IRB announces global trial of ELVs

[O'Rothlain]

If this rule becomes permenant we might as well jack it all in and play league. The real beauty of union is it is a game for all sizes and a game of depth and substance. Lets celebrate that fact rather than make all players and teams one dimensional. [/b]

You are exactly right. Maybe in the short term Rugby will look Rugby-ish, but I swear you have to look ten years on. If you devalue forward work, you devalue the need of forwards and will start to slowly over that time period impliment a different sort of forward, one who looks more like a league forward. Matt Dunning, nor John Hayes, are prepared to transform into league-styled props.

Does anyone really think Faan Rautenback looks like he could be a League Forward????

Damn it ELV's! Leave Faan to do the work God built him to do!!!

 

[Prestwick]

Ian McGeechan is saying the effect of the lineout and maul rule changes will be fewer fat lads (Prestwick) having to contest possession, so most of them will be spread out across the field smothering back moves with their clammy armpits. Nice.[/b]

By doing that at grass-roots level, you're going to be cutting out anyone who is over 35 and/or unfit who have neither the time to go hit the gym and get to up to the qualified standards. They want to just turn up, play, have a fight and then get drunk afterwards laughing about said fight.

The RFU have been running a campaign recently called "GO PLAY" which aims to get people who used to play rugby back into the groove. Thats why the RFU were polling grassroots clubs and players and why they were pushing so hard to get the grassroots expempt because by implementing these rules, you might well cut out a large section of the potential manpower in the UK. They're now just going to go and play squash, five-a-side football, snooker or most likely go back to the pub and moan about why they can't play rugby anymore.

Its sad and I think there is room to have the agreed laws so that they can be trialed at professional level while adopting a system which amateurs can play without losing Rugby Union "exclusively for everyone" appeal.

 

[shtove]

Sorry, P - "nice" is me being sarcastic. Agree with you all the way. Just hoping McGeechan is too pessimistic.

 

[Incredible Schalk]

Pulling down mauls are great, we'll actually see some imagination in attack rather than standing slowly moving their way forward.

 

[Gay-Guy]

<div class='quotemain'>Ian McGeechan is saying the effect of the lineout and maul rule changes will be fewer fat lads (Prestwick) having to contest possession, so most of them will be spread out across the field smothering back moves with their clammy armpits. Nice.[/b]

By doing that at grass-roots level, you're going to be cutting out anyone who is over 35 and/or unfit who have neither the time to go hit the gym and get to up to the qualified standards. They want to just turn up, play, have a fight and then get drunk afterwards laughing about said fight.

The RFU have been running a campaign recently called "GO PLAY" which aims to get people who used to play rugby back into the groove. Thats why the RFU were polling grassroots clubs and players and why they were pushing so hard to get the grassroots expempt because by implementing these rules, you might well cut out a large section of the potential manpower in the UK. They're now just going to go and play squash, five-a-side football, snooker or most likely go back to the pub and moan about why they can't play rugby anymore.

Its sad and I think there is room to have the agreed laws so that they can be trialed at professional level while adopting a system which amateurs can play without losing Rugby Union "exclusively for everyone" appeal. [/b][/quote]

Yep....Touch Rugby lost a lot of social players when they changed it from 7 a side to 6. Now there is no chance to play if you are out of shape....it is just too hard with only 6 players a side. We have to make sure the game has a place for the fatties....otherwise they players will all start to look similar from 1 to 15...a bit like how League has ended up that way.

 

[Prestwick]

There are also far more safer and intelligent ways of disrupting a rolling maul. Watch to see what South Africa did to frustrate the hell out of Argentina whenever they tried to get a maul going. Little wiley and intelligent tactics which, unless you're absolutely superb at your game, can easily disrupt a maul without resorting to breaking limbs.

Mauls take allot of skill and patience to get going and continue. People just look at it and see a bunch of men huddled together but look closer and you'll see just how hard it is to keep going forwards without splintering off or any other pitfalls which may scupper a maul.

Lack of imagination? Far from it! Its actually a commitment to 15 man rugby and making full use of all of your players in order to reach your objectives...