The coaches I had through my time advocated the need to be close enough to a defensive player to commit them in attack. This doesn’t mean you have to be on top of the opposition and crowded for space, but commit a man by running at speed and then getting them to turn their shoulders in defence. What you do need is some space to be able to create something in attack.
Matthew Burke
April 15, 2012
Swan dive … Waratahs winger Tom Kingston scores during Friday night’s scrappy win over the Western Force in Perth. Photo: Getty Images
So I need some help … help to turn the game of rugby back into having attacking dominance rather than being too defence-oriented. To promote a game that will win back the hearts and minds of the fans with the mantra of running rugby as it was once spoken about.
When they came up with the new laws about where the defensive line should be, I think “they” mixed up the scrum and the ruck laws in regards to where the defensive line should stand. No change to the lineout, still 10 metres back from the set piece. At the scrum the defending team has to be 5m back from the scrum.
I would revert to the original way of defending at the No.8′s feet. Where the lawmakers could have improved the game is around the tackle area, as a greater percentage of play revolves around this area of the game.
The solution: defence from the ruck area should be moved back 5m. In effect, the 1,2,3 defensive positions off the ruck have to retire from that area so the attacking team can play the ball closer to the advantage line. We are seeing teams struggling to get forward. Teams have to move through a series of phases, generally losing ground, to generate the momentum needed to get the ball going forward.
With the existing laws in defence off a ruck or maul, the teams have to be behind the last man’s feet. Can anyone please tell me when you have seen this law enforced in the past couple of years. Players in the defensive roles have been creeping up the last foot, leg even, so far as standing one-third up their side of the ruck. The effect of this is that they get a flying start and usually knock the team with possession back behind the advantage line, perhaps no more than one pass from the ruck, maybe two.
With the eventual slow ball we now have a scenario where the halfback waits with the ball at the back of the breakdown and gets his forwards organised to smash it up only one pass from the previous ruck. I find this part of the game frustrating. Why are you playing slow? I know the answer is to set up for the next play but how many times have we seen a turnover from that ruck, or worse, a knock-on by a forward who received a bullet-like pass from the halfback around the ankles or even around the toes. The result? Scrum.
With this aggressive line speed, the defenders can shut down any attacking play that looks to get wide. Unless your back line stands at 70 degrees depth you just about have no chance of getting the ball to the width. Even if you do have depth in the backs, some teams are employing the ”outside in” defensive style, catching the attack up to 20m behind the advantage line. Turnover ball at the breakdown means the defensive team comes up with the advantage.
Teams in attack are therefore being dictated to from how strong the defences are. If the advantage line were moved in favour of the attacking team – 5m behind the last man’s feet – it would at least allow some momentum to be gained and even some kind of attack to be constructed. In theory, if referees were able to see an imaginary line back from the ruck or maul, the momentum would automatically go to the attacking team. No more of this waiting game of ”We’re ready? Are you ready to defend? OK let’s go” … dropped ball. Result – scrum … again.
Where you can make a difference is by varying your depth in attack, so perhaps I need to explain some more about having a defender closer to you when you have the ball, that is, from the scrum. Try this down the park. When there is space between you and the defender, most often a ball player will run to the space, away from the man who is going to tackle him. (We are seeing a lot of that now off the current scrum plays.) I can hear you say yes, that’s right. In actual fact, you are taking the space away from the outside support player.
Running into space limits the attacking opportunity for the support player. If you run at a defender, they have to stay still. When the defender stays still and sets for the tackle, you draw and pass, giving space to the man outside. If the defender begins to slide off the ball player, you dummy and go straight through. The basics of running straight, and drawing and passing.
The question then becomes: What do we want to see? Teams running with the ball or teams defending well? I know which game I would prefer to see.
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April 15th, 2012 at 3:41 pm
If the advantage line were moved in favour of the attacking team – 5m behind the last man’s feet – it would at least allow some momentum to be gained and even some kind of attack
——
This sounds like the gist of this article.
Does it make sense? Can it work?
This moving half a yard forward after ten
phases at a ruck is rather a dull part of
the game.
As for scrums: Well, from the time it’s called
untill the ball is in play again is usually
enough time for a quick post, switching the
kettle on etc.
