Jury still out on ELVs

Jury still out on ELVs

18 Feb 2008

The new laws have sped up proceedings, but is the helter-skelter free-for-all seen at the weekend really rugby?

Bulls captain Fourie du Preez said it with a look of disappointment at the post-match press conference on Saturday. His side had just got their title defence off to a winning start against the old enemy at Newlands, but Du Preez’s demeanour was less than enthused as he denounced the new laws and lamented the lack of structure in this new version of the game.

How much has the game changed and how much can we read into the first seven matches of the Super 14? The opening fixture was a thriller, as the Crusaders blew away the Brumbies with an exciting display of running rugby enhanced by the ELVs.

Free kicks replacing penalties saw many of the teams employing the quick tap to maintain momentum. Other teams like the Sharks were guilty of kicking possession away when perhaps a reset at the free kick was in order. Several sides made elementary errors such as clearing directly into touch after receiving a pass back into their 22. However, the real area of contention this weekend was at the tackle points.

The new offside breakdown laws state “there is an off-side line at a tackle which will stretch from touch-line to touch-line and will change with each successive tackle. The tackled player and the tackler are not subject to the off-side law – provided that they get back to their feet to play. This change may be most obvious when a player breaks, runs for some distance and is tackled by the fullback, meaning that 14 players of the fullback’s team are in an off-side position. Players in an off-side position at a tackle come on-side if they reach an on-side position or if an opponent kicks the ball or runs five metres with the ball. In the second case running five metres with the ball is in any direction.”

There seemed to plenty of confusion this weekend at the breakdown with both the players and referees misreading a few situations. Cheetahs assistant coach Hawies Fourie told this website referee Jonathan Kaplan made a few dubious calls at the breakdown, and Lions players were often offside at the tackle point. Willie Roos was also criticised for his performance in Cape Town where he was far too slow to award free kicks at the breakdown, resulting in a slower and less expansive game. Both players and referees took awhile to adjust to the new scrum laws in the 2007 Super 14. Expect the transition to take even longer with the partial introduction of the ELVs.

It’s too early to pass finite judgment, but the first seven Super 14 games hardly resembled the structured patterns of 15-man rugby. The structures and set pieces are what make this code unique. True, the option is always there to take the scrum off the free kick, but at the moment, players are using a scrum as an opportunity to rest rather than a chance to lay a decent attacking platform.

Decision-making is going to be crucial in this respect, as players need to identify when the quick tap is on, and alternatively when is the best time to opt for the scrum. In this manner, a side like the Bulls can still maximise their strength at the set-piece.

What is clear is that the new laws will push the players to their physical limits. The first round was characterised by exhausted players as they came to terms with the increased tempo and longer periods between stoppages. There’s still 13 weeks left of the round robin stage. Squad depth is going to be tested and one wonders if the two finalists are going to be able to operate at optimum intensity after three months of this all-out rugby.

By Jon Cardinelli


689 Comments

Pages: « 1 … 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 [14] Show All

  • 651.Isigidi: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 17:53 pm

    GBS

    Ek **** jou, maar daar kan geen sekerheid wees as N teen S speel.

    **** hulle verwag 15000 mense vanaand by game.

    Ai, waar’s my studente dae.
    Wat ‘n fees gaan dit nie vanaand op die Bos wees nie!

  • 652.CUZZY - Rugby Supporters Voice: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 17:57 pm

    Isi,

    Ek wens self ek kon daar gewees het!!! wat n jol jong…

  • 653.Isigidi: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 17:57 pm

    Cuzzy

    Die probleem met Roos Doos is nie dat hy nie nuwe reels kon toepas, maar dat hy skoon van die ou reels vergeet het en die arme grensregters was so onseker van hulself hulle het nie geweet of hulle hul vlag horisontaal of vertikaal moes hou vir ‘n lynstaan.

    Daai een aangee van die Stormers daar voor die spoorweg paviljoen moes die donner weet seker 3 tree vorentoe gewees het en die bliksem was reg in lyn.

    Hy was skaamteloos kak op die dag altwee kante toe.

  • 654.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 17:58 pm

    Isi

    Ek sal maar na SS1 oorskakel en kyk 18:30…

    Ek is al 19 jaar weg by Tuks…….

    Jou Alma Mater teen my Alma Mater…. onthou jy hoe gewild was Inter Varsities voor ons weer toegelaat was in Internasionale rugby?

    Klub Rugby was groot en gesond daai tyd jong.

    Ek hoop hierdie Varsity Club ding kan weer Klub-vure aansteek en laat helderder brand !

