New law amendments

[Mr Mwenda]

When actually did the 9 become invulnerable? I noticed it for the first time 4-5 years ago when i was penalised for twatting a slow 9 but it must have taken a while to filter down to my level of rugby.

[belgarion]

When actually did the 9 become invulnerable? I noticed it for the first time 4-5 years ago when i was penalised for twatting a slow 9 but it must have taken a while to filter down to my level of rugby.

No idea but personally reckon they should be fair game the moment they put their hand on the ball. Might
get the game to quicken up a bit & also stop all the aimless box kicking

[Puja]

When actually did the 9 become invulnerable? I noticed it for the first time 4-5 years ago when i was penalised for twatting a slow 9 but it must have taken a while to filter down to my level of rugby.

Not really sure - it used to be that you could grab them if you could reach them through the ruck, then it became you could only get them if they touched the ball, and now they're only fair game if they've actively picked the ball up. Next logical step is that we're not allowed to tackle them until they've run 5m from the breakdown.

Puja

[Digby]

The game is moving towards Ben Youngs then

[Raggs]

That next logical step was already in place, before the new offside at the ruck laws, you weren't allowed to interfere with the 9 even after he picked it up (remember italy getting pinged for it) had to give him space, not sure how long for though.

[Doorzetbornandbred]

Have thought about it for a bit and in retrospect I'm not sure I like the "No kick out of a ruck" amendment. It's great when you think about stationary rucks with people flailing their legs around, but if there's an underresourced ruck and the scrum-half is present, how can one compete? You can't just drive through and ignore the ball because you'd be taking out the scrum-half, you can't handle the ball because it's in a ruck, you can't hook the ball backwards because there's a ruck in the way, and you can't kick it out because that's now against the laws. So how can one compete at a ruck? Why should anyone resource an attacking ruck beyond the first man in to clear a jackaller? Simply get someone to play scrum-half and hover over the ball and you're untouchable.

Puja

To me it sounds like you would want to have a go at old fashioned dynamic rucking.....1980's Scotland style, a pod (dirty word) of forwards form a loose scrum and drive over the ball?
Its not going to go down well with defensive coaches who are now in the comfort zone of all players understanding defensive lines, line speed, etc for 4 or 5 forwards to be marauding around to hit rucks.
Its as ever going to a play off between contesting the ball and being organised in defence.

The problem is that is that as soon as the pod makes contact with the 9, they've "taken out the half-back" and it's a penalty.


Speaking to a couple referees over the weekend they like the new law and feel we will see players counter rucking more until sides put more in to protect the ball so we should in theory see more space out wide. Will it happen? Who knows, I'm in the process of trying to work out what the plan is at the tackle now for my Colts side. Do we forget the attempt at jackling or hunt in 3's with 2 and 3 just clearing anyone out near the ball after the tackle has been made forcing a turnover in a different style? Do the lads try to jackle which in my opinion is only gonna be on if they have a full on frontal tackle and send the carrier back

Puja

[kk67]

I'm very pleased they've decided to emphasize the ball must be delivered straight. At times the 3rd test started to look like rugby league. The feeding was so pronounced that you got the feeling both packs had given up on even trying to compete on the oppositions put in.
Exactly why the elite ref's panel have allowed this situation to get progressively worse is a mystery to me.

[Digby]

I'm very pleased they've decided to emphasize the ball must be delivered straight. At times the 3rd test started to look like rugby league. The feeding was so pronounced that you got the feeling both packs had given up on even trying to compete on the oppositions put in.
Exactly why the elite ref's panel have allowed this situation to get progressively worse is a mystery to me.

Straight yes, but only after you're allowed to stand on your side anyway.

Until we see how it works in practice with the attacking team having to make a strike I'm simply open to seeing what happens. But I wouldn't praise them for allowing them to feed it straight on the their side, if it works then it'd be fine to do so.

The best things about the scrum recently has been reducing the power of the hit, and then the refs being more inclined to insist usable ball be played rather than offering a penalty

[kk67]

I'm very pleased they've decided to emphasize the ball must be delivered straight. At times the 3rd test started to look like rugby league. The feeding was so pronounced that you got the feeling both packs had given up on even trying to compete on the oppositions put in.
Exactly why the elite ref's panel have allowed this situation to get progressively worse is a mystery to me.

Straight yes, but only after you're allowed to stand on your side anyway.

Until we see how it works in practice with the attacking team having to make a strike I'm simply open to seeing what happens. But I wouldn't praise them for allowing them to feed it straight on the their side, if it works then it'd be fine to do so.

The best things about the scrum recently has been reducing the power of the hit, and then the refs being more inclined to insist usable ball be played rather than offering a penalty

Yeah. I similarly do not really understand the point of the 9 being able to stand away from the tunnel apart from it stopping them from shoving each other in that pointless manner they seem to enjoy.

The pre-bind was a very good amendment. That certainly made it simpler for the ref's who'd never played in the pack.

[Danno]

The game is moving towards Ben Youngs then

Shame he's always crabbing away from it

[Digby]

Ruck
Law 16

A ruck commences when at least one player is on their feet and over the ball which is on the ground (tackled player, tackler). At this point the offside lines are created. Players on their feet may use their hands to pick up the ball as long as this is immediate. As soon as an opposition player arrives, no hands can be used.

Rationale: To make the ruck simpler for players and referees.

I get how one offside line is created by there being one player over the ball, but how is the 2nd line created by one player over the ball? Can you simply arrive from anywhere in front of the back foot of the one player?

Right, it sounds like you're best off getting as close to the splits as you can whilst staying on your feet as the one player arriving to form a ruck. The offside line will be the hindmost foot for each of the arriving players feet, i.e. if you're feet are together there'd be one offside line, if your feet are 1m apart so too will the offside lines be

[Oakboy]

Ruck
Law 16

A ruck commences when at least one player is on their feet and over the ball which is on the ground (tackled player, tackler). At this point the offside lines are created. Players on their feet may use their hands to pick up the ball as long as this is immediate. As soon as an opposition player arrives, no hands can be used.

Rationale: To make the ruck simpler for players and referees.

I get how one offside line is created by there being one player over the ball, but how is the 2nd line created by one player over the ball? Can you simply arrive from anywhere in front of the back foot of the one player?

Right, it sounds like you're best off getting as close to the splits as you can whilst staying on your feet as the one player arriving to form a ruck. The offside line will be the hindmost foot for each of the arriving players feet, i.e. if you're feet are together there'd be one offside line, if your feet are 1m apart so too will the offside lines be

That has to be an unintended consequence presumably? The next injury fashion will be hernias otherwise.