I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and I’ve written sporadically here, mostly when something gets my dander up.
But this is just a random distillation of my thoughts about the way that the game should be played, whether or not people want to speed it up, dumb it down, change the rules (ergo, the laws), or however they may want to tinker.
Let’s get the debate going. I’m sure that there is more that people want to add.
Here is my manifesto.
1. Rugby is a game for all shapes and sizes. A given. The ultimate motherhood statement. One of the foundation stones. No further comment needed.
2. Rugby is a simple game that becomes complicated by people who don’t understand it.
3. It is only a game for spectators up to a point. It is not meant to be tinkered with, just because some people (who may or may not have played it) want to see it sped up or worse – dumbed down.
4. The laws are not made by nor governed by or for Australia. Other people, in countries that are not dominated by other competing codes, make the rules. The more recent ones are good for the game, without ruining it as a contest.
(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
5. If it’s not as free flowing or exciting as competing codes, we need to suck it up.
6. You can’t win a game if you play at the wrong end of the field.
7. If you can’t break the defensive line, find a way past it, or find a way to bend it.
8. If you need to kick to the other end, find grass, or find the line, or try to hit the catcher before he can play it.
9. If you must kick high you have to chase.
10. Box kicks must have a purpose.
11. The chase has to be balanced. That is where the gaps start to appear.
12. I hate the rolling maul, except when it’s the Brumbies scoring from it. Hookers are fast becoming the highest try scorers!
13. The whole mantra of our game is pressure in the contests, whether that be running, rucking, mauling, tackling, taking the ball into contact, kicking, catching, the scrum and the lineout.
14. Attacking pressure means turning the screw with accuracy and precision.
15. You have to earn the right to go wide – whatever that means. I think it’s one of those motherhood phrases that causes more doubt than certainty for players.
As long as good nines and tens understand it, she’ll be right! I would hate to see it become like rugby league with formulaic phase play. The game has to flow and be unpredictable.
(Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
16. Defensive pressure means having the mindset of doing absolutely everything necessary to get the ball back (without getting up the ref’s nose).
17. Every phase is a contest to apply maximum pressure.
18. Every contest won is a victory. The team with the most victories usually wins.
19. We are a team. We all have a job. We play for each other.
20. We talk and communicate.
21. The referee is always right, even when he’s not. Somebody should sew up their pockets.
22. Beyond all, the main objects of the game are to work up a thirst to enjoy the moment with your mates post game, and make lasting friendships.
23. But wait, there’s more! Your thoughts?
Kaiviti Boy
Guest
I love my rugby but please please fix the advantage rule or refs playing penalty advantage. Surely if you drop the ball over the line you shouldn’t have to go back 20 mins and receive a penalty! The way advantage is reffed is a blight on the game.
ScottD
Roar Guru
Works for me!
piru
Roar Rookie
Want to elaborate?
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Oh come on Jacko, we all know it's a game that's only played at the top level, only on the East Coast of Australia, Bro!! It's not like the ' World game ' or 'Global game' , that we here enjoy. In fact, it's a game, that came to being here in Australia, due to some, wanting to be paid for their toils, back in the early 1900's. A branch off from our game called, Rugby!!
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Interesting gatesy, as with your point number 4. Yes the rules are not made only for Australia, due to the game being a ' Global game'. The rules, or laws are, these days, are decided, in a place in Ireland, that calls itself World Rugby, that in many's opinion are utterly useless. Partly, due to them not having the ability to fully decipher the wording of the new law that is put in place, effectively. That's why we've seen over the decades, different interpretations across the globe, just for the one law. Bit ridiculous, as WR appear not to learn from their past mistakes.
Just call me Campo
Roar Rookie
let me think about some of them BUT I wholeheartedly agree with #22. All the best
Carlin
Roar Rookie
Thanks mate. Some really simple principles on what rugby is based on. Number 22 is always a good one.
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
Day of the Jackal.....I'm all for breeding them Jackals up !
