European Club Rugby

In theory it is just another winter Tuesday. No big games are happening on 3 January 2017, no one will instantly sense the change. Could it be, nevertheless, that the date will one day be ranked among the most significant in modern rugby union history? Might it also be the moment the cork is removed from the old-school bottle and, in a spray of sparkling foam, it starts raining tries?
World Rugby’s decision to tighten the tackle law with immediate effect and clamp down on high, dangerous “hits” is meant to be all about improving player welfare. Every minor tweak to rugby’s technical landscape inevitably has a side-effect and suddenly it is defence coaches who face a double-barrelled nightmare. If defenders can no longer risk targeting the upper chest for fear of the impact “riding up” and earning them a card, passing out of the tackle becomes far more practicable. The killer offload is suddenly back in vogue.

Leave aside, for now, the other possible side-effect, namely games ending up with 12 players a side until the “steer clear of the head” mantra fully sinks in.

Overlook, too, the inconvenience to players of introducing such punitive measures – and stiffer sanctions – slap-bang in the middle of the northern hemisphere season.

Instead, just for a moment, consider the potential consequences should everyone embrace the spirit of the reinforced law as well as its letter. Could lowering the height of the hit, perversely, be rugby’s big-bang moment?

The possibilities, either way, are intriguing. Even accidental contact with the head is set to attract at least a penalty, as will any challenge that might conceivably be described as reckless. Players will have to change their behaviour and attitudes or risk spending a lot more time in the sin-bin. In the short term, if not longer, there should be more leeway for ball-carriers and try-scoring rates look set to soar.

Clearly rugby is about more than tries alone – low-scoring slugfests can sometimes be the most compelling of all – but in terms of allowing gifted athletes a fraction more scope to display their skills, this may turn out to be the most significant shift since the introduction of the five-point try in 1992. Something had to be done to protect diminutive playmakers and as long as players do not appeal loudly to the referee every time an arm inadvertently grazes their cheeks, it should enhance the prospects of teams who aspire to play a bit more rugby.

A double-edged sword for SBW. He may be able to offload at will but need to get rid of his league style tackling forever.

What that article above fails to recognise is that attack coaches will be telling all ball carriers to run with their head leading into contact, especially in a pick and go situation.

Instead of sparkling tries from offloaded balls are we instead going to see endless pick and goes from charging bulls slowly eating up the field 3 metres at a time with their heads forward chanting 'can't touch me'?

@Crucial

It might negate the midfield bomb as an attacking weapon, as that now is a flat out red card risk if you don't get the jump on.

Alternately if you have someone outrageously good in the air (Ben Smith, Israel Folau) you can bomb to him knowing he can't be touched.

Re pick & go, its a huge boost to ball playing props, if you are a 5'11 120kg prop with decent hands picking & going against locks & loosies becomes a really good move. Kevin Mealamu could come out of retirement... the emphasis will be on getting low & tackling round the ankles, thats not a terrible thing surely, tho' it makes "winning" the hit almost impossible

SBW's fending will have to change too, half his offloads come with a face massaging fend

Bundee Aki has no idea if he will declare for Ireland

Bundee Aki may have committed his future to Connacht before Pat Lam announced his departure from the Sportsground, but the Pro12 player of the season remains coy about his international future.

The 26-year old is eligible to play for New Zealand, Samoa and, from later this year, Ireland, but he is in no rush to make a commitment despite signing a three-year contract extension to remain at the Sportsground. That was before Lam announced he was leaving at the end of the season, invoking a six-month notice clause which allowed him to depart a year before his contract is up.
Connacht chief executive Willie Ruane says none of the players have such a release clause in their contracts.

Aki, out until next month with an ankle injury, didn't hide his frustration when he became aware of Lam's shock decision to leave, tweeting that he was 'feeling p****d' after being told.
The centre had since admitted he may have over-reacted and that he is adjusting to what life will be like at Connacht when Lam leaves for Bristol at the end of the season. But Aki is reluctant at this stage to declare for Ireland or be distracted by events outside Connacht.