April 15th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 3:41 pm:
Cannot remember who they played but an earlier Rebels game (with Lawrence) saw 12 minutes of the game with scrum sets, re-sets…
April 15th, 2012 at 4:15 pm
With all the comings and goings at ruck and tackle time it would be quite a feat to implement a 5m off-side line, but if they could manage it, it would the pick-and-drive very attractive.
Instead of sweeping back-line moves, prepare yourselves for 90m pick-and-drive offensives.
April 15th, 2012 at 5:11 pm
Reply to Timeo @ 4:15 pm:
I like…
April 15th, 2012 at 6:01 pm
Reply to Timeo @ 4:15 pm:
THAT will tap the fatties.
April 16th, 2012 at 12:19 pm
Hi guys
Long time no speak. Apologies for not posting much for a long while, though I do read the site most days.
Anyways, my view on this. I don’t think we need to introduce a five metre law for the rucks, at least not yet, but rather let’s see the offside line as it is properly enforced, very strictly: one shoelace ahead of the last feet and you are blown. Same with the up and unders. I see lots of hoists by kickers and the norm is for chasers to be at least two metres ahead. Yet it never gets blown.
The refs have a lot to police in the match so the solution is to give him more eyes to help out. Start with that overpaid guy upstairs who sleeps for most of the game and then gets woken up to judge whether a try has been scored or not. Get him to talk to the ref and touch judges throughout the game, “Number 12 is offside, that pass was forward, etc”. Maybe even appoint a couple of guys to watch the game from high in the stands – things like forward passes and offsides are often obvious from up there.
I recently spoke to a yank with an interest in rugby and he says there are hardly any controversies over decisions in US sports because they have so many officials keeping an eye on what’s going on and empowered to flag them when they happen.
I think if we get the enforcement of the current offside laws right, we may find we don’t need to tinker with the laws at all.
April 16th, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Reply to il postino @ 12:19 pm:
Yep spot-on… particularly the off-side mark on kick-offs, up-n-unders etc etc… most right in front of the ass.refs on the touch-lines… (albeit we’d probably find RSA sides getting pinged more for this… particularly the Stormers)…
April 16th, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Reply to il postino @ 12:19 pm:
POSTMAN!
Am I glad to see you back!
We really missed you!
Here to stay?
April 16th, 2012 at 1:12 pm
Reply to il postino @ 12:19 pm:
You’re my hero.
Can’t agree more. I’ve been appealing
ad nausea for the TMO to get more say
because of his elevated vantage point.
Such a simple solution.
April 16th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
I hope so, Boertjie. I made a conscious decision to post less and less, but i can’t help myself any more. I’m like the guy who gives up smoking for years and then hits the ciggies hard …..
I have always maintained that THE most important law in rugby is the offside law. It defines just about everything that makes the game distinctive, so it should be strictly enforced. And how can you justify utter strictness with lineout throw-ins but be laisser faire with other things like offside?
April 16th, 2012 at 3:05 pm
I agree with Il postino, proper enforcement of current laws are what we need. To try and maintain a 5 metre offside line at every ruck is bloddy impossible. It wont contribute to running rugby, the ref would have his arm out for advantage at every scrum. Either a penalty or a 90 metre pick and drive try. You could score at each and every kick off cos you’d never need to give up possesion.
April 16th, 2012 at 3:06 pm
I agree with Il postino, proper enforcement of current laws are what we need. To try and maintain a 5 metre offside line at every ruck is bloddy impossible. It wont contribute to running rugby, the ref would have his arm out for advantage at every ruck. Imagine a line break and then nedding to fall back another 5 metres after making the tackle? Either a penalty or a 90 metre pick and drive try. You could score at each and every kick off cos you’d never need to give up possesion.
April 18th, 2012 at 7:52 pm
HowZit Posti
Great to sEE you active again!
Sound argument there
Yanks also BIG in Sports BeTTing- therefore k@k decisions that could have bEEn averted just doesnt fly!
But then SoCCer is HUGE for the beTTing isdustry and FIFA is stiLL holding out against goal line technology
BTW Speaking of roNNebal , just to
with Oudste – 
– you must be delighted with the situation at Rangers!