Wallabies reject rule trial
10 Oct 2012
The Wallabies aren’t interested in playing under the experimental law set in their final Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks on 20 October.
Australia will host New Zealand in Brisbane next Saturday, and this game was expected to be played under the new laws that will be enforced when the southern nations tour the north this November.
The new rules are designed to speed up play, with one of the most significant changes being the introduction of a five-second limit before the ball has to be cleared from a ruck.
According to Fairfax News, the All Blacks were keen to play under these laws before touring the northern hemisphere, but the Australians have said they want to complete the home season under the current rules.

21 Comments
10 Oct 2012, 09:49 am
Abs want to play the game at pace
10 Oct 2012, 09:58