"I literally do not know what I want to do at the end of the season, or who I want to play for. First off, I need to make sure that Connacht do well," he said.

Aki's barnstorming performances were key to Connacht's historic success last season and other than sitting out a trip to Treviso, he featured in each of the other 23 games on their march to Pro12 glory, scoring six tries in the process.

@Pot-Hale Wow, that's interesting. After all the money Ireland have invested = wonder if a return home is on the cards?

@Crash said in NH club rugby:

@Pot-Hale Wow, that's interesting. After all the money Ireland have invested = wonder if a return home is on the cards?

Nah, I think he is genuinely just keeping his mind free of any of those thoughts and will cross the bridge when he comes to it. He doesn't have to make a decision right now so why waste energy on the question.
Family situations especially can change so he's just doing the sensible thing by staying well away from commenting.

Saying that, I'd love to see him back in NZ even if he would be more likely to pop up at the Blues than the Chiefs.

@Crash said in NH club rugby:

@Pot-Hale Wow, that's interesting. After all the money Ireland have invested = wonder if a return home is on the cards?

It's unsurprising to me. Aki has said all along that he has options for 2-3 countries so this matches with what he's said previously. It also points to the reality of what project player means. SFA in terms of commitment from either side. Te'o decided to go to UK. If Aki helps in keeping Connacht on track for success in PRO12 and qualifying for Euro comps and helping to develop other Irish players then it's good value. As I've said before, I hope he departs and/or declares for Samoa - or possibly NZ but unlikely in the timeframe- which would be the best outcome.

I doubt he will declare for Samoa if he sees regular play for Ireland on the cards. The only way Manu Samoa will get him is if he returns to Super Rugby.

@Crucial Surely he'll return to the Chiefs? Or Blues - to link up with old pal SBW?

If he declared for Samoa and played for them this June that may mess with the Irish Qualified Quota in the Connacht squad and see him asked to leave as Ruan Pienaar was at Ulster. So he could force the IRFU's hand to get himself removed from a team he no longer wants to play for.

And with a juicy Top 14 contract dangled in front of him then a couple of Tests for the Manu this year could be just the ticket out of Galway.

@Crash said in NH club rugby:

@Crucial Surely he'll return to the Chiefs? Or Blues - to link up with old pal SBW?

Tana would have the inside running I would think. He taught Bundee a lot

@Wurzel said in NH club rugby:

If he declared for Samoa and played for them this June that may mess with the Irish Qualified Quota in the Connacht squad and see him asked to leave as Ruan Pienaar was at Ulster. So he could force the IRFU's hand to get himself removed from a team he no longer wants to play for.

And with a juicy Top 14 contract dangled in front of him then a couple of Tests for the Manu this year could be just the ticket out of Galway.

Connacht have a different agreement when it comes to the Irish eligible players than the other three provinces, but obviously the vitriol and acrimony of that decision would be so great to watch. Aki is signed to a contact through 2020, whether this is voided if he becomes non-poachable we don't know.

Even if Aki wants to play for Ireland I would be tempted to reject the first call up - maybe Ireland/Connacht come with more money or incentives to accept a call up allegiance.

But let's not kid ourselves this is only heading one way - he is not available for selection for NZ, he has been free to declare for Samoa forever and has yet to do so and there are considerable cash incentives to declare for Ireland.

@Bones said in NH club rugby:

@Nepia said in NH club rugby:

@Bones
Pisi was clearly going for the ball.

He was on a running line that saw him arrive under the ball.

As MR notes the other guy jumped higher and not jumping as high shouldn't be a red card offence.

Furthermore Pisi braced for the impact of a guy leading with his legs.

Eh no. Pisi ran underneath him and took him out. Is a high tackle ok if it's a tall guy on a short guy? It's not the tall guys fault the other fella is short. If the short guy was taller there'd be no issue eh. Or if the tall guy was shorter.

