The plan to fix rugby is long overdue – here’s what it should look like

Several aspects of World Rugby’s five-point plan to attract the next generation will ironically irk existing fans. Because, as the global governing body knows, part of the challenge is to undo the bad habits that the elite have ingrained.

Simply put, you won’t see amateur scrum-halves breaking through the heavy construction of the pips. Base umpires are much more likely to impose sanctions on a team that delays being cut. The dastardly ‘crocodile roll’, which violates law 16b, which dictates that players must not knock down a pile, is a new invention of professionalism – having emerged since the increasing influence of the practice of jackaling.

There was a lot to admire in the proposals released at this year’s Shape of the Game conference. Everyone agrees on the need to streamline and simplify rugby’s disciplinary process, which can be quite confusing. Another stated aim, capitalizing on the explosion in popularity of women’s football, makes perfect sense.

It is understood that the desire for “a consistent approach to the presentation of sport across all media” will focus on the use of large screens and PA systems to explain referee decisions. World Rugby recognizes that all elite matches must do this. Again, this is a solid idea. However, some ‘solutions’ should not be described as revolutionary.

caterpillar backs

How to fix: The referees say ‘use’ more quickly.

‘Time of ball in play’ has become a fetishized statistic in rugby union. The higher it is, the better the game, right? Well, not necessarily. World Rugby recognizes that ‘ball flow time’ is more important. Stats Perform put the time in play in the second half of Scotland’s win over England on Saturday at 18 minutes and 38 seconds. But that doesn’t tell the whole story.

It’s not fair to single out Ben Spencer, but England’s reserve scrum-half hit five box-off shots from the base of the backs in the second half. Initially, referee Andrew Brace waited five seconds after the ball was made available, while Spencer added his England team-mates to the list to call for ‘use’. Five seconds after that, Spencer finally kicked. So ten seconds passed without anything meaningful happening. And those 10 seconds counted as the time the ‘ball was in play’.

The story continues

Later, after Joe Marler’s move, the ball was available with 73.28 on the game clock. Brace said ‘use it’ at 73.39. Spencer touched down at 73.44. This means an additional 15 seconds the ball is in play. A total of 57 seconds of ball play time elapsed between the reasonable presentation of the ball and the execution of these five hits. This is 57 seconds out of 18 minutes 38 seconds, which covers the time the ball is in play for the entire half and is reserved solely for a player preparing to kick. It’s really sobering.

Fortunately, the answer lies in existing law. Although he didn’t have to save England from themselves, Brace could have said ‘use it’ much quicker. Rule 17 states: “When the ball is clearly won by a team on the field and is ready to be played, the referee says ‘use’ and the ball must then be played within five seconds.” When you apply the first part, the caterpillars will be endangered. ‘Ball flow time’ is something to be envied.

‘Dead time’ in attacks and line exits

How to fix: Shot clocks for set pieces.

When it comes to ‘dead time’ in matches, planning and launching attacks before being left out of the squad are big culprits. Mauls are good; they are a lively competition and are part of the fabric of rugby union. To stay true to last weekend’s Calcutta Cup clash, Brace issued warnings about crowds in the front row without monitoring or enforcing sanctions. As World Rugby’s recommendations imply, a more formal means of timing teams, a countdown clock similar to those introduced for ground kicks, would assist officials and provide a consistent measurement. If a side wanted to create a set-piece advantage, they would have to hurry. However, scrum security also needs to be a factor.

Static kick exchanges

How to fix: Removal of the ‘Dupont’ provisions of law 10.7, with referees having the power to stop play if the kicker is injured and unable to put his team-mates aside.

‘Dupont’s Law’ is named after France scrum-half Antoine Dupont, who popularized this tactic in Test matches, allowing players to advance from offside positions after the opposition have caught a kick and moved five meters or passed the ball.

Super Rugby Pacific saw a lull in endless kick tennis during Bath’s win over Gloucester in January, followed by the bizarre display at Murrayfield where Scotland and France played musical statues in the backfield. They subsequently decided, for their own competition, to scrap the provisions that allowed players to advance from an offside position if an opposing player caught the ball and ran or passed five metres. Who can blame them?

The Springboks’ all-conquering former coach, Jacques Nienaber, now at Leinster, labeled the back-and-forth at Bath-Gloucester as “a one-minute ballgame where nothing happens except the ball flying through the air”. Nienaber, who coincidentally is part of World Rugby’s high performance committee for the men’s game, understands that the aim of introducing swaps is to open up the field and encourage fatigue, which leads to more space. Dupont’s law restricts both flow and fatigue. Few people can miss this.