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Rugby 365

Here are points that could count. They come with a WARNING.

They may not happen at all!

1. Scrum cadence. This will be reduced to three calls - crouch - touch - set. Pause is out and engage is reduced to a sharp monosyllable. The laws coyly say: "The 'set' call is not a command but an indication that the front rows may come together when ready. If it's not a command what is all this fuss about taking the hit and fading on the hit. The hit is rubbish.

2. Substitutions Teams are now allowed to nominate eight replacements/substitutes instead of the seven previously allowed. This is the French system aimed at reducing the number of uncontested scrums. This will happen in November.

3. Quick throw-ins Up till now the quick throw-in was allowed between the place where the ball went out and the throwing team's goal-line. Now it could well be, as it is in the north, between where the line-out would be and the throwing team's goal-line.

4. Time for the conversion The maximum time to take the conversion has been laid down as 90 seconds from the time the try was scored. It used to be a minute from indicating that the kick was to be taken, which was silly in the case of a conversion.

5. Five seconds to play When a team has won the ball at a ruck and it is available, that team must play the ball before five seconds is up or forfeit it. It then becomes a scrum to the other side. If the ball-carrier in a maul goes to ground and the ball is available to be played, that team must play the ball before five seconds is up or forfeit it. It then becomes a scrum to the other side. So no queuing up and rolling the ball in and out and all those other annoying bits of time-wasting that some scrumhalves seem to think is playing rugby.

6. Knock-on option If a knock-on or forward pass goes into touch it is a scrum now but then the other team will have the option of having the scrum or having a line-out. Having an option is new and may well suit a team suffering in the scrums.

7. Using the TMO The law trials allow an extended use of the TMO. He can now be used to identify foul play or a player guilty of foul play. Also he may be consulted about infringements in the lead-up to a try. That one needs clarification and amplification.

8. Options at penalty kicks and free kicks At present the team that benefits from a penalty or a free kick, has the option of choosing a scrum. Now, if that penalty of free kick is for a line-out infringement, the team benefiting may also opt for a line-out.

9. Single stud At present the IRB's clothing regulation reads: There shall not be a single stud/cleat at the toe of the boot. The new trial allows for a single stud at the toe of the boot.

10. Scoring from a free kick The team awarded a free kick cannot score a dropped goal until after the ball next becomes dead, or until after an opponent has played or touched it, or has tackled the ball carrier. This restriction applies also to a scrum or line-out taken instead of a free kick. That just makes things clearer.

NB This is speculation. It may not happen.

All of those are already in place in the NH competitions as ELV's. I suspect that the EOYT will be played according to them as well. Go check the team sheets of the Aviva. They have 23 players on all the team sheets.

Are they forced to choose a full front row on the bench? This would be a smart change.

 True some of them have been implemented yes. Also none of them have been implemented internationally yet. 

To me the most entertaining of the lot is the one the adds the studs to the front. Interesting. maybe we should bring rucking back, :)

Ek, they are used in the Heineken and the other domestic competitions, yes, but they are used as ELV's similar to the ELV's that were tried out by the SH in the S14 a few years ago, before being implemented in international games.

Mozart, yes they have a full front row. That is the whole idea of the 23 player on the bench. They have to have a "reserve" forward available at all times, to prevent uncontested scrums.

The studs is, as far as I know, to prevent thsi constant resetting of scrums due to front rowers "slipping".

Thanks Bongani.....a sensible change

 The law that is of most interest to me is- "

7. Using the TMO The law trials allow an extended use of the TMO. He can now be used to identify foul play or a player guilty of foul play. Also he may be consulted about infringements in the lead-up to a try. That one needs clarification and amplification.

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Is foul play punching or does it also include playing the ball on the floor etc? 

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Welcome to wolrd of the wide awake ou Visbok. That was used in the CC in SA as well. Remember the ref asking the TMO about a suspected foul play by Juandre Kruger in the semi-final against the Sharks?

if only the TMO had the ability to make that call when earl rose made his reckless run into the chip shop, o_O

im sure he would have been given a red, lolz, :oP

i think its a more positive move but i am not happy with the rules at the breakdown area. i still feel they should allow teams to sort that area of the game out themselves and allow rucking again. that in effect should allow more players sucked into a ruck and allow less players in defence thus creating more space and the net result should be more tries what the public wants.

on the whole earl rose saga please watch this plonker on youtube hahahahahahaha

www.youtube.com/watch the aftermath (earl shirtless hahahaha)

www.youtube.com/watch main video outside store

www.youtube.com/watch video inside the store