LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD
JOHN Robbie’s “Boot the place kick into touch” in the Saturday Star last week appeals to me an avid rugby watcher.
John, as a knowledgeable ex-player and follower of the game, makes valid comment. (If only the rugby fraternity is listening.)
I must, however, say that watching the accuracy of some of the place kicks I thoroughly enjoy watching, especially from long distance and acute angles.
The place kicks from close up and directly in front of the posts could, as he suggests, be replaced by the drop kick which would make it more challenging and interesting.
But the place kick timing should be restricted to about 30 seconds to stop the time wasting in setting up and doing all the funnies John alludes to.
I could not agree more regarding the box kick from behind the scrum or breakdown – it is infuriating to watch the ball readily accessible but the scrumhalf wasting time calling for players to form the protective box – it slows the game down and results in the back-line being at a standstill instead of being in an attacking sprint from a quick ball.
After a breakdown, players often take their time in grabbing the ball and passing to a receiver in position allowing opposition players to overrun the ball and cause an unnecessary turnover.
The same can generally be said from kicks to-and-fro between the teams – surely any kick should be intended to gain ground, by kicking the ball into touch where it can be evenly contested or to kick to an unprotected area of the field and at a distance that will enable team players in hot pursuit to have an even change of collecting the ball.
And why are tackles not made around the waist or legs – why must players go for the shoulders or neck or want to piggy-back the ball carrier?
As far as substitution is concerned this should not be permitted for more than two, other than for injury. I agree no mass substitution be allowed to put fresh legs on the field – often the testosterone-loaded substitutes are apt to cause injury by their aggressive play to tired players.
Ray Peo