The instruction to referees to “be stricter” has had a major impact in the first round of Super 14 action with 153 points scored from penalties.

It’s an increase of 240% on the 45 points that were scored via penalties in the opening round of last year’s competition.

The number of penalties (51) is virtually 3.5 times (340%) more than the 15 of last year.

The number of tries has also decreased, with 30 tries scored in last weekend’s seven Super 14 games against last year’s 44 in the first round.

The instruction to “be stricter” is aimed at making the game a better spectacle, but it has had the opposite effect in the opening round, with points mostly scored from kicks.

South African Rugby Union (Saru) referees manager André Watson said that referees would not change their approach. Rather, it is the teams that will have to adapt.

Referees that are blowing in the international competition were schooled on a number of aspects in the pre-season.

The application of the so-called daylight law at the breakdowns, better management of the scrums and observing of off-side at tactical kicks were all implemented to promote the quality of the rugby.

“The players will have to adapt to the laws because the referees will certainly not ease up in their application,” said Watson.

“We had a tele-conference with New Zealand and Australia on Tuesday morning and all of us were generally pleased with the referees’ performances. We even got good feedback from the public.”

Timing at the scrums and the chasing of tactical kicks are being policed, but it’s the breakdown law that is especially being strictly applied.

In the past the tackler could play the ball immediately, provided that he was on his feet.

Now he has to give the attacking team a fair chance of placing the ball before competing. There has to be daylight between his hands and the ball.

“It stops unlawful contesting of the ball. Many players compete for the ball at the breakdown in an effort to slow it down and not to try and win possession,” said Watson.

The shift in emphasis at the breakdown will force players to stay on their feet and they will not be able to dive in as they did in the past.

14 Responses to Watson on the impact of the new ruck law after week one

  • 1

    Time will tell.

    Personally I think rucking must be brought back into the game…

    That will sort all out in any case ( slowing down etc. )

  • 2

    Mmmmm agree Blouste. Game following rugby league rules imo where the tackled player must be left alone to get up and play the ball. What’s the use? Why not play rugby league laws then?
    Imagine Bakkies being allowed to ruck! Fark, I would hand the ball to Bakkies if I’m the tackler and the ball don’t get out fast enough.

  • 3

    He he he true !

    Look obviously there have to be rules..entering through the gate etc. but I think it will sort out a lot.

  • 4

    I ask once agin in this regard, “Who instructed the ref’s to “be strickter””?

    The ref’s blowing the 6N games are IMO interpreting the rule exactlty the same as they did last season.

    This continual BS that ref’s up north and ref’s in the SH have different interpretations needs to get sorted out.

    Paddy O’Brian is a F-ing joke. Sort this crap out once and for all so that EVERYONE plays the same game.

  • 5

    Hi Guys…

  • 6

    Yellow Polla…

    Hoe gaan dit boeta ?

  • 7

    OK dankie..net die stukkie oor Die Antwoord gelees en my bydrae gelewer.

  • 8

    Tjarks team for the weekend…

    Sharks – 15. Stefan Terblanche, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. Waylon Murray, 12. Adrian Jacobs, 11. JP Pietersen, 10. Ruan Pienaar, 9. Rory Kockott, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Jean Deysel, 6. Jacques Botes, 5. Alistair Hargreaves, 4. Steven Sykes, 3. Jannie du Plessis , 2. John Smit (c), 1. Tendai Mtawarira.
    Subs: 16. Bismarck du Plessis, 17. Deon Carstens, 18. Willem Alberts, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20. Charl McLeod, 21. Monty Dumond, 22. Andries Strauss.

    A much better team… Treehugs, Vuurpoepertjie, Pumba….guys I think you have a chance !!!

    Now just leave the bottles at home 👿

  • 9

    The Cheetahs have the team to beat the Sharks…

    Unfortunetly they are their own worst enemies…

    But hey, they are the Tjarks bogey team…and the Tjarks are chokers ( or does that only count in semi’s and finals ) 😆

  • 10

    Het hulle in ag geneem dat verlede jaar amper alle strafskoppe as vryskoppe geblaas is?
    Cheetahs Bulle game het glad nie so baie strafskoppe gehad nie. Anders sou ons baie verder verloor het.

  • 11

    #10

    Baie goeie vraag…

  • 12

    Jislaaik Pienkste, ek dog ek blog baie maar jy’s heeldag en nag hier en op ‘daai ander site’. Jy ‘n verslawinkie? Ek en jy moet maar ‘n suport grou begin vir verslaafdes…sommer ‘n blog.. 😆

  • 13

    anycase dames, laat ek julle ook nou maar groet, lyk my julle almal vat in any case so vier ure extra by julle ‘beauty’ sleep…..dink julle het dit maar seker nodig ook… 😆

  • 14

    He he…

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