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
Back again Gatesy, with time to comment, sometimes "tongue in cheek" ! "Rugby is a game for all shapes and sizes". For sure. From huge prop to tiny winger...well relatively tiny....they can be little grenades.....Cheslin Kolbe ! But props are just such characters, often terrifying people. First one I recall from childhood was Alfred Roques, of France. He was in the French Resistance in WW2 before playing for France on the rugby field. I recall Wilson Whineray and Ken Gray, great All Blacks, also the wonderfully named Billy Bush. Then there was Irelands Peter Clohessy, known ominously as "The Claw" . "Bonzo" Johns played for Cornwall in the afternoons after delivering bags of coal during the morning. Finally Gérard Cholley, former paratrooper and boxing champion...few argued with him in the French front row. "Rugby is a simple game that becomes complicated by people who don’t understand it." We talking refs. here ? Or many journalists ? "It is only a game for spectators up to a point" This is an interesting one. True of the pre pro game, but not now with stakeholders putting big money into the game/teams ? "If you need to kick to the other end, find grass, or find the line, or try to hit the catcher before he can play it." Too many kickers not able to do this. 50/20 possibility should be coached to perfection too. " I would hate to see it become like rugby league with formulaic phase play. The game has to flow and be unpredictable." Great point. The brilliant players who can turn a game by doing something outside "the game plan" are gold dust.....Richie Mo'unga, Beauden Barrett....jeez, NZ get have two of them ! "Beyond all, the main objects of the game are to work up a thirst to enjoy the moment with your mates post game, and make lasting friendships." That's what makes this game so wonderful, esp. the lasting friendships !!
Brian Westlake
Roar Rookie
That’s why we have mums :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Harry Jones
Expert
Henry Time-Stowers, Evan Roos, Greg Alldritt. The Age of the Eight!
Khun Phil
Roar Rookie
Very well said,Gatesy.I go along with just about everything you have included.I especially like number 5,comparison to other codes.Rugby has always had its knockers who say - it's not as attractive as league or it has too many stoppages compared to AFL - usually they are followers of those codes.Who cares?Rugby is rugby and should not change to suit others. Number 15 has always been a puzzling one to me - "you have to earn the right to go wide".How come many of the greatest tries ever scored are from breaks created within the attacking sides own 22? For sure the laws are complex and we all scratch our heads at some decisions(especially if against our team),but I think this is also a part of the attraction that sets rugby apart from other sports.
Diesel 2.0
Roar Rookie
24. Keep turning up the training no matter how crap you are. Work hard on all of the things that don't require talent and you will eventually outlast the talented ones who think talent alone will get them through. 25. Some think Thirsty 3rds is their pinnacle - it could be yours. Embrace it and enjoy it. Great article mate
piru
Roar Rookie
yep. Would seem gatesy agrees with us, even though he doesn't realise! 13. The whole mantra of our game is pressure in the contests, whether that be running, rucking, mauling, tackling, taking the ball into contact, kicking, catching, the scrum and the lineout.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Im with you on that one Piru. Its ok to have a player knock on a bad pass thats a metre in front of them but a defender cant even go for the ball unless its garranteed they catch it.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Someone has to love them Brian. :laughing:
Lano
Roar Guru
Good point, and this season has offered up some amazing wings' performances!
piru
Roar Rookie
It's just playing defence, we're the only sport that is so restrictive about how you can defend
Newey Fan
Guest
My thoughts - your first one was wrong so I stopped reading...
Fast Freddy
Guest
#13 should rule the game Get rid of the "Mark" , no competition if you put your hand up, if the "Mark" is gone, now the backs have to evade and keeps game going rather than stopping game with no possible competition , more pressure on back to have skills. Chasers would now have a purpose to chase Maybe refs could rule the rucks correctly, I am sure it was players bind over the ball, if a player has his hands on the ground or on a player on the ground he cannot bind! , and he is not supporting his own body weight, competition means a ruck gets to be like a mini scrum and players bind and can push the opposition off the ball, cant do that when defenses head is a foot off ground , or player is laying on his own players, ref should penalize for not rolling away if lying on player has hands on ground , shutting the competition for the ball down Think how many concussion we would save if defense bodies were in player "taking off" position, supportng his own weight and not bound to player on ground, alot easier to clean out. Even the jackal would get a better shot at the ball , more competition rules #13, #13 for the win!