ELVs casting spell over same-same Super 14 teams

ELVs casting spell over same-same Super 14 teams
By GREG FORD - Sunday Star Times | Sunday, 16 March 2008
ELVs casting spell over same-same Super 14 teams - Rugby news & coverage - Stuff.co.nz


Feel like this rugby season has been a bit of a blur? Can't remember one distinguishing feature of one game from the next? Feeling a little detached from the game you love? Well, if you answered "yes" to any of those questions then don't worry, you're in distinguished company.

While Chiefs coach Ian Foster says it's still a little early to be drawing too many concrete conclusions about rugby's new laws he says one of the distinguishing features that's made the game great has been eroded by the ELVs.

Not too long ago any Joe Blow on the street could tell you what the Hurricanes' style of play was; how it was different from the Blues and Crusaders; why the Chiefs did what they do and how the Australians and South Africans were an altogether different beast.

But that's no longer the case.

There's a "sameness" to the way teams are going about their business in this year's Super 14. At first it was refreshing but it's now becoming dull. Only time will tell whether it's just another step in the evolution of the game.

But when the theory was put to Foster yesterday he largely agreed teams were all playing much alike.

"Yes, there is a likeness to the way teams are playing, there is no doubt about that and perhaps therefore there is a problem determining the different styles of teams which was never really a problem in the past.

"Coaches like myself used to spend a lot of time preparing for different teams and the different threats and challenges they posed, and we still are. But now once the ball has gone past the first and second phase the likeness between teams and what they do is there.

"They are having to focus more than ever on having good support systems in place and getting numbers to the breakdown and making sure they are all nice and square [due to the new offside line once a tackle has been completed].

"I think that has contributed to what you are talking about in terms of styles and variety because we are all battling the same issues. What hasn't changed is that it is still vitally important to have a strong set piece."

That, at least, should please critics in the northern hemisphere.

Figures released by the Australian Rugby Union yesterday prove the scrum has overtaken turnovers and the lineout to become the paramount catalyst of tries for teams, mainly due to the new rule which requires defensive teams to be back 5m from the scrum, creasting more space.

Last year 19% of tries came from scrums; after the first four rounds this year, 25% of five-pointers have been scored off them, 21% off turnovers and 20% off lineouts. Last year the best platform for scoring tries was the lineout with a 31% rate, against turnovers (29%) and the scrum (19%).

Other statistics after four rounds this year show 17% of tries came from quick taps against 8% last year, 13% from a kick (against 12%) and 4% from restarts (against 1%).

Meanwhile, the number of lineouts has dropped from an average of 31 per game to 26. Other statistics show minimal change. Rucks and mauls have risen from 137 a game to 141. Turnovers at the ruck have increased from 11 to 14. In general play, free kicks have increased from two a game to 16, and penalties are down from 19 to 12.

Passes averaged 228 a game last year, against 223 so far; while the number of kicks is also much the same: 51 compared with 53 this year. Time for ball in play is almost the same -- 33 minutes last year compared with 34 minutes. But some teams are extending that to 39 minutes.

Foster was keen to distance himself from using the new laws as a reason for his team so far flattering to deceive. Their loss to the Stormers on Friday night was their third from five outings.

"We had the same notice as any other team and I don't think they [the new laws] have made any distinct negative or positive impact on the Chiefs," he said. "We're just making silly errors and crucial times and it's a little hard to fathom why, especially when they are coming from some of our most experienced players."

Injuries have not helped either. Beset with injuries before the competition even started, three more Chiefs backs limped off late in the second spell meaning the Chiefs had to plug gaps with forwards. Medical staff face a busy week getting a fully fit team on the park to face the Bulls in Rotorua on Saturday.

"We've had our fair share," Foster said. "It's putting extra pressure on some inexperienced guys and our confidence is down a little but there is still a long way to go in this competition."

Stormers (P Grant T Chavanga C Jantjes tries; penalty try; Grant 3 pen, 3 con) Chiefs (R Kahui L Masaga tries; S Donald 4 pen, 2 con). HT: 25-13 AN OLD-FASHIONED BURGER / B10

I agree, these laws shit me, the league-ness of some of the play makes me angry...go back to the old laws and bring back rucking and we're sweet...

Can't agree BLR.
The law changes have opened up the game, made the scrums and lineouts more relevant and forced teams to attack rather than play defensively.
For a clearer idea, simply compare the quality of rugby in the 6N games. Only Wales had some sort of attack plan that invovled picking up the ball and running (the essence of rugby). The running game of France gave way to a "kick it and see what happens" approach.
Laws only tend to annoy people who don't understand them or fail to see why they are there. Have a good watch of some 6N replays and compare them to the running, attacking rugby from the S14.

Not all will be adopted, but several are very good ideas that speed up the game and, most importantly, return the scrum to a key factor in rugby - something that league has no concept of.

I've gotta agree hopep, the reason there is a 'sameness' to the S14 games at the moment, is because it is essentially a running rugby tournament. If you look at the teams that are flourshing under the ELVs they're NOT necessarily folurishing by using the same tactics, they're flourishing by using A tactic.

Blues have scored a stack of tries from scrums, but Force are using the ruck more....'Saders are pretty all around and Waratahs are using quite a bit of pick and drive.

So how are the teams that have suffered suffering. Bulls, big lineout team, always played for territory and kicked intellignelty, what are they doing now.....well, not much, whingeing that they don't like the rules...and not winning as many lineouts, not kicking as well and not playing well in general. Hurricanes, before the ELVs they were a mecurial team which really had a split personlaity, much of their performance depended on Tana pulling the team up by it's bootstraps and making something happen, what are they doing now....much the same, a mecurial team which is having a bit of trouble comint to grips with who they are....they don't have Tana to drag them over the line anymore! Chiefs, well they're probably the ones who've changed their way of doing stuff without much luck right now......probably that's the lesson here! DON'T change the way you play, enhance the things you do that work.If I were Brian Alston (who won't be the coach for long but you know...)I would make sure I teach the linouts how to steal ball on attack, teach the kickers how to bounce the ball infield like the leaguies do, and NEVER EVER EVER take a quick tap!