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Roar Rookie
Joined June 2019
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Former player, coach, referee, administrator, and researcher.
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Who is at fault ( and possibly carded) when the ball carrier ducks their head and leads into a tackle and contacts the head of the tackler? It’s common practice and worrying in terms of repeated head knocks. Hypothetically, under current protocols, it warrants a card, but to whom? Has a ball carrier ever been red-carded in the tackle?
Head contact is an issue for administrators, not referees
A guide we were given many years ago related to the tackled player releasing the ball was that he had as long as it took you to say “immediately”.
Everything a ref must consider when adjudicating the tackle
As a Kiwi living in the States both during the Madden coaching era and later with him as a commentator, I got to enjoy the game and still enjoy watching it. His coaching style and later his insight and personality helped foster my enjoyment of the game. This is despite the 3- hour telecast. So what made him (and the other great commentator) so good? Firstly, its knowledge of how it’s played, and the roles of all the players in all positions. Therefore, any rugby commentator would ideally have been a coach. A great player would not have this breadth of understanding of all the positions. Secondly, they should know the Laws of the game and their interpretation. Not necessarily as a referee, but having refereed a few games they might appreciate how much decision-making their is, how little time there is to make these decisions, and how they might/might not affect the ‘flow’ of the game. Thirdly, they should be widely read about the game. Read some insightful biographies/ autobiographies and reflective books and articles that offer valued insights into the game to add to their commentary. Also, contributions of scholars of the game (and I don’t mean just academics) can add detail. For example, in this morning’s Otago newspaper, there is an article on how the game has lost its way and provides ‘fodder’ for commentary (https://www.odt.sport.rugby/game-isn’t-it-should-be-now-dozens-rules-get-way), which prompted this response. So what is the solution to improve the commentary? Select the right people based on their knowledge and understanding of the game, broaden their perspective, provide them with good technical support and a producer who understands what the commentator is trying to do. A bit like a coach, really!
When will the John Madden of rugby finally emerge?
And no arms!
REACTION: 'We're pretty disappointed'- Unlucky Tahs rue ill discipline as 'clinical' Chiefs take the chocolates
Having been involved in researching scrum safety for many, many years, a couple of ‘tweaks’ to the scrum might help reduce the number of scrums collapsing. The first is to allow the loose-head prop to drop their bind and place a hand on the ground to help keep the scrum up. I doubt this would increase scrum instability unless others in the scrum loosen their binding. There is a natural tendency for the scrum to screw about its long axis and to shift laterally. The second is to ensure both hookers are in a position to strike for the ball. At the moment, the defending hooker can get horizontal to increase forward force. Having them in a position to strike for the ball not only helps keep their front row up but also reduces their push. Remember when hookers used to be among the smallest players on the field. Now they rival props in terms of size. The third option is more management. Reduce the penalty for scrum collapse to a free kick. Props are now almost horizontal with their feet so far back that any lack of foot traction will cause a collapse. That is not intentional and/or malicious, it is as much a consequence of the turf/boot interaction as it is a technique error. There is no simple solution – managing change of the engagement took a long time with many trialled variations (for example, sequential binding, hip bind vs crotch bind, 3-2-3 scrum formations, even the old 2-3-2 formation). What it came down to was managing the body position and reducing the speed of impact. So perhaps the time is right to trial some innovations in scrum management.
Is this a problem without a solution? Why thinking around scrums needs a reset
By bringing the leg up, you would cause the upper body to rotate forwards. It’s a case of a body not suspended in space rotating about its centre of mass and Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion (Action/Reaction). If the player felt he was falling backwards, bringing the trunk forward (upright) would cause the legs to come up. Conversely, bringing the legs up would cause the trunk to come up, to put the body in a more upright position. Just look at any diver/gymnast/trampolinist and you’d see this Law in action.
'Not guilty': Why Jordie Barrett was cleared for Koroibete face kick
Should have qualified my statement – break the bind and put the outside arm down to prevent the front row collapsing. At the moment, it is a penalised offence,
The Thursday rugby two-up: How the law variations have made an impact, and the ones we want to see next
I have looked at many scrums and different scrum combinations and one simple solution to reduce scrum re-sets would be to allow the LH to put down this outside arm. This would not significantly reduce the integrity or stability of the scrum as the LH is bound in by the opposing TH and their own hooker and side row.
The Thursday rugby two-up: How the law variations have made an impact, and the ones we want to see next
If the tackled player is on their feet and/or on the ground, a ruck is formed. But if the tackler(s) move away (ie just the tackled player and possibly a support player), is it still ruck? The ball is sitting there and it seems no attacking player is allowed to play the ball.
Analysis: The 25 minutes when Bledisloe 1 got away from the Wallabies
The other issue is finally coming u against a referee who penalises attacking players leaving their feet at a ruck to seal-off the ball. A common trait of Australia Super Rugby teams.
ANALYSIS: Single biggest issue causing Brumbies headaches - and why it can be traced back to Fisher's departure