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Thread: I've gone off about rugby being far better now than it was before, and I think it clearly is, but I also don't think it's perfect and I sympathise, especially after this weekend, with people who want more free flowing rugby. I am one of them.
Here are the problems:
1)
Here are the problems:
1)
Rugby is where it's at because players have got better and smarter. They now understand that giving up possession via kicking or slowly building phases can be advantageous, plus quickly improving defences make that a necessity.
2)
2)
The problem for people who want a return, although this world never truly existed, to running rugby with loads of space, requires players to become less skillful. Those holes existed because your props were ornamental in the loose or the opp contributed 9 to a ruck.
3)
3)
Getting that toothpaste back in the tube is impossible without something drastic like going back to the amateur days.
What else do you do?
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What else do you do?
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The NFL has, like rugby, grown consistently and seen fast growth in new markets recently. This year has seen some stupendously good games.
A big reason for that is attack has the advantage because of the laws.
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A big reason for that is attack has the advantage because of the laws.
5)
That is the crux. If rugby wants to become free flowing with loads of space then you have to change the laws. That is very unpalatable, anecdotally, to the same people who want to see a return to rugby's heyday in the 60s, 70s, 90s - basically whenever you were 16.
6)
6)
The NFL has made it almost impossible to defend passing plays thanks to extremely strict pass interference rules and maddening rules on where, how late, and how hard you can tackle the quarterback. The benefit has been a sport where attack rules.
7)
7)
In rugby it wouldn't just be a case of making the tackler roll away quicker, we already have that and many still aren't happy. It would be far more drastic than that.
Laws such as:
8)
Laws such as:
8)
- No tackling above waist height
- 13 players per side
- Even stricter rolling away laws
- No jackals or even counter rucking
- No substitutes
- Way more relaxed laws on passing off the floor
To name but 6.
9)
- 13 players per side
- Even stricter rolling away laws
- No jackals or even counter rucking
- No substitutes
- Way more relaxed laws on passing off the floor
To name but 6.
9)
On balance I'm not in favour of those changes. I doubt many are. If you are then fantastic but I don't think many would be. But that is what we'd have to do to make the best try from 1981 the day to day rugby in 2021.
10.
10.
