Radical rule changes in the offing

By Arthur Fernandez

In the super rugby season the Brumbies, Chiefs and the Bulls head the Aussie, NZ and SA conference, the Reds of whom mush was expected are in the fourth slot. Interestingly Australian rugby is looking to introduce two radical law changes as part of a proposed second-tier competition to develop the next generation of Super Rugby players as announce by Wallabies, Bill Pulver.

According to him, “The current 90 minute game is too long.” He proposes a concept of ‘a one-hour game of rugby’ featuring two specific law changes ‘designed at creating a frenetic-paced game based around smart running rugby’. “The two law changes are two 25-minute halves, no penalty goals, and five-minute yellow cards for infringements in your own half.

“The yellow card will be a bit like water polo; is that if you infringe when they are attacking your goal, you are out of the pool until they score. Our equivalent would be, in a 25-minute game; an infringing player is off the field for five minutes or until the opposition scores.”

With the Lions tour fast approaching, there is a growing concern that the Aussie teams are playing unimaginative rugby. The sudden re-emergence of the rolling maul as a weapon is being discussed at length as there are fears that teams in the Aussie conference are over reliant on this weapon. One of the views expressed was that sheer predictability of the move, with referees often asking teams to use it or lose it.

I like the expression as it applies to the corporate world as well. If there is a distinct advantage that you possess, then you must make full use of it, within a specified timeframe, if not the advantage becomes useless and is as good as a ‘Once upon a time tale’.

After their gallant performance last week in defeating the Pets, Dharmaraja will take on Wesley on Friday, at London Place. Wesley appeared to have gone off boil last week against the Lions last week especially in the second half. However, they can still walk with the heads held high as it was a super performance against the league leaders.

Dharmaraja brought down the Pete’s and in many ways it was a reality check as more often than not, they have failed to click as a team although there have been many individual performances. My mind goes back to their first game against SACK where they piled on 42 points in the first half and then just manage a single score in the second half.

Whilst in the past it was a 15-man game, today it has evolved into a 22-man game, given that the replacements are allowed freely. Thus the quality of the bench strength also plays a vital role in the final outcome of the game. It is in a way like succession planning as one does not know when the regular will be unable to do battle further.

Science returned to winning ways and it will be a keen tussle against SPC who no doubt will be low in confidence after two consecutive losses to Kandy teams. This week will also see SJC take on Royal and I cannot see RC fumbling this game.

Having said that there have been some shocking results this season and as such one more will not surprise us too much. The two Kandy teams SACK and TCK will battle it out in the hills and there has been some improvement in the SACK play in recently as they lie in the sixth position.

(The writer can be reached via [email protected].)