If you’ve been watching the Super 14 this season then you’d be aware of the new “experimental law variations” (ELVs) that have been in play.
Any thoughts?
I think they’re (the ELVs) great. The game is more free-flowing and has less stoppages. Also, the scrums are much better than last season (although still not perfect) with less resets.
Some people have said that the ELVs are turning union into league, but I don’t think this is true. The main facets of rugby union have been retained, but the game is more exciting.
The new rules also require a much higher level of fitness from the players, which means that the days of big fat forwards are gone … another bonus. It also seems that pace, especially out wide, really helps as the games open up more towards the end. There seem to have been more tries this year, but I don’t have the stats.
I definitely think the ELVs have improved the game and I hope they will become part of the international rules (although I think this may have already happened).
I think the extra distance back the defense sets up from scrumtime allows more opportunities for teams to explore set moves.I’m amazed that more S14 teams aren’t trying drop goals from the freekicks (short arm penalty) i.e. No.9 tapping and passing back to 10,12 or 15.On the subject of kicking,why is the skill level still so low among professional players when it come to punting off both feet.The game has been pro for long enough and the top teams seem to have plenty of coaches.Numbers 9 to 15 should be able to kick well off both feet and have a decent strike rate with drop goals,if they want to play at the professional level.If the ELVs can clean up the ruck and maul and stop the constant reset scrums then bring them on.The more time the ball is in play the better.There are worse things than comparing union to league…Please don’t make it stop/start like NFL
Meggs,Im pretty sure the ABs are playing Ire and Eng under the old laws and then Tri Nations under the ELVs.Are the Boks doing the same for the Welsh?
Not sure … that’s one thing I was hoping to find out. Good point about the drop goals. There has been very little of that in the S14 this season.
I still think they need the make the rucks more of a contest. In the S14 this year 92% of the ball that’s gone into the rucks has come back for the attacking team.
Rucks and mauls have been a farce for years.The ref blows it up and no one,players,coaches and fans,has any idea about how the ref will rule.
I completely agree about the need for defending teams to be able to contest for the ball in every facet of the game.Have you seen any No9s (in the last 15 years) who don’t put the ball into the scrum as crooked as a dogs hind leg?Might as well start using locks to hook the ball back.Rolling mauls are also a problem for defenses…there doesn’t seem to many ‘legal’ ways to stop it.Hope we get a dry night in the Village of the damned aka the AntiChristchurch aka ChCh next weekend.Tahs and Saders both played some good rugby this weekend.