All about speeding up the game. The bigest culprit right now is the whistle however. Given the size of the bokkes forwards, anything to speed them up is a good idea. But I’m still dissapointed not to see at least 2 backs mandated on the bench, or a cut to it.
To reduce the whistle it might be time to warn specific players. One warning for giving away a penalty and then a yellow card. Might be funny to see teams at 10 players
Does that include stopping teams like Ireland and others from driving round the side of the ruck, flopping on the ball and pushing the 9 out of the way? How can that not be “playing the 9”?
Is the 9 not fair game if contesting?
I’m talking about the case where the ruck is set, and a defending player swings around the side as they grapple with someone, and collides with the 9, who is bending down to distribute the ball.
The defending team have no legal way of getting the ball, and they’re doing this movement around the ruck to slow the ball down. To me, that’s illegal. Especially as they’re coming from the side.
If the ball was still contestable, I’d say it was fair game.
Yeah that sort of thing got penalised in SR.
Yup, was trialled during Super Rugby and the 9 basically becomes a protected species; effectively you can’t get in their way, drag them in, push them out, interfere with getting the ball away at all.
At times it felt like it was going too far but did make for cleaner ball and more play, less of the dumb stuff that just interrupts the action.