johnthegriff wrote: ↑Fri Dec 06, 2019 4:34 pm
coaches need to learn they have an obligation to entertain and have the courage to tell their players to keep the ball in hand whenever they can.
Japan may have played exciting rugby but they were not in the final, and that is what counts.
... this is a bit of a contradiction!!
I am all for reams to play attacking rugby but all league are a meritocracy. Entertainment is secondary to winning at all cost!!
I think Austin’s issue is not with winning rugby, but “safe rugby” which hasn’t helped us or Bath. Bath played differently last night but they didn’t lose because of it, they should have been playing that style of rugby from the off rather than implementing it in winter against Clermont in the Heineken Cup.
Formerly of Burbaaage (not Inkleh), now up north at uni
JP14 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 07, 2019 11:18 am
I think Austin’s issue is not with winning rugby, but “safe rugby” which hasn’t helped us or Bath. Bath played differently last night but they didn’t lose because of it, they should have been playing that style of rugby from the off rather than implementing it in winter against Clermont in the Heineken Cup.
Priestland is an issue for Bath, he can play a flat instinctive game as his try showed but chooses not too.
Those 3 tries from Clement showed what can be achieved with heads up rugby
Truefollower wrote: ↑Fri Dec 06, 2019 7:18 pm
For scrums how about stop the clock, let the front rows engage add the rest then the ref shouts push and the clock starts?
Trouble with that is the amount of time it’s going to take, we’ve all got homes to go to
Imho the issue is with the number of resets, refs need to penalise earlier if he can’t decide who’s at fault put a prop from each side in the bin early doors. A couple of high profile games where this happens and the coaches and the players will soon sort it out
If it takes more time to play a game then tough. I want to see more of in play time being just that - the ball actively in play. Pau were the worst I have seen in a long time. We were pulling (what’s left of) our hair out in the Mattioni Woods stand during that game because of their tactics.
RichieB wrote: ↑Sat Dec 07, 2019 10:36 am
How about stopping the ability to call a 'mark' as this is entirely a defensive advantage?
Don’t know about stopping it, but it has become considerably easier, you used to be have to be standing stock still both feet on the ground to make one
That would just encourage kicking into the 22 from an attacking position, instead of keeping the ball in hand.
I mostly agree with Austin's overall point, if not all the suggestions or the exaggeration that he's very fond of. However, people have been trying to make the game "more attractive" since it became professional - I enjoy it for what it is despite the irritations, of which there are many in every sport.
Maybe there are some minor tweaks that can be made to the scrum, but it is always going to be either time consuming or dangerous.
Rugby has already been made simpler and faster with 100 phases every ten minutes just like Austin wants... they called it Rugby League. Surely part of the reason we enjoy Rugby Union it's comparative complexity and technicality?
Front rows should be kept on their heels until after the engage and the engage should be close enough, would result in bringing the height up a bit and de-powering the engage.
It's all about balance.
Yellow cards all round for regular collapses before the ball is even in and anyone trying to cheat.
Just keep sending them all off and they'll soon stop doing it.
BFG wrote: ↑Sat Dec 07, 2019 12:58 pm
Front rows should be kept on their heels until after the engage and the engage should be close enough, would result in bringing the height up a bit and de-powering the engage.
It's all about balance.
Yellow cards all round for regular collapses before the ball is even in and anyone trying to cheat.
Just keep sending them all off and they'll soon stop doing it.
Completely agree with everything you've said, the challenge is judging who has caused the scrum to collapse and whether they've done it on purpose.
BFG wrote: ↑Sat Dec 07, 2019 12:58 pm
Front rows should be kept on their heels until after the engage and the engage should be close enough, would result in bringing the height up a bit and de-powering the engage.
It's all about balance.
Yellow cards all round for regular collapses before the ball is even in and anyone trying to cheat.
Just keep sending them all off and they'll soon stop doing it.
Completely agree with everything you've said, the challenge is judging who has caused the scrum to collapse and whether they've done it on purpose.
Totally agree with BFG but if the refs feel both are responsible bin one from each side it’ll soon stop.
Just like the high tackles, when people said that technique couldn’t be changed, you barely see any now except the odd seat belt
