Do rugby's new laws scare you?
Exactly what have the new laws done for the game? Good? Bad? It seems no one is quite sure yet whether the IRB have made the game more exciting or if, as Ireland's defence coach, Les Kiss believes, they're only pushing Union more and more towards Rugby League.Speaking earlier this week Kiss, one of the world’s leading structural defense minds, raised a serious concern about whether or not the game had taken a step forwards, backwards or to the side following the institution of the new law variations.
Particularly concerning for Kiss was the style of rugby he witnessed in the Super 14. High scores, open games, unstructured defensive systems – the Australian coach clearly is not too impressed.
Straight away the conversation turns to North versus South – a 'northern' coach critising Southern rugby, nonsense! To be honest though I don’t have the energy for that argument right now… it is a ridiculous argument and one which has nothing to do with the rules of the game.
So what did Kiss say regarding the rules and the type of game he believes it encouraged in the recently completed Super 14 competition?
"We have watched a whole lot of footage of the Super 14. Did it scare me? In terms of rugby, no, and in playing the game, no. It just scared me where it could possible go.
"If we dilute the contest, we may as well take two players off and play that other game (rugby league). Make it 13 versus 13. That’s what scared me, that maybe we are being legislated and driven (in a direction) to suit certain nations and not the game.
"The ethos game, the charter, is that it should suit all sizes and all shapes and f we make it so uncontestable and so super-quick, we take all different sizes out."
In theory it is impossible to disagree with Kiss – all real rugby fans want to see a contest – but did the Super 14 really take contests completely out of the game? Francois Louw of the Stormers seemed to be stealing easily enough!
"Surely there should be a demand on coaches to be able to work quicker ball, and not just legislate for it. And that’s what scares me. The big scores scared me if it was going to go that way, but it can’t go that way – otherwise we may as well just have 13 versus 13," he lamented.
Rugby, more than any other sport, is constantly evolving. Kiss, better than most, should understand that. As a defence coach the onus is on him to adapt to the laws. Yes it is worrying that almost every concerted attack these days seems destined to result in points. Defences need to work harder – adapt and adjust.
With Summer internationals for Ireland just ahead it is natural for Kiss and Co. to start to analyse and question styles, interpretations and tactics but, as someone who has watched 'a whole lot of footage' from across Europe this year, I wouldn’t say the European game is struggling – both are merely adapting at their own rates... and serving up good rugby in the process!
Whether you like the rules or not, with the World Cup 15 months away, the great game is in pretty good health if you ask me.
by Peter Murison
What do you think? Let us know what you think about the new law interpretations by commenting below…
