The talk prior to the start of the Super 14 is the breakdown, and after all is said and done, from what I have seen I believe we are moving in the right direction.
I think I want to start off with the fact that the ‘new’ laws at the breakdown are in fact, not new at all, but has been around for many a year now.
What has changed is the referee’s applying (in my view) these laws correctly for the first time.
Let’s cover the law itself first, or what has changed.
Now apart from quoting it verbatim the change from the referee’s point of view is that they will concentrate a lot more on the ‘Tackler’ than the ‘Tackled Player’ as they have been in the past. The same laws still apply, but there will now be little leniency showed to the ‘Tackler’ which in the past has been largely ignored.
So what does the law say?
We all basically know this but it says;
• In a tackle situation the ‘Tackled Player’ must be allowed to place the ball (in any direction). This he must do immediately.
• The ‘Tackler’ must first release the ‘Tackled Player’ before he is allowed to play the ball.
• The ‘Tackler’ must be on his feet before he is allowed to play the ball.
That is the short of it. Obviously not forgetting the other laws that goes with this like rolling away in the tackle, entering through the gate, no hands once a ruck has formed and no side entry.
What has changed now however from how this law was applied in the past, is that the referee’s will keep a very close eye on the tackler, and ensure that there is ‘daylight’ between him and the tackled player, before he is allowed to attack or play the ball. This will be the case even if the ‘Tackler’ never goes to ground but stay on his feet – he has to ‘release’ the tackler first before he is allowed to play the ball.
This is logical though, and frankly I am surprised it has taken so long to get the thieving, cheating bastards out of the game (read fetchers).
Just consider the actions when a tackle takes place…
Player A tackles player B, now the law states that player B has a right to place the ball (before anything else happens), however, since player A perfected their techniques in sliding over players never letting go of his arms, body or ball player B was never allowed to do what the law permits him to do.
Result, player A gets rewarded (penalty for player B hanging onto the ball) although it is in direct contravention of the law itself.
Fact is, fetchers never ever ‘released’ the tackled player as is required by law, which would have allowed him to place the ball.
The lawmakers also believe that this new law will allow for players to enter the ruck at a higher angle because there is no fetcher sliding over or lying on the tackled player – he has to completely release the player, get to his feet (if not already on it) and then play the ball. Support players will then be entering the ruck with have a higher shoulder over hips entry point.
Another positive thing about these law changes is that we will see the counter ruck make a comeback.
The tackle area will become a huge collision area again where players who stay on their feet will be rewarded and where quicker ruck ball will be the name of the game.
In many ways a lot of guys think South Africa will suffer, and yes we are not the best at quick recycling in this area but when it comes to big collisions and counter rucking, we could, and should be able to dominate this area provided our players learn to stay on their feet.
The result of the law change for me is simple.
We will see more quick ruck ball resulting in a quicker, more exciting game or brand of rugby as well as players now being forced to stay on their feet. However, this area will also become a haven for the guys who like the physical stuff
For once the laws are applied correctly, and for once we are moving in the right direction.
It is best summed up by Schalk Burger himself following Friday night’s game against the Sharks, where the Sharks dominated the tackled area in the first half and won a couple of balls through counter rucking with the Stormers pinned quite a bit.
Schalk said; “It was impossible to steal a ball tonight”, and rightly so – the idea of the game of union was always a fair contest for the ball, not thieving.
All that is left now, is to bring back rucking to get rid of players lying on the wrong side of the ruck…
Morne
As aways in Rugby, nothing is ever really black and white, merely shades of grey.
Maybe you can help with the following scenario:
Player a is tackled by player b in a “smother” tackle.
Player b gets his hands ON THE BALL whilst both players are on their feet, and both players then go to ground.
Who must release and who may place the ball? Was it first a maul (with only 2 players involved)?
PS, totally agree re the rucking. We’re nearly playing Rugby League!
Scrum,
If it is only two players involved and they go to ground it is a tackle, not a maul.
So same laws apply, the player taking the ball in (attacker) must be released to allow him to place the ball.
Unless the defender rips the ball in the process of going to ground (not a tackle yet) then the situation reverses.
Morne
Agree 100 %
Now for the biggest problem….
Consistanccy from thhe refs…
Blouste,
Correct, but I believe the players are the ones needing to come to the party on this one.
I read some reports where refs or ref official are going to be damn hard on the referees if they cock up.
Well, thats good news.
Players should come to the party, agreed.
But if the refs blow for above mentioned infringements on a consistant basis, I believe they will be forced to…
Do you know anything about H.Brussow’s alleged injury ?
Extent of the injury will be confirmed today.
Thanks
Sien Juandre Kruger het by die Bulle geteken tot 2013.
“Kruger told vodacombulls.co.za that Loftus Versfeld is the place where he wants to be and he believes the Bulls are the best team and franchise in the world.”
Hierdei is ‘n interessante post wat staal op keo gepost het.
Die wat van hom weet sal weet die mn ken paar mane in die binne kringe….
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Kan maar net noem dat die Bulle 2 Bokke “weggewys ” het wat hier wou kom speel ……. hulle hettie Bulle genader….einde 2009…..
1. Hulle wou te veel geld hê.
2. Ons het n trotse tradisie en hier speel jy dir die span —- nie die geld nie.
En Heynecke slaap nie…… hy werk hom oor n mik mettie jong manne..
hy het alle nuwe kontrakte opgeskort/geweier as n jong speler nie ingeskryf is vir verdere studies nie….vanaf 0/19 tot bo… sal alle nuwe spelers by Roftus ook iets moet swot…. makie saak wat nie solank hy homself verder bekwaam in n studie rigting…
bdb
Ja dis goeie nuus vir die Bulle !!!
SA teams will concede more penalties at the break down during the first half of the S14 than the Aussies and Kiwis.
That is because we are slow learners and not as technically advanced in our coaching as the Aussies and Kiwis.
The result will be games lost and fans moaning about the refs interpretation of the rules, with people hotly debating new tactics they feel are needed to adapt to the new rule interpretations.
Of course this will be nonsense, but it is the SA way to not see the problem for the simple thing that it is, and to look for excuses.
Gavin Rich wrote this…
With the amount of long arm penalties it means that the kicking game will once again become very important.
Think about it this way, at the Stormers, for example someone like Peter Grant just doesn’t have the boot, and with the amount of penalties available that might not work. But if you had Willem de Waal and Morne Steyn you can almost be sure of 3 points every time one of your players get tackled in the opposition half and if that opposition have not yet come to terms/grips with the laws of the game (which is almost a certainty in the first three-four rounds).
Then again, when you play against teams like the Bulls, Crusaders and Brumbies, the kicking boots of Steyn, Gitt and Carter will freaking punishing you… 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18…
Good point TH.
Morne – thankyou, nicely explained. You must have had me in mind who doesnt understand all the rules
Tight head
I dissagree. You people are way to negative about our SA teams.
Like Morne stated, it’s no new rule, just an emphasis change.
I for one feel the BULLS are in for a great year…
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