Law changes not winning many fans

The new experimental laws suggested by World Rugby will pose massive global challenges to the game, believes Lions Super Rugby breakdown and contact coach Philip Lemmer.

Among the rule modifications, no reset scrums will be allowed if no team is at fault, but the attacking team will be awarded a freekick and only one forward move is allowed at the rolling maul.

While these laws are suggested to make the game safer amid the Covid-19 pandemic and limiting contact at the collisions, SA Rugby has to still make a call as to whether they would implement these measures when the game eventually resumes.

“Especially the scrum and the contact area around the breakdown is a must for rugby,” said Lemmer, a former provincial prop and wrestler.

“I’ve read a piece where New Zealand sides said they are not going to pay attention to those laws and the scrum laws in their competition so I don’t know how accurate that is.”

Lemmer said that scrums and breakdowns have such a big influence on world rugby and that is often where matches are won or lost.

“I think if we look back to that England and Italy game in the Six Nations where Italy didn’t contest the breakdowns and really frustrated coach Eddie Jones and his team, then it’s difficult to provide a clear-cut answer on that issue.”

Lemmer stressed that contact is the essence of rugby and in every single contact situation there has to be a contest, whether at the lineouts or scrums.

“Contact is also important when trying to steal opposition ball and getting over it. That’s why we play the game...to win the ball from the most challenging contact situations,” Lemmer added.

He remains unsure how SA Rugby would approach the experimental laws, but is adamant that by implementing them, it would be detrimental to the game.

“The physicality is part and parcel of every game which all players strive for to get the upper hand over your opponents,” Lemmer.

Although Level 3 lockdown allows for non-contact professional sport, it is still unclear when contact sport would be allowed.

It was rumoured at the weekend that professional rugby and soccer might only get the goahead during the Level 1 lockdown regulations.