Brad Anton
2006-03-28 04:02:45 UTC
Looks like the writing's on the wall
http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/articles/2006/03/27/1143441081716.html
"The most important rugby match played over the weekend was at Stellenbosch
University between two "guinea pig" teams of students playing under new
rules - the Stellenbosch Laws - devised under the auspices of the IRB by Rod
Macqueen (coach of the 1999 World Cup Wallabies), Pierre Villepreux
(France), Richie Dixon (Scotland) and Ian McIntosh (South Africa).
The experiment is being managed by Paddy O'Brien (NZ), a former Test referee
and now the IRB's referees manager. The brief for the group was to devise a
simpler, shorter and more effective set of laws while retaining the
essential features of rugby. The group also wants to quicken up the game and
take the subjectiveness out of referees' decision making.
Danie Craven, the most powerful rugby administrator from the 1950s through
to the 1970s, once told me the laws of rugby were wrong because they were
too complicated and too long. He used teams of students at Stellenbosch to
test out his own theories. So it is appropriate that the Stellenbosch Laws
should be trialled at his university.
The main Stellenbosch Laws are:
1. At the breakdown, players can use their hands at all times. They must
come into the breakdown "through the gate". No foul play is allowed.
Otherwise, anything goes. The side that takes the ball into the breakdown
and can't release it is penalised.
2. Either side can use as many players as they like in the lineout, at any
time, providing they fit inside the 15-metre line.
3. If the ball is passed or run back into the 22 and then kicked out, the
lineout is taken from where the kick was made.
4. Long-arm penalties are to be given only for offside and foul play. All
other penalties are short-arm penalties (free kicks).
5. The maul can be collapsed by defending sides.
6. Touch judges are to become "flag referees" with a primary responsibility,
like a football touch judge, of policing the offside lines.
I had the chance last week of watching videos with Rod Macqueen of incidents
from the trial matches at Stellenbosch. After the players became accustomed
to the new laws - and, just as importantly, to the opportunities they open
up - play became very lively. Continuity flourished. The players learnt to
stop tucking the ball under their body (the Bob Dwyer ploy) when they were
tackled. Instead, they started placing it well back from the tackle.
The most contentious issue is the use of hands in the ruck. The proposed law
is simpler, taking about 30 laws out of the rule book. It allows referees to
concentrate on the essential issues, offside and foul play.
Many gurus have called for this over the years. I saw a game at TG Milner
field more than 20 years ago where laws devised by Scott Johnson, the new
Wallabies backs coach, were played. Handling in the ruck was one of about a
dozen new rules Johnson proposed. My memory is that the rucks were cleared
more effectively than they are now.
After the Stellenbosch Laws have been trialled in a 20-match competition, a
review will be presented to the IRB with the expectation that new,
simplified laws will be put into play in 2008.
The ARU is thinking of using the Stellenbosch Laws in September's inaugural
Australian Provincial Championship tournament. It should. Virtually every
innovation to make rugby open, athletic and clever has come from the
southern hemisphere. The Stellenbosch Laws follow this proud tradition."
Brad
http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/articles/2006/03/27/1143441081716.html
"The most important rugby match played over the weekend was at Stellenbosch
University between two "guinea pig" teams of students playing under new
rules - the Stellenbosch Laws - devised under the auspices of the IRB by Rod
Macqueen (coach of the 1999 World Cup Wallabies), Pierre Villepreux
(France), Richie Dixon (Scotland) and Ian McIntosh (South Africa).
The experiment is being managed by Paddy O'Brien (NZ), a former Test referee
and now the IRB's referees manager. The brief for the group was to devise a
simpler, shorter and more effective set of laws while retaining the
essential features of rugby. The group also wants to quicken up the game and
take the subjectiveness out of referees' decision making.
Danie Craven, the most powerful rugby administrator from the 1950s through
to the 1970s, once told me the laws of rugby were wrong because they were
too complicated and too long. He used teams of students at Stellenbosch to
test out his own theories. So it is appropriate that the Stellenbosch Laws
should be trialled at his university.
The main Stellenbosch Laws are:
1. At the breakdown, players can use their hands at all times. They must
come into the breakdown "through the gate". No foul play is allowed.
Otherwise, anything goes. The side that takes the ball into the breakdown
and can't release it is penalised.
2. Either side can use as many players as they like in the lineout, at any
time, providing they fit inside the 15-metre line.
3. If the ball is passed or run back into the 22 and then kicked out, the
lineout is taken from where the kick was made.
4. Long-arm penalties are to be given only for offside and foul play. All
other penalties are short-arm penalties (free kicks).
5. The maul can be collapsed by defending sides.
6. Touch judges are to become "flag referees" with a primary responsibility,
like a football touch judge, of policing the offside lines.
I had the chance last week of watching videos with Rod Macqueen of incidents
from the trial matches at Stellenbosch. After the players became accustomed
to the new laws - and, just as importantly, to the opportunities they open
up - play became very lively. Continuity flourished. The players learnt to
stop tucking the ball under their body (the Bob Dwyer ploy) when they were
tackled. Instead, they started placing it well back from the tackle.
The most contentious issue is the use of hands in the ruck. The proposed law
is simpler, taking about 30 laws out of the rule book. It allows referees to
concentrate on the essential issues, offside and foul play.
Many gurus have called for this over the years. I saw a game at TG Milner
field more than 20 years ago where laws devised by Scott Johnson, the new
Wallabies backs coach, were played. Handling in the ruck was one of about a
dozen new rules Johnson proposed. My memory is that the rucks were cleared
more effectively than they are now.
After the Stellenbosch Laws have been trialled in a 20-match competition, a
review will be presented to the IRB with the expectation that new,
simplified laws will be put into play in 2008.
The ARU is thinking of using the Stellenbosch Laws in September's inaugural
Australian Provincial Championship tournament. It should. Virtually every
innovation to make rugby open, athletic and clever has come from the
southern hemisphere. The Stellenbosch Laws follow this proud tradition."
Brad
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