  • 655.Isigidi: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 18:02 pm

    Gbs

    Die laaste (properse) intervarsity waar ek was, was toe Naas Botha seker die kakste dag in sy lewe gehad het in ‘n rugby trui op die Danie Craven Stadion.
    Nokkol het reg geloop nie. Ek sweer dis ook die laaste keer toe die paviljoen vol was.
    Die vocalste rugby seker op die planeet was varsity rugga.

  • 656.CUZZY - Rugby Supporters Voice: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 18:02 pm

    Isi,

    Nee ek stem 100% saam. Ek het vanoggend met n paar manne ge-chat wat gese het hy het homself verloor innie game.

    Rassie en Frans is nie baie happy met hom gewees nie!!!

  • 657.Boerboel: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 18:03 pm

    GBS, ek was by die eerste intervarsity in 1973, Baie lank terug. Ek het ‘n lang verhaal om te vertel! Maties het gewen 14-3

  • 658.CUZZY - Rugby Supporters Voice: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 18:06 pm

    Goeie naand Boerboel…

    Ek sal jou later n mailtjie stuur, wil jou iets vra oor wat ek van jou gehoor het ou maat!!!

  • 659.Boerboel: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 18:09 pm

    Yes manne

    Cuzzy, stuur die mail

  • 660.CUZZY - Rugby Supporters Voice: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 18:13 pm

    Sal hom later stuur my ou maat.

  • 661.Isigidi: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 18:16 pm

    Cuzzy Sat vertel ‘n ou my die staaltjie.

    Rassie arriveer sy eerste dag by WP rugby unie 8 uur die oggend en vra waar die spelers is. Sekretaresse verduidelik die manne kom so van 9:30 aan by die stadion.
    Rassie strip sy moer en sê vir die manne hul werk vir die WP rugby unie van 8 tot 5 werksdae soos enige ander werk.

    Volgende oggend 7:30 hardloop die manne glo reeds op die veld rond.
    Sê ook die spelers is blykbaar kak bang vir Rassie.
    By gesellighede hou die Rassie hom een kant en spelers hom anderkant.

    Ek like die man klaar.

    Fester het blykbaar hand om die lyf met die spelers gekuier.

  • 662.CUZZY - Rugby Supporters Voice: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 18:23 pm

    Isi,

    Daar is n fyn lyn tussen coach en vriende met die ouens wees. Kevin Putt het dieselfde gedoen en was te veel buddy-buddy met die ouens gewees!!!

    Dit werk nooit nie…

  • 663.CUZZY - Rugby Supporters Voice: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 18:25 pm

    Donner maar die Keo site is stadig…

    Manne ek gaan vir eers loop, Gaan gou daai varsity game op SS1 kyk!!!

    Lekke aand verder!!!

  • 664.ruck: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 18:26 pm

    Boerboel gaan jy die Ikeys teen Maties kyk vanaand. Ek kan nie…baie befok daaroor. Gaan flippin awesome wees. En ten minste is die Wes Kaap ge-guarantee van ‘n wen of wat praat ek nou?

    CUZZY – hoe gaan dit met Armadene?

  • 665.K9_BaasPatrolliehond: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 18:26 pm

    Julle praat net.

    Ek sien Aikona is ook uit vir die game teen die Crusaders.

  • 666.Isigidi: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 18:29 pm

    Tukkies Ruck not Ikeys

    Our last change to redeem ourselves otherwise its gonna be 3-0 to the Bulle and we’ll eat more humble pie in the morrow.

  • 667.Isigidi: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 18:31 pm

    K9

    So dis veilig om te sê hy het homself afgeskryf teen Luke dan!!!Hehehehe

  • 668.K9_BaasPatrolliehond: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 18:38 pm

    Isi

    Was dit nie Mametsa nie?

    Krieketscore Vrydag op Loftus……Bulle het nie goed gelyk Saterdag nie. En die Stormers nog swakker.

  • 669.Boerboel: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 18:39 pm

    Hi Ruck, nee ek gaan maar op die tele kyk. Die ouens is nog besig met ‘n nuwe alarmstelsel in my huis.

  • 670.ruck: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 18:44 pm

    Boerboel, dis nie Ikeys hier (ek al weer vrkr gekyk),,,dis die ****** Tukkies Pretoria fools. Nog van die goed in my dorp – kuk. Enjoy!

    Sorry Isi – I see yr post now, I had the Ikeys pencilled in, but I should have known it was Pretoria trash – saw some dodgy characters in town this morning.

  • 671.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 18:51 pm

    Pretoria Trash ??

    Jou moerrrrr man……… die “Kaapstad Trash Firm” het nie eers die moeite gedoen om saam met ons te kom braai op Nuweland nie……. net die goeie lot soos Boerboel, King Paul, Isigidi, Trupi, Karen, Mr Lam, Ex Player en Pietman het !

