Mar 10th, 2008 | Laws and Refereeing, Test Rugby | 4 Comments
While watching the Warratahs v Brumbies Super 14 match this weekend, the injured skipper Stirling Mortlock came on with water for the team while someone was being treated for an injury on the field.
I don’t know about you, but having a player with so much experience and so much access to the coaching staff smells a little funny to me.
One of the most important distinctions between rugby football and American football is the fact that to player decisions are made on the field. The players have to read conditions on the ground and react. In light of this, having Mortlock observe from afar and then come on with water just feels wrong.
Next thing you know, the coach will be the waterboy!
What do you think?
Feb 25th, 2008 | Laws and Refereeing, Test Rugby | 14 Comments
For 65 minutes on Saturday, every English fan of rugby union watched with bated breath as two young, inexperienced French half-backs poked and prodded their countrymen to within 3 points of their opponents, the aging English juggernaut.
French scrum-half Morgan Parra and fly-half François Trinh-Duc, just 19 and 21 years of age with only 6 caps between them, showed courage and tenacity beyond their years. The young half-backs performed almost flawlessly with Parra testing the forwards at every opportunity around the break-downs/set pieces and Trinh-Duc slicing through the mid-field.
However, France could not convert these opportunities into enough points to take the lead. Although the midfield attack and defense in general were excellent, the wide French attack that has been so successful during this campaign for the likes of Cédric Heymans and Vincent Clerc sputtered frustratingly as the English slide defense grappled the players ‘ball-and-all’ into touch not less than four times. In addition to penalties, the typically reliable replacement fly-half David Skrela prevented a final French assault with a knock-on on the French 5 metre line with the scoreline in favor of England by just 6 points. → continue reading
Oct 29th, 2007 | Laws and Refereeing, Test Rugby, RWC 2007 | 19 Comments
The best offense is a good defense.
by Yue-Houng Hu and Victor Drover
Much has been made of the Stellenbosch Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) which last week were given preliminary approval by the IRB to be more widely circulated and analyzed for further approval on 1 May 2008.
The IRB Council last week approved the ‘experimental law variations’ (ELVs) be circulated to all unions and returned with comments by January/February. The council will then vote on 1 May whether or not to bring them into worldwide rugby for a year’s trial. South Africa, Australia and New Zealand have also been asked to trial them in the Super 14.
The ELVs remain controversial as they amount to a revolution in the way rugby is played. Aimed to render rugby faster, more exciting, and simpler for both fans and officials, it is clear that the IRB is attempting to create a more ‘viewer friendly’ sport. What is not apparent is the dirty little secret exposed by the proposed law changes:
rugby as we know it, may be dying. → continue reading
Oct 7th, 2007 | Laws and Refereeing | 18 Comments
International Rugby Board Referee Manager Paddy O’Brien explains the Stellenbosch experimental law variations and their status with the IRB. This is part 1 of the 20 minute video. → continue reading
Oct 7th, 2007 | Laws and Refereeing | 4 Comments
International Rugby Board Referee Manager Paddy O’Brien explains the Stellenbosch experimental law variations and their status with the IRB. This is part 2 of the 20 minute video. → continue reading
