Advantage to Fiji
The new rugby laws will definitely sway to Fiji’s advantage.
This was the gist of Nadroga Rugby Union technical adviser and rugby guru Franck Boivert. He made the comments after a series of law applications released by World Rugby early this week that will be implemented starting January 1, 2023.
World Rugby has announced on Monday plans to introduce a ‘shot clock’ to help speed up the pacing of matches following complaints over time-wasting tactics.
Shot Clock
The introduction of the shot clock at set pieces and kicks is also aimed at improving the overall pacing of matches.
The latest changes mean conversion attempts must be taken within 90 seconds of a try being awarded, while kickers will have just 60 seconds to complete penalty attempts.
The time limits for kickers were already part of rugby law, though the shot clock adds a more regimented element to the rule.
In addition, World Rugby also added details to existing rules concerning deliberate knock-ons and players supporting their body weight at rucks and mauls.
Any failure to take a kick attempt within the allotted time will result in the kick being disallowed.
Teams will have just 30 seconds to scrum down and cannot delay forming line-outs, with a penalty to the opposition awarded as punishment should teams fail to do either.
Speaking to Sunsports yesterday Boivert said the new laws will not spare those who are in the habit of delaying the game in order to catch their breath.
“Teams and players will no longer be able to delay the game especially during the line outs and scrums – this is where teams intentionally kill time for their advantage,” Boivert said.
I believe these new laws are an advantage to Fiji, in speeding up the game to their advantage Franck Boivert
Driving Maul
“I believe these new laws are an advantage to Fiji, in speeding up the game to their advantage,” he said.
“I believe the huge problem rugby is facing right now is the over use of the driving maul.
“All teams use it as it is so difficult for the opposition to fend it - we find ourselves with situations like Fiji playing with six forwards against eight forwards trying a driving maul.
“Such would not take place if the law was sanctioning what is like a legal obstruction and violates a principle of the identity of rugby that the ball must always be contestable.
“Set piece from the line out and scrum is excellent too as some teams are delaying restarts to catch their breath and the fittest teams in that respect are being penalised about being ready; before the World Cup it will be a matter of getting your line out codes clear.
“One method I used myself successfully with my American teams is to have the line out codes ready in succession according to the field position.
“These new laws are excellent in clarifying things about the delay of the game.
“A perfect example was the incident at the end of the test between Australia and the All blacks when Bernett Foley failed to kick the ball out and was penalised for time wasting.
“Around that time the French Top 14 had already implied the kicking rules.