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didds
- scrumtime@hotmail.com
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Tue, 11 March 08 09:01 GMT
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scenario - down amongst the dead men, a clubs 6th XV. One saturday all they can field is 15 prop forwards.
Such a tactic would be a clear one for them - or as a game are we going to force a team to play "open" rugby (whatever that may mean) that is through no fault of their own particularly unequipped to do so?
Rugby has always been a game for all shapes, all sizes, all abilities and provided a rich selection of tactical approach. Starting to force teams to NOT use what is otherwise a totally legal and viable tactic is to reduce the game's ruichness. IMO.
If we were to legislate against stuff that is merely "boring" we'd be getting rid of Barnes and Butler for a start!
didds
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wright3135
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Mon, 10 March 08 22:38 GMT
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I can understand teams wanting to employ this tactic to win a match, but as a paying spectator I will take my hard earned elsewhere for entertainment if this becomes the norm. It does need to be stopped as it is spoiling the game. Can't they take a leaf out of rugby league and limit the number of such movements?
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mashers
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Mon, 10 March 08 20:14 GMT
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Two weeks ago we played a team who employed exactly this tactic for the last fifteen minutes of the game, whenever they had possession. Despite it being frustrating and difficult to stop I had to accept they were only doing what is needed to get the win. It is something that is coming into the game more and more at all levels (we are just about as far from Int'l as you can get)much the same as footballers taking the ball into the corner flag. The only way to stop it would be regulating the number of continuous rucks a team can set up within a metre of the previous one, although no doubt someone would find a loophole in that. It is up to teams who are behind to find a way to stop/disrupt it.
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Oldmanmartin
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Mon, 10 March 08 16:52 GMT
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As I recall, one ref did instruct the 'defending' team to use the ball rather than let it lie fallow in the ruck. The ref can penalise timewasting, but can't penalise a team simply going through unambitious phases however much time that consumes.
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the whistleblower
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Mon, 10 March 08 11:39 GMT
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I agree that it needs to be addressed, and actually it could be fixed quite easily. If the iRB issued a statemetn saying that such practice was contrary to good sportsmanship, referees could penalise it as such. However, sportsmanship is subjective, adn one man's time-wasting is another man's tactical ploy. Until such an authoritative statement is made by the iRB (for a global outcome) or the RFU (for an English one), the ploy will continue to frustrate the fans and the players alike.
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Whistleblower |
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wright3135
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Sat, 08 March 08 22:13 GMT
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This afternoon I watched 2 games of rugby that effectively ended after 70 or so minutes, as the team that was in the lead killed the game by retaining possession and persisting with a series of driving mauls with the sole intention of wasting time. There was no attempt at scoring further points. This made for a very boring spectacle, unless I suppose if it was your team that was in the lead. I don't suppose anything can be done about it, but its certainly not the most entertaining thing to watch.
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