Rugby Australia has kept most of last year’s Super Rugby AU law changes for the 2021 edition, as well as adding a further two variations.
The regulations regarding kick-offs from rugby sevens have been adopted, meaning any infringement from the restart will result in a free-kick being awarded, and that the kicking team has a 30-second limit to take the kick.
And while up to ten minutes of extra time will once again be used to find a winner if teams are level after 80 minutes, a golden-try system will be used rather than last year’s golden point. The side which scores the first five-pointer of the additional period will win the match.
Teams can still opt to kick for goal either from penalties or via a drop-goal attempt, but the game will continue in the event of a successful kick until a try is scored or the ten minutes elapse.
The kick-off changes have been made to speed up the game and reduce the number of scrums, while the alterations to extra time have been introduced to encourage attacking play and avoid a repeat of a clash between the Rebels and Reds which saw both sides play out a dour, conservative final ten minutes of their drawn match in Round 2 last year.
The introduction of goal-line drop-outs, replacements for sent-off players, and 50-22 and 22-50 kicks are all rule changes from 2020 which have been retained.
In addition, referees have been directed to police the breakdown more stringently in an attempt to speed up the play, particularly in regards to Law 15.17, which states: “When the ball has been clearly won by a team at the ruck, and is available to be played, the referee calls ‘use it’, after which the ball must be played away from the ruck within five seconds.”
“These variations have the capacity to enhance the capabilities of our players, and the general entertainment value in the game as well,” RA director of rugby Scott Johnson said.
“There were some terrific, robust discussions that were had, and some great left-field ideas proposed, but we believe we have struck a great balance in preserving the integrity of the competition, developing our players for the Test arena later this year and enhancing the spectacle of the game.
“The variations were all unanimously agreed, and everyone also indicated a desire for referees to ‘speed up the game’ with a general reduction in scrum resets, and a greater onus on the attacking team to use the ball from a ruck when available.”
Super Rugby AU 2021 law changes
AndyS
Guest
Touch in-goal and missed penalty/drop would be about it, I suppose.
gatesy
Roar Guru
Does that mean the 22 dropout is no more?
Paul D
Roar Rookie
He already tackles like a league player. That’s the problem.
BeastieBoy
Roar Rookie
Good but we need much more radical changes to recapture Continuity. Reduce goals including Field goals to 2 points except where they are taken 50m + out to add to the drama and to award skill. Relieve Refs from Timekeeping and give it to an offical on the sidelines. It can be done by giving time off, limits to stoppages etc. This will allow Refs more time to manage the game. Allow quick Taps.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Probably better to play Rugby by the International rules and learn to play better.
AndyS
Guest
Any mention of how it affects two yellow cards, or what happens if the same player gets two red cards in a game/season?
Marlin
Roar Rookie
I think its all a bit silly, really. What is wrong with a draw? If the 2 teams can't be separated at full time, then it's a draw. All the rest - if the refs and the useless touches just policed the current laws things would work a lot better. For example, when did the laws change to allow a half-back to feed the ball into a scrum under his own front row's feet? Similarly, when did they change the law so that an Assistant Referee can ignore all the offsides at scrum, lineout and ruck contests? Why are players allowed to be way in front of the the ball at a restart kick? No point t changing the laws of the dopes referring the game only apply a loose interpretation of them. And replacing a red card player after 20? Not for deliberate foul play like stomping and punching, surely
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately they didn’t listen to you Geoff and kicks are out. I think this is flawed
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
I see RA have come out with the no kicks at goal in the extra time solution. I’m not sure this is a good idea and I think will create the exact negative play they’re trying to not have. Teams will definitely be defensively focussed because while going for a try seems like a good idea, a simple mistake will have you under the pump and I think teams will temper their attack so they still have a defensive capability if there are mistakes. Definitely more to lose by not having a good defence than what you might gain with an all out attack
Rugby League? Is that the sport derived from Union by Union players for other Union players? Laegue has copied Union since 1908...Yep imitation is flatery...league has imitated Union since the beginning....Just not good enough to replace Union anywhere and still only played in two country's with neither of those countries no 1 in the sport... A bunch of imports from another country....a rugby country...are the best at it in the world k&c
Geoff who is driving these law changes? Why is the NH not doing some experimenting?
K & C go and read the history of League...Its a total copy of Union made up by Union players for Union players.....maybe you had no idea about that...
soapit
Roar Guru
What proportion of reds end up with the victim needing replacement?
Markus
Roar Rookie
They are extremely memorable when they occur, but I want to know what "a few" is as a percentage of all competitive matches. I agree that with the crackdown on head-related incidents we would expect see an increase in red cards issued, but again I would like to see metrics on this before changing the laws. Number of total reds before vs after the crackdown, red cards as a % of all matches, minutes spent with a player down, difference in average scoreline between wins against full strength teams versus those a player down, a lot of factors should come into these decisions. As mentioned elsewhere in this thread, there was not a single red card issued in Super Rugby AU last season, so we have absolutely nothing to measure against.
Agree Andy.....Teams will look for the penalties to give them field position...Anything to get a lineout in the oppositions 20...
But its the governing body controlling these law changes and they are NH based
Not sure where i said a red card is a positive In Brief...just stated that if the replacement rule had been in place for the 6n then I believe Ireland would have won as they lost a man in the 15th minute so would have gotten the replacement player at the 35th minute mark...
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Thanks Geoff, it’ll be interesting to see this play out as I think that no matter what RA says there will be people who will use the opportunity to smash them when a team with fewer points wins a match. I get the intent but I don’t think it’s been thought through that well.
Kevin
Roar Rookie
Did EJ have a say on the kicking rules. Right up his street of kicking to attack????
In brief
Guest
Couple of issues with red cards- firstly, they can be marginal or even incorrect calls which impact the result as you admit in your post - not sure how that’s a positive. Secondly, they penalise the team, not the player. An individual suspension or fine would be more meaningful and wouldn’t lead to an unfair contest.