IS RUGBY FACING RUCK AND RUIN?
Sportsmail special on the great debate over Italy’s tactical trickery at Twickenham... World chief Beaumont looking into law but no change for Scots clash
BILL BEAUMONT is due to meet World Rugby’s elite referees’ manager, Alain Rolland, in Dublin today to discuss the global governing body’s response to Italy’s ‘ruckless’ ploy at Twickenham.
As chairman of the organisation, the former England captain was name-checked by an angry Eddie Jones on Sunday, when the national coach raged against the shock tactic of not committing any defenders to the breakdown. In response to his criticism of the law — which rules that there is no offside line when no ruck is formed — the RFU are expected to decide within the next 48 hours whether to request a law clarification.
In that event, World Rugby will appoint three members of their rugby committee to investigate and make recommendations, which could lead to amendments in the way the law is applied. However, after Jones said: ‘I’m sure Bill Beaumont watched that game and will take some action,’ he is already on the case. Speaking to Sports- -
mail yesterday, Beaumont said: ‘I will be discussing it when I go to Dublin, for a catch-up with our referees’ manager, Alain Rolland. I spoke to o Mark Egan, who runs our ur rugby committee, today on a couple of matters andd thithis was one of them.’
Beaumont has a reputation as a master diplomat and he will seek to ensure that all views are considered in the aftermath of a controversial RBS 6 Nations game, which England won 36-15. The prospect of the RFU requesting a law clarification was encouraged, not that the matter is likely to be resolved before the Calcutta Cup at Twickenham in 11 days’ time.
‘The RFU are a member of World Rugby, so if they have concerns, they should write to World Rugby about them,’ said Beaumont. ‘If they do that, a group of three people from our rugby committee will then clarify the law. That can happen within weeks.’
Asked if recommendations could be made prior to the England-Scotland fixture, he added: ‘That is probably a bit tight. It is less than 24 hours since this happened and we will review it.’
There is a meeting of World Rugby’s rugby committee before that weekend and even without a request from the RFU, they can opt to conduct a review. There is an emphasis on the spirit — as well as the letter — of the law, but sources have indicated that they will seek to avoid a ‘knee-jerk reaction’. Beaumont added: ‘Is it a loophole? I don’t know. Italy felt they were acting within the laws of the game, which they were. I’m not criticising Conor O’Shea or Italy because what they did was legal. Everyone was taken by surprise and it proved most of us have to revise our knowledge of the laws!’
The chairman has made a concerted effort to encourage frequent dialogue between World Rugby officials and leading coaches, to continually review all aspects of the game, and those men in charge of Tier 1 and Tier 2 nations are due to meet at the end of March.
‘No doubt this will be an agenda item at that meeting, with Eddie at one end and Conor O’Shea at the other,’ added Beaumont. ‘It is a good process, involving the coaches. I speak to coaches on a regular basis to see if we can make the game better.’ TheTh RFU were last night consideringco their position.ti A spokeswoman forf the union said: ‘This type of issue is discussed “in the round” with World Rugby,R through the normaln structures and meetings.m World Rugby regularlyreg issue clarifications on various laws so theyth could decide to do this anyway due to the interest generated by yesterday’s match.’
England scrum-half Danny Care found himself in the eye of the storm, with his passing routes to team-mates blocked by Italians who were deemed to be onside. He echoed Jones’s comments, saying: ‘It’s a pretty ridiculous rule. If teams feel they need to do that to make it a level playing field, it’s very negative. O’Shea has gone from being the most attacking man in rugby to the most negative.’
The Italian ploy has generated worldwide discussions and reactions. Former All Blacks coach Wayne Smith rejected suggestions that the law needed to be modified, saying: ‘It’s not an anomaly in the law, it’s just a part of the game, a shock tactic that a team might use now and again, but certainly if you became predictable by doing it you’d be cut to bits.’
Meanwhile, Ireland flanker Sean O’Brien was asked whether Joe Schmidt’s team would have known how to react if presented with the same spoiling tactics and he said: ‘Yeah, absolutely, up the jumpers stuff! You have to adapt to those situations if they arise and it took England a little bit to do that.’