Now, this isn’t just a rant from a disgruntled ex-winger, but it seems to me that the professional game is being dominated by driving lineout mauls and that far too many tries are coming from this highly technical phase of play.
But when you strip it back, do you really want to be watching matches in which the kick to the corner, and the inevitable drive for the line, is the most dominant technical and tactical objective. Quite frankly, I’m sick of it!
Fans are crying out for more entertainment for the increasing sums of money they are spending to watch professional rugby. They want to see the ball being thrown around, not stuffed up the jumper by the big fellas who then flex their muscles in a squeeze for the line. Back in the early days of rugby there used to be giant mauls, some of which went on for minutes. It looks like we have reverted back to those boring days.
So, here is a plan to change the laws to try to cut down on this blight on the modern game. It was back in the late Sixties that the biggest, and arguably the best law reform was introduced by the then IRB. Aussie inspired, this outlawed kicking directly to touch from outside your 22. Soon the game was transformed. We now have the chance to do the same thing today. Instead of allowing a team to kick to touch from a penalty and get the lineout all over the field, you simply change the law to read ‘no penalty kicked to touch from inside the opposition half will earn a throw-in to the team kicking to touch’.
Denne historien er fra April 16, 2023-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra April 16, 2023-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
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Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
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Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
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Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
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Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
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It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
