Earlier this year I wrote about proposed law changes which World Rugby were experimenting with and now it has come to pass that the Executive Board has approved further new laws variations which, barring an unforeseen and highly unlikely rebellion, will be rubber-stamped by the World Rugby Council, the supreme decision-making body in our sport, on November 14.
All the officials and players plus fans, commentators and correspondents will then have just six weeks to familiarise themselves with the changes before they are implemented on a global trial basis on January 1.
Having previously written that changes were needed in the laws of the game to make our sport more attractive to players and spectators alike, I am not going to alter that view now, and I mostly welcome the changes which I’ll work through below.
BUT, and that’s a big BUT, isn’t it not a very short timescale to have everyone ready and prepared for the January introduction, even on a trial basis? That means the new changes will be in place for the first major international championship in 2025, the Guinness Six Nations, so have Gregor Townsend and his coaching team had enough time to work with the Scotland squad? I doubt it.
World Rugby has been working on its Shape of the Game plan for many months and in July the trial of three changes was successfully introduced – the ending of the option of choosing a scrum when awarded a free kick, the outlawing of the crocodile roll and the scrapping of the so-called Dupont Law, named after the great French scrum-half, which had resulted in matches being marred by kicking back and forth.
The new changes are all sensible and here they are as detailed by World Rugby with my comments:
‘Conversion attempts will be limited to 60 seconds, aligning with penalty kicks and quickening game pace’ – the only problem I can see with this one is that it is an invitation for kickers to take the full minute and waste time. There is a huge difference between a conversion bang in front of goals and one that is far out on the wing and players should be encouraged to take easier conversions as quickly as possible.
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‘Scrums and lineouts must be set within 30 seconds, managed by the referee’ – that is going to be difficult to implement, especially if two giant packs are attempting to outmuscle each other. Let’s see how that one works out.
‘Players can now mark the ball inside the 22-metre line from a restart, encouraging more contestable kick-offs’ – the union of head coaches is already working on how to maximise defensive plays to protect the receiver or alternatively put pressure on the receiver. But it’s worth a go as it will make the restarts much more interesting.
‘The ball must be played after one stoppage in a maul, improving game flow’ – all the more reason for Scotland’s coaches to work on the dynamic maul play which has given us so many scoring opportunities.
‘Play will continue if the ball is not thrown straight during uncontested lineouts, reducing unnecessary breaks’ – a good change because it will encourage players to contest lineouts more, with all the excitement that can bring.
‘Enhanced protection for the scrum-half at scrums, rucks and mauls encourages fluid open play’- this change has already worked well where it has been trialled, so bring it on.
In addition to these law changes, World Rugby envisages a couple of alterations, one of which I cannot agree with. I totally agree with “the introduction of the Television Match Official (TMO) protocol, empowering officials to spot clear infringements in the final phases before scoring.”
Obviously if there has been a “clear infringement” then a score should not be allowed – that is only fair and just.
I cannot agree, however, with “a simplified red card process featuring standardised sanctions and the ability to replace a red-carded player with another player after 20 minutes.”
I am sorry but rugby union is a team game, and if a player commits a red card offence, especially one involving dangerous play such as a hit to an opponent’s head, then the whole team must face the consequences of an individual’s indiscipline.
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Remember that this is only going to be a global trial from January 1, and I would ask World Rugby that, once the changes have been implemented, there should be a moratorium on future changes, at least for two or three years, because confusion must not be allowed to reign.
Meanwhile it was a huge weekend for our two professional clubs with them both winning.
Edinburgh really needed that win against Stormers at The Hive to get their season started. Now they must go onwards and upwards and I believe they can.
Glasgow Warriors cosily beat Zebre Parma, but now face a tense trip to South Africa. All the URC champions need to remember is how they did when they were last there. Repeat performances, please.