  • 672.Boerboel: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 19:30 pm

    Tukkies trek swaar, sake lyk goed vir die Stormers in die toekoms! Bulle is in vir ‘n lang swak paar jaar.

  • 673.Isigidi: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 19:32 pm

    K9

    Sorry, jy’s reg. Laps of concentration!

    GBS

    Kyk jy die game?
    Maties lyk goed. Hoekom sien ek baie van Sat se game hier. Ek verwag tweede helfte kan anders daar uitsien.

  • 674.Isigidi: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 19:36 pm

    Boerboel

    Die Stoffberg senter van maties het my impress. Die twee voorrye van Maties lyk ook goed.
    Kaptein slot van Tukkies ook goed.

  • 675.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 19:37 pm

    More ruck

  • 676.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 19:40 pm

    Nee jong ek het mos vroeër gesê Tuks se rugby is al vir jare aaneen kaaaak.

    Ou Boel, dis laaaaankal nie meer die maatstaaf om te sien of WP of die Bulle gaan goed of swak wees hierdie Varsity rugby nie….. Tuks is seker al ‘n goeie 8 jaar swak maar nogtans is die Bulle goed en die Stormers al vir 4 jaar uiters swak.

    Die maatstaf is nou eerder die akedemies, Onder 19 en onder 21 rugby….

    Maar dit lyk tog of die Stormers hierdie jaar net kan verbeter.

  • 677.BlueBlood: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 19:42 pm

    Wonder hoe word enige sport gespeel deesdae by universiteite want die studente toi toi die heeldag en breek die plek af.

  • 678.radiohead: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 19:47 pm

    677: Really? I was wondering what those ruins were just below Rhodes Memorial! LoL!

  • 679.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 19:48 pm

    Ek kyk nou so na die crowd….. die studente wat in die skare sit……… eishhhh

    Studente is diere, ‘n ander nasie op sy eie…

    Dit laat my dink aan die grappie van die Student wat sê hy drink net 1 drankie…. dan verander hy in ‘n heel ander ou, en daai ou suip verskriklik !

  • 680.radiohead: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 19:51 pm

    671: capetonians are renowned for arriving late or not showing up at all. nothing new here.

  • 681.superBul: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 19:59 pm

    like daai girl van die Maties wat se sy like nr7 , toe die reporter haar vra wat sy naam is se sy sy ken hom nie maar like nr7.

  • 682.Boerboel: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 20:30 pm

    What a marvelous effort from Tukkies. I think Maties just ran out of steam. Congratulations to both teams.

  • 683.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 20:32 pm

    Hehehehe Tukkies 31 / Maties 31…… final score !!

    Nadat ek gedink het Tuks is dead & burried….. hulle was op ‘n stadium 31 / 5 agter…..

    Maties moet meer mieliepap eet sodat hulle 80 minute kan last…. maar innie kaap eet hulle mossie mieliepap nie !

  • 684.Isigidi: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 20:33 pm

    Lees 674#

    Haker van Tuks (Strydom?) groot talent.

    Was ook impress met daai Shadow vleultjie.

    Maties (soos Stormers Sat) net hulself om te blameer.

  • 685.KingPaul: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 20:36 pm

    Boerboel
    Nou wonner jy nie ook wat de fok het die Maties afrigter gedink toe hy al sy reserwes op die veld gooi!! Nee liewe fok, Maties is ten minste 30punte sterker as die Tukkies!!

  • 686.Isigidi: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 20:46 pm

    So ek het nou twee games gekyk met die ELV’s.

    MAG EK WAAG om te sê daar is te veel vryskoppe en te min strafskoppe.

    Vandat jy nie meer kan ruck en vandat daar vir alle praktiese redes nie meer strafskoppe by losgemale is nie, word die bal gesmoor op elke denkbare manier.

    Ek sien steeds nie waar die struktuur in die nuwe ELV’s vandaan gaan kom nie en lyk die OP HIERDIE STADIUN soos ‘n afgewaterde vorm van rugby league.

  • 687.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 20:52 pm

    Isigidi,

    Ek stem saam….. AL die broodnodige struktuur is uit rugby uit.

    Die ou dinge soos voor sagmaak in gestruktureerde spel (genoeg skrums en lynstante) is heel afgewater….

    …….. dis a mooooooooooooooosa lot koplose hoender gehardlopery, doellose skoppery veldaf….

    Dis eerder vreemd as aanskoulik !

  • 688.soenmydonkie: Reply to this comment
    18 Feb 2008, 23:43 pm

    Which Jury is out?
    Jury Els???
    Does Huisgenoot know?

  • 689.Koos: Reply to this comment
    19 Feb 2008, 03:46 am

    How old is Elvis and why is Jurie after him…?

Pages: « 1 … 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 [14] Show All

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

Have your say

You must be logged in to post a comment.