The Offload: Former props unimpressed by proposed law changes

World Rugby’s upcoming law changes that will take effect from July 1st had received a frosty reception for the most part in the northern hemisphere with a couple of former Ireland props voicing their disapproval at the fact that it will no longer be possible to choose to scrum from a free kick. The ball must be kicked or tapped “to encourage more ball in flow”.

The suggestion is that teams with weaker scrums could deliberately concede free kicks, like stepping across the mark early for example, knowing that the opposition couldn’t choose to chase a penalty by opting for another scrum.

The scrum is arguably the best attacking launch and what is likely to happen under the new law is that it will increase the number of head-on-head collisions because there’ll be more incidents of attack and defence lines running into each other from a free kick.

The other changes include the ‘Dupont Law’ where it will no longer be possible for a player to be put onside when the opposition player catches the ball and runs five metres or passes the ball. Offside players must now retreat “creating space for the opposition players to play”.

The final alteration is to ban the crocodile roll. “The action of rolling/twisting/pulling of a player on their feet in the tackle area (the ‘crocodile roll’) will be outlawed, sanctioned by a penalty.”

There will be closed law trials in World Rugby competitions, also from July 1st, that operate across the World Rugby U20 Championship, U20 Trophy and Pacific Nations Cup. Unions and competition owners may implement within their own competitions.

As a closed trial a full review of effectiveness of the trials will be presented to the executive board in November to inform decisions regarding wider implementation.

There will be automatic suspensions for some red card offences, two and four matches, while more serious violations will go before a disciplinary panel. There will be a facility to replace a player who has received a red card after 20 minutes with another player from the match-day 23.

Other new measures include a 30-second shot clock for scrum and lineout setting and a maximum of 60 seconds for conversions [a reduction of 30 seconds] in aligning with the time permitted for penalty kicks at goal.

The scrumhalf will not be able to be played while the ball is still near a tackle, ruck or maul, and the offside line at the scrum for the non-putting in scrumhalf will be the middle of the tunnel. A player will be permitted to mark the ball inside the 22m line from a restart, promoting attacking options.

The ball must be played after the maul has been stopped once, not twice, while the referee will allow play to continue at a lineout if ball is not thrown straight but only if lineout is uncontested, aiding the flow of the game.

A working group will be established to examine the breakdown/tackle/ruck with according to World Rugby “a major review of the breakdown through the lens of spectacle and safety – e.g. the impact of contesting the ball on the floor, the practice of jackaling as opposed to an upright driving game”.

The protocol around the TMO, tackle height in elite rugby and number of replacements will come under review.

Izuchukwu catches the eye for Ulster

Ulster huffed and puffed a little in the first half of their 31-20 victory over the Scarlets in west Wales and only managed to break free on the scoreboard after the home side were reduced to 14 and then 13 players following a couple of yellow cards.

But one player who consistently excelled in his 58 minutes before being replaced by Dave Ewers was Cormac Izuchukwu. London, Tullamore, Roscrea, Kelso, Newcastle, Dublin and finally Belfast represent signposts on a rugby road less travelled for the 24-year-old, whose rugby IQ is catching up with his outstanding athleticism.

He performed superbly in his first competitive start for Ulster at blindside flanker and under different circumstances could have been celebrating a hat-trick of tries; three times he was held up over the Scarlets line in the first half.

It was a well-rounded display from the 6ft 7in Izuchukwu and a reminder that Irish rugby has some fine, outsized athletes playing in the provincial six jerseys, including Ryan Baird (6ft 6in), Tom Ahern (6ft 9in) and Cian Prendergast (6ft 5in) to highlight one each from Leinster, Munster and Connacht.

Richie Murphy, due to be confirmed as the new Ulster head coach this week having taken on an interim role, has given Izuchukwu an opportunity and the latter has responded superbly.

By the Numbers: 90

A 14-try haul that the Northampton Saints ran up in a 90-0 win over Gloucester in the Gallagher Premiership, certainly demonstrated that there was no hangover following their narrow defeat to Leinster in the Champions Cup semi-final.

Word of Mouth

“The European season is very long. It’s double the amount of games that you play in Japan, so that plays a role as well. You have the opportunity to play for your country as well. There might not be problems with the clubs wanting you not to play Test rugby, but injuries happen and then you can’t play for this side or that side. So that all plays a role in the decision.” Springbok Pieter Steph du Toit on playing in Japan.

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