Super 14 players back ELVs

[travelling_gerry]

Super 14 players back ELVs

July 16, 2008 SUPER 14 players have overwhelmingly backed rugby's experimental laws as Australia prepare to reacquaint themselves with the new rules in their Saturday's Tri-Nations series opener.


Rugby's "experimental law variations", trialled during this year's Super 14 competition, have been the source of plenty of controversy in the northern hemisphere and the International Rugby Board in May could only rubber stamp a watered down version for a worldwide trial, which begins next month.

The Tri-Nations is being played under a different set of laws to both - those trialled in the Super 14 plus two extra rules which allow unlimited numbers in the lineout and the pulling down of mauls.

But the results of a survey released by the players' associations in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have overwhelmingly endorsed the Super 14 experience.

Almost 90 per cent of the 260 players who responded said the laws were easy to understand and result in more continuity, while 83 per cent said the ELVs had been a positive for rugby.

And the most contentious innovation - the replacement of most penalties with a short-arm free-kick - was also resoundingly endorsed by the players, with 85 per cent liking the move.

The IRB banished that experiment to a single unspecified "elite" competition in Europe rather than include it in the worldwide trial.

The only loss for the ELVs was a "mixed response" from players on whether the new rules made the breakdown easier to understand.

The results are sure to please Australian rugby boss John O'Neill, who just days ago warned of the game being split into two and urged the IRB to make a decision on the outcomes of its trials sooner rather than later.

Australian players association boss Tony Dempsey said the decision-makers should take the players' views on board.

"These results clearly demonstrate that the players prefer to play under the experimental law variations introduced this season for the Super 14 competition," Dempsey said.

"It is important the game's administrators listen to the views and attitudes of the players in respect of this very important issue so that we continue to ensure rugby is both an entertaining and interesting sport for both its participants and fans alike.

Dempsey was backed by Wallabies superstar Lote Tuqiri.

"The game's certainly a lot quicker and you've got to run more and I like a running game," he said.

"It's out of my power but personally I like the ELVs."

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans warned his side about the shift back after three Tests played under the game's traditional rules.

Deans is wary of Australia's first opponents in the series, world champions South Africa, who have played two high quality Tests against New Zealand under the ELVs in the past two weeks.

"It does have the potential to catch us by surprise, just in terms of instinct," Deans said.


http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...-23217,00.html

[The Lone Hydrangea]

I know and you know that elite rugby is played south of the equator. So if the 3 best rugby nations in the world say the ELVs are the go, well id suspect they are.

[GIGS20]

Which is exactly the reason why the three most boring rugby nations are doing everything they can to kill them off.......we all know the IRB will cave because England and Ireland have teamed up to refuse to trial the new laws.

This is a move I can't really understand since the Poms would surely be delighted to take a million scrums of every free kick and not have the burden of trying to win a lineout against the SH teams! the only thing I can see which makes the ELVs a concern to them is that their main strike weapon (who surely must be on his last legs if not long gone) can't kick a penalty off every mistake opposition teams make.

[laura]

Rugby ELVs to go on global trial
AAP - July 17, 2008, 12:13 am

International rugby's ruling body has confirmed that the sport's so-called Experimental Law Variations will go on global trial from August 1.

The ELVs, which are designed to speed up play, were tested out in the southern hemisphere's Super 14 competition this year and the International Rugby Board said that it was pressing ahead with further trials.

The IRB said it was determined to get a single set of laws agreed upon as soon as possible, so its Rugby Committee will meet in the first quarter of next year to discuss the results before making a recommendation to the law making Council on whether the changes should be adopted.

Statistics from the Super 14 season, which ended in May, showed there were more tries, fewer lineouts, fewer penalties kicked and more times in play for the ball.

There were roughly the same number of scrums, more mauls and many more free kicks.

The new rules appear to have reduced the contest for possession by allowing few breakdowns to run their course, but opened attacking possibilities from free kicks and scrums.

Rugby ELVs to go on global trial - Yahoo!7 Sport

[BLR]

Yep, it seems John O'Neill was speaking out of his ass again.

[shasta]

the only thing I can see which makes the ELVs a concern to them is that their main strike weapon can't kick a penalty off every mistake opposition teams make.

Maybe not. But he'd be pretty handy at potting a droppy from a mid field scrum where the oppo are 15 - 20 metres away.

Dempsey was backed by Wallabies superstar Lote Tuqiri.

Everything's sorted then.

[Swee_82]

Looking at it purely from a PR persective, I'm not sure having an ex-League player talking up rules that are accused of making the game more like League is a good idea....

[oxleymoron]

From an email I got from the RUPA.

Recently the Australian, New Zealand and South African Rugby Union Players' Associations jointly undertook a survey of the Players who participated in the recent Super 14 rugby competition. Of a possible 308 players, 264 responded to the survey.



The purpose of the survey was to determine the views of the Players in respect of the introduction of the experimental law variations that the Players played under during the recent Super 14 competition so that all three Players associations may better understand the collective views of the Players who participated in the tournament.



In summary the results of the survey were as follows:



264 Players out of a possible 308 Players completed the survey. Of this 93 were Australian, 98 were New Zealanders, 73 were South African;


90% of the Players believe the ELV's are either very or relatively easy to interpret or understand;


88% of the Players believe the ELV's have created more continuity in play;


There is conjecture and mixed response amongst the Players as to whether the ELV's have made the breakdown easier to understand;


87% of the Players believe the law variation requiring defending backs to stand more than five metres back from the scum is a positive for the game;


Significantly 85% of Players believe the free kick experimental law variation has had an overall positive impact on the game. This is significant given the iRB's recent decision to introduce law variations from 1 August this year that do not include this free kick variation;


82% of Players believe the ELV concerning a Player passing the ball back beyond his own 22 metre line has been very or somewhat positive for the game;


Importantly 83% of Players surveyed believe the ELV's have had either a very or somewhat positive impact of the game of rugby overall. Only 10% of the Players thought the ELV's have a very or somewhat negative impact on the game. 7% felt it had no difference;


76.5% of Players support the ELV's being used in the upcoming Tri-Nations.


Tony Dempsey, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Rugby Union Players' Association said:



"These results clearly demonstrate that the Players prefer to play under the experimental law variations introduced this season for the Super 14 competition. It is important the games administrators listen to the views and attitudes of the Players in respect of this very important issue so that we continue to ensure rugby is both an entertaining and interesting sport for both it's participants and fans alike. We look forward to liaising with our respective governing bodies in upcoming months in relation to this subject to ensure continued progress is made."





Rob Nichol, Chief Executive Officer of the New Zealand Rugby Players' Association said



"There was a lot of debate about the ELV's at the start of the Super 14 competition, however ultimately they have been embraced by the players after having been given the opportunity to prove themselves. The results of the survey indicate the ELV's have been successful"





Piet Heymans, Chief Executive Officer of the South African Rugby Players' Association said



"The survey is a significant confirmation that the ELV's are contributing to a more entertaining game. We need to bring the Northern Hemisphere up to speed with these exciting changes."





For further information please contact Tony Dempsey on 02 9230 0477.





Tony Dempsey

Chief Executive Officer

The Rugby Union Players Association

The part I like best is only 73 yarpies filled out the survey. 5 teams x 15 starting players = 75. Does that mean that most of them didn't know any rules to begin with, thinking that the ELVs would involve them learning "some" rugby rules?

[Flamethrower]

Could be they can't read and write.