Pisi should have been aware of the danger, the bullshit about going for the ball screams reckless to me. What kind of a player thinks he's the only guy on the field going to catch a ball? Do players all of a sudden lose all ability to scan and/or use peripheral vision in these circumstances?

I like how people scream the game is becoming soft and then it's proposed we remove jumping. How about we just drill it into players to take responsibility for their actions?

He took him out? How on earth did you come up with that?

He's running for the ball but is only looking to jump slightly in order to maintain his momentum - a move seen probably 10-20 times per game. Just as he leaps he still has eyes on the ball:

Go forward a frame, he still has eyes on the ball:

Another frame you finally see his head start to turn to avoid being kicked in the face.

There are many arguments of which some have merit. I think it's an unfortunate collision, but I also acknowledge that world rugby have changed rules in order to try and take out dangerous unfortunately collisions out of the game - the players do need to be aware of that.

But a RED card, sending off a player? Thats just plain bullshit. As is your "he took him out" call.

@MajorRage Hah, yeah a slight jump. Not a fake jump at all.

Again, "he only has eyes for the ball" is bullshit. What player at any level has tunnel vision this limited, let alone pro level. Even if it were the case that he only has eyes for the ball, that's the bloody problem - it's reckless and careless, again, what player thinks they're the only one in the field taking the ball?

@Bones I agree. That a guy is labelled reckless, careless and is subsequently given a red card for trying to catch a ball is a bloody problem alright.

@Bones said in NH club rugby:

@MajorRage Hah, yeah a slight jump. Not a fake jump at all.

Again, "he only has eyes for the ball" is bullshit. What player at any level has tunnel vision this limited, let alone pro level. Even if it were the case that he only has eyes for the ball, that's the bloody problem - it's reckless and careless, again, what player thinks they're the only one in the field taking the ball?

Same argument can be made for the other jumper. He put himself in a dangerous position.

@MajorRage said in NH club rugby:

@Bones I agree. That a guy is labelled reckless, careless and is subsequently given a red card for trying to catch a ball is a bloody problem alright.

Nah the problem is you young fellas and your pass the blame culture.

The reason why the other bloke ended up on his noggin is Pisi. Pisi fucked up. Pisi had plenty of opportunity to do things differently, rather than run directly into the path of a jumping player. Pisi pretended to not look or see anywhere else but the tiny ball in the sky, Pisi even pretended to jump to try and sell it. But Pisi saw the other player coming and carried on regardless, knowing the danger.

@antipodean Only if someone disregards the laws of rugby.

Am I putting myself in a dangerous position when I fall down next to the ball when tackled? Someone might have every right to kick at that ball. They might fuck up and kick me in the face. Oops sorry my fault!

@Bones You make it sound like he did it on purpose knowing he'd get a red card. Not a buyer of that. Just like my wife isn't a buyer of the whole young fella thing.

But it's nice to be called young every now and again. So I'll upvote your post, purely for that.

You old bastard.

@Bones said in NH club rugby:

@MajorRage said in NH club rugby:

@Bones I agree. That a guy is labelled reckless, careless and is subsequently given a red card for trying to catch a ball is a bloody problem alright.

Nah the problem is you young fellas and your pass the blame culture.

The reason why the other bloke ended up on his noggin is Pisi. Pisi fucked up. Pisi had plenty of opportunity to do things differently, rather than run directly into the path of a jumping player. Pisi pretended

I'm not pretending to know the intent of Pisi. Particularly when the footage shows him looking for and jumping towards the flight of the ball.

With 20/20 vision, Pisi should have laid immobile on the ground letting his captain complain bitterly that the opposing player ran straight into him and took him out. The only resolution to this current madness is to jump and karate kick the fluffybunny coming at you. Make sure you catch the ball.

@Bones In your analogy, you're not competing for the ball. As the current interpretation stands, any contest is now judged on the outcome.