injury breaks: The solution would be to make them smaller, have fewer breaks in play so lighter, fitter players are required.
Frequent scrum resets: Solution – have fewer and smaller forwards, meaning fitter players are required.
Fewer attacking opportunities in backline, due to extra forwards defending there: Solution – fitter, smaller forwards.
Time lost by penalty kicks: Limit the time available for the kick, or substitute with drop-goals, or radical idea of substituting a point for a penalty kick.
Time lost through injury and faked injury breaks: Again, we need smaller, fitter players.
Boring play-repeated ‘pick and goes’ and mauls: Ban mauls and make backline moves therefore a more attractive prospect.
So, in summary, I am proposing a team of 12-13 with forwards six, seven and possibly eight removed, strict time limits for goal kicks, time off for scrum resets and limited breaks for ‘injured’ players.
These will be less likely anyway. Situations like last year, where about 20 or more top Australian players were injured, will be far less likely to occur.
A game where players are less likely to face severe injuries and less likely to be crippled elders, will attract more young players that would otherwise play soccer or AFL, all desirable consequences.
And, best of all, the game will be transformed into a fast exciting spectacle that will gain legions of new fans.
How could you argue against that? Today’s rugby at its best is great to watch, but unfortunately, the vast majority of games don’t reach those heights.
Currently, an average game of AFL, NRL or A-League are far more likely to be a better spectacle, and I would like that to change.
With these sort of changes, it will happen.
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.