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Since when did line blockers become part of rugby? I’m talking here about players who are running ‘virtual’ interference for the ball carrier.
In other words, running ahead of the ball carrier to block the sliding defence (line of sight).
I first noticed this trend a few years when England was playing the All Blacks in New Zealand.
A forward crabs emerging from the breakdown, runs sideways or even forward and lets the ball carrier run him onside. A form of lazy running, if you will!
This has evolved subtly since then but it has become more prevalent as more teams use it. Players are still careful not to directly obstruct the defence but they are pushing it closer and closer.
Another form of this involves players virtually running obstruction in the breakdown against opposition forwards trying to join the breakdown.
A player will linger on his feet on the wrong side of the breakdown, blocking access, or just failing to roll away at the ruck slowly but not slow enough to incur the wrath of refs.
This is a technique employed by teams with a weaker mastery of the breakdown, where the players can’t, or won’t, get in and get their hands dirty.
Players on the attacking side are not above indulging in very blatant jersey pulling on their opponents to delay their defensive snipes at the attacking halfback.
The worse form of this is the extended cleanout, when the attacking player goes into to clean out a defender who is standing several metres clear of the breakdown. How is this not picked up as blatant obstruction?
Then there’s the kick-chase. Granted TV broadcasts are poor mediums through which to judge this, but it looks like a lot of kick-chasers are ahead of the kicker when the ball goes up, relying on the kicker (or whoever else) to run them onside.
Then there’s the crouching start.
The All Blacks were first to use this NFL technique to defend against pick-and-drives on their try line. By starting off so low, they are actually driving up into the ball carrier’s legs as they drive forward.
Thus the ball carrier, even with the support of his fellow forwards, is stopped before they make the advantage line (think a Tatafu Polota-Nau tackle but with support). The end result is that these pick-and-drives usually fail to make metres or actually get driven back.
I actually don’t mind this, as it is a way for smaller teams to defend their try line. It certainly seems to be very effective
Then there’s the breakdown which is fast resembling the old-fashioned ‘dog pile’. Players are literally flying into the breakdown and making no effort to stay, or even be, on their feet.
And don’t even get me started on the AFL aspects!
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