At the end of the Rugby World Cup, the governing body will no doubt do a revision of how successful the tournament was.
In many ways, it has been amazing. But there are many small changes that would have a hugely positive impact regarding the on-field spectacle. In fact, some aren’t changes to the laws – it is merely a matter of them being enforced.
Here are a handful of things I’d like to see in the professional game.
Relieve the referee of timing duties
The referee has a huge amount on his plate and it would be great to see a few things delegated. With shots at goal, there is 90-second time frame from when the try is scored to when a conversion must be attempted. Ninety seconds! If a player can’t line up a kick and have a shot within a minute there is something wrong. Why not put up a one-minute shot clock set by the TMO? This goes for penalties also.
Wasting time at the scrum has become a blight on the game and this would be simply solved by stopping the clock after the first collapse and not started again until the ball is out of the scrum, a penalty has been awarded or a push-over try has been scored. Once again, leave the clock duties to the TMO.
Police offside
The game is often stifled these days not just by defences creeping offside, but almost playing in the opposition back line. This is another area that should be entirely the focus of the assistants on the sideline. It seems that defences know these days that an offside offence in general play is never called out and they play accordingly.
Crack down on the existing law, or better still, require there to be daylight between the last feet and the defensive line and keep them honest.
Intercepts
What’s with the rule about intercepts needing to be successful otherwise it is an automatic penalty and usually a yellow card?
If it is a blatant knock down, then sure. But there have been so many very near genuine intercept attempts that are immediately penalised simply because the player failed to haul the ball in. The intercept is often a really exciting play but it is being demonised by the current interpretations.
Red cards
Geoff Parkes wrote that the Sébastien Vahaamahina red card was the perfect example of why red cards shouldn’t allow a timed replacement. I would argue that the Tomas Lavanini red card was the perfect example of why they should.
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
First and foremost, it is the player that must be punished for foul play. This can be much more severe or measured to the individual after the match when all the circumstances are scrutinised. Lengthy bans and big fines for offenders found to be guilty.
The team is still affected but marginal calls will have some respite and the game as a spectacle like the Argentina vs England match won’t be reduced to a non-event. Also, a send-off resulting in another player being allowed to replace them after say 15 minutes will mean more consistency in the punishment.
For example, a red card in the first five minutes has a much greater impact than in the last five minutes. If the red card had this sanction, you could then introduce another card (perhaps black in colour) that sends a player completely from the field in cases such as the utterly stupid act of Vahaamahina.
Jethro
Guest
Agree with what you have said. The last 20 minutes of a game is so slow. This game is about fitness and building pressure but the medics now run on and stop the game. Usually gives both sides a breather. Forwards faking injuries to give there team a rest. Look at World Cup game back in 1995 and 1999 they played the full 80 minutes, today’s game is really only 60 minutes to many breaks as teams know the ref will stop the game for the smallest of things
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
Yes and taken in context both more or less carry the same meaning.
soapit
Roar Guru
You're welcome is traditional
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
very good then
soapit
Roar Guru
I wasn't but thanks for confirming beyond doubt
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
I already did if you're implying I didn't.
Mike
Guest
Alternatively - you could restrict kicks for goal to only penalties given inside the 22.
Garry Walsh
Guest
Cannot believe what occurred in the game between South Africa and Wales promotes rugby. Speculative box kicks replaced running rugby. To my mind to reduce controversy the referees have decided not to enforce offside rule except in front of goal. Less whistle blowing yes but at the cost of promoting offside and rush up defences stifling attack by running the ball. Result has been intercept tries, attacking team backs there for defence not attack and the promotion of the box kick . The coaches play the odds on bounce of the rugby ball rather than constructive offence. To my mind this kills the game. Time should be stopped from running from the time the scrum is signalled until the ball legally exits the scrum and is in possession of either team.
John Winton
Guest
Absolutely right and not difficult to police..
Alex Smith
Roar Rookie
Rugby is no longer a game for all body types. Two suggestions here, reduce the number of substitutions (to one front-row forward) and one back. That will force players to play for 80 minutes and not bulk up so much. Also a radical suggestion, introduce weight limits for backs (like boxing or wrestling).
Alex Smith
Roar Rookie
While we are at it how about eliminating all hands from the ruck (effectively eliminating jackling) and bring back rucking. The ball used to come out quicker and there was real incentive to commit four or five men to the ruck, creating space for backs. The current ruck law means there is very difficult to referee and leads to rugby league spread defences. Watch the ‘95 World Cup and you will be surprised how much more efficient the old rucking was (in terms of quicker ball).
Alex Smith
Roar Rookie
How about feeding the ball in straight into the scrum. I never understood the argument for allowing the feed. It is possibly the easiest law to enforce because it it is two feet under the referee’s nose. It seems we currently have the worst of both worlds, protracted scrum sets with persistent collapsing and no real competition once the ball is in.
soapit
Roar Guru
thanks for offering your judgement
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
Sorry .... :thumbdown:
ClarkeG
Roar Guru
It would create a great opportunity for the broadcaster to insert adverts... :silly:
Phil S.
Guest
In regards to the red card discussion, I would like to suggest a slight variation. Background: I am a Canadian. Back in the 1950’s, in the national hockey league, there were 2 minute penalties for minor fouls and 5 minute penalties for major fouls. The offending player sat in the penalty box for the entire length of the penalty and did not return to the game until his penalty time expired. The dominant hockey team of the time was the Montreal Canadians. When they were on the power play, they would pop in 2-3 goals and the game as a contest was over. This was changed to allow the penalized player to return to the game after a goal was scored. Very successful improvement. I suggest the following: For yellow cards, a 10 minute penalty. Offending player sits on the bench until the sooner of 10 minutes or the team on the power play scores 6 or more points. For red cards, offending player is ejected from the game, a 15 minute penalty is issued, a substitute player can return after 15 minutes or the team on the power play scores 9 or more points.
Micko
Roar Rookie
The only thing I can see is if that tries are 7 points, then players would be cynical and concede the three point penalty instead.
Dan
Guest
Don’t change the value, just make a kick for goal only available if the penalty occurs inside the 22. The penalty goal should be the consolation for being in a genuine try scoring position, which certainly isn’t out near the half way line. Also the laws were written at a time when, with ankle high boots, waterlogged leather balls and mud you had to be a guru to kick from beyond 22. This simple change would incentivise attacking rugby from penalties.
Kev Traynor
Guest
I liked you guise on laws that need to be changed. Especially, coaches who are advocates of rushed defence and clearly are offside. It’s killing the running game.
Warren Melville
Guest
And forward passes. Please, please referee forward passes. It’s becoming a blight on a game that says passes must go backwards.