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NH now adopting SH playing laws.

LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)

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http://www.worldrugby.org/news/165437

Starting today

A number of minor law amendments, approved and announced in September 2015, come into effect today (1 June) in the northern hemisphere having already been implemented in the southern hemisphere since the start of the year and will apply to the upcoming June internationals.

The implementation of the package of law amendments by World Rugby Council follows detailed analysis and evaluation of union submissions by the specialist Law Review Group (LRG) which reports to the Rugby Committee. This evaluation process also featured specialist input from the Scrum Steering Group (SSG) and the Multi-Disciplinary Injury Prevention Group (MDIPG) over the past year and is the next phase of the law change process.

The main amendments are:

The replacement of a player injured following foul play does not count as one of the allotted number of replacements available to that team
Advantage may be played following a scrum collapse if there is no risk to player safety
Play acting or “simulation†is specifically outlawed in the game in a move that formalises resistance to a practice that has been creeping into the game in recent years. Any player who dives or feigns injury in an effort to influence the match officials will be liable for sanction
Teams must be ready to form a scrum within 30 seconds of the scrum being awarded, unless the referee stops the clock for an injury or another stoppage
At a re-set scrum following a 90-degree wheel, the ball is thrown in by the team that previously threw it in rather than the team not in possession
The scrum-half of the team not in possession at a scrum may not move into the space between the flanker and number eight
When the ball has been at the number eight’s feet in a stationary scrum for 3-5 seconds, the referee will call “use it†and the attacking team must use the ball immediately

In addition, an important maul law application guideline, that has been in place in the southern hemisphere since 1 January, will be enforced in the north from 1 June. Specifically, the ball can be moved backwards hand-to-hand once the maul has formed. A player is not allowed to move or slide to the back of the maul when he is in possession of the ball and the ripper needs to stay in contact with the jumper until they have transferred the ball. Sanction: Penalty.

All make sense IMO.
 
My only demurral to that is that the period the ball's allowed to be at the 8's feet in a stationary scrum is far too long.
 
It's ridiculous that the scrum-half was ever allowed to go so far onto the opposition's side. In no other aspect of the game is that allowed to happen, i don't know why it was permitted so long in the scrum. As a halfback myself i've benefited from it by putting pressure on the opposition but it never made any sense to me.

Yep it should be gone straight away, we don't want situations where teams look to eek out penalties with the scrum like we do now. Hopefully without worrying about the offside from the opposing scrumhalf the ref can focus on commanding the ball to be played.
 
All seem to make sense. Coaches and players have a way of working around jaw changes though, there will almost certainly be unintended consequences which we are moaning about in a couple of years!

I suspect second rows might start getting quite adept at holding the ball in, for example.

30 second rule is the most positive for me, if properly enforced (!!) it will make a massive difference both in terms of speeding the game up and hopefully the fitness and athleticism of front rowers
 
My first assumption would be these changes will encourage far more runs from the base of scrum for the 8. Could this see a rise in monster sized 8s?
 
That's the beauty and the beast of rugby laws I suppose. As long as they can be "interpreted" professional teams will always find a way to manipulate them.

- - - Updated - - -

Yea definetley. I think we'll see a lot more interchanging of positioning in the back row and scrum moves as well. Number 8's skill of holding the ball with their feet will probably slightly diminish as well
 
Keeping the ball in a scrum charging forwards will still remain a not-easy task though; obviously there will be less scrums charging forwards, but it will still see use.

ETR makes a valid point though so I'll say it should have been this.

"If the scrum is stationary for 3-5 seconds, the ref should command the scrum-half to use the ball. If he cannot, the opposing side is awarded a scrum put-in."

Not only does that mean no smart arssery from the second row, it also gets rid of two scrums straining over a ball stuck in the middle with no hope, which is one of the most boring sights in rugby.
 
"If the scrum is stationary for 3-5 seconds, the ref should command the scrum-half to use the ball. If he cannot, the opposing side is awarded a scrum put-in."

The problem with that is if there is a solid hit and both sides are holding firm for 5 seconds then the ref is forced to call use it even if it is still in the middle. There have been quite a few scrums in Super Rugby that I have seen where no hooker tries to hook the ball because of the pressure from the other team and it can take up to ten seconds until one of the teams finally relent and start going backwards.
 
The problem with that is if there is a solid hit and both sides are holding firm for 5 seconds then the ref is forced to call use it even if it is still in the middle. There have been quite a few scrums in Super Rugby that I have seen where no hooker tries to hook the ball because of the pressure from the other team and it can take up to ten seconds until one of the teams finally relent and start going backwards.

I am very deliberately targeting that situation with this rule. If you can't hook your ball back, you don't deserve it in my opinion.
 
The NH refs have been calling use it or lose it all this season so good to see the law catching up with it!!

Think this law change is the only one that is argumentative and the rest seem sensible enough!

Cannot see anything wrong with the scrum on their feet yet static fighting for the ball......part of the reason for scrums!!
 

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