State of the Game
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@barbarian yeah thats the thing, the preparation of lining up your blockers, rolling the ball, moving it into prime angle for you to pick up and kick, re-directing your forwards...make them use it faster, means they will be less prepared, so accuracy of box kick is reduced, meaning they are likely less inclined to use it unless the situation works.
the hands-on thing winds me up, you see these guys putting hands on for 3, 4, 5 seconds, then they remove them to push a forward into place and then do something.
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@barbarian said in State of the Game:
@taniwharugby said in State of the Game:
I expect if refs were harder on 9s using it quicker, making thier blockers be bound properly and not allowing them to roll the ball out with thier foot to the back of his line of blockers, and then put thier hands on it for 3 or 4 seconds as they ready for the box kick,will see less box kicking.
I'd like to see a 'hands on = out' rule in the instances where the ball is clearly at the back of the ruck and in possession of the attacking team.
It's unfair for that rule to apply to a regular ruck where the HB needs a bit of leeway to fish the ball out from under a tackler or something, but I think it's pretty clear when that is the case and when teams are shaping for the box kick.
I don't hate the box kick as a general rule, what I do hate is that 20 second period where teams go 'we're going to box kick here, lets get a few more forwards in the ruck... OK now lets roll the ball back... Hmmm OK I think we're good here, let me get into position... now we kick'.
Once again, apply the laws. Those blockers are usually offside in that they are not bound to the ruck. Binding is clearly defined and it ain't a finger. Also if the attacking teams players join as blockers they are doing so from the side.
Enforcing that may result in more 'snake' rucks but again, if the ball was available and players join after and slow the play down that should be free-kicked. -
Had a few drinks on Wednesday with a group of friends and we talked about this for about 2 hours. Some pretty varied opinions on things, but two things were entrenched across the group (2 x English, Irish, Scot, Sith Ifrican and me).
The game is at a turning point in both style and size. The Irish is on the coaching team at Cobham rugby club so is pretty close to the game. He has a massive massive problem with Taniela Tupou. Not the player, but the way he's used. IT's simply not right, and dangerous, to bring him on fresh against others at say the 55 minutes mark. The man is destructive at the best of times, but in this situation he's downright dangerous. He wants to can all starters / finishers crap and go back to 15 players. When pointed out this will obviously be gamed, he agreed but isn't sure what the best way forwards is. A bit part of rugby is supposed to be seeing how players deal in that last 20 minutes when tiring. Thats when gaps should open up, tackles should be missed and you separate the cream. But that isn't happening anymore. Again to reiterate, this is nothing on Tupou (who we all agreed is likely to be a superstar by the time he finishes up), but his sheer bulk, size and speed are the pointy end of the current issues.
Secondly, game structure. The Nations cup was shit watching. Proper terrible watching. Perhaps there was something in there for the purists, but nothing to attract new players. Nothing. We disagreed on changes, but we all agreed that watching games from 20 years ago was far far superior to where we are now.
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So just read through the thread - I don't have as many issues with the game as you guys, it's still rugby, there's still good games and shit games the same as there ever was.
Still need some tweaks though like the stupid maul use it x amount of times and restart B/S. And the ruck can always be improved, and probably always will be as long as the game exists. Scrums could be sped up. I'd like to see an in between card for non deliberate foul play so that stomping someone and slipping up on a reactionary tackle aren't considered the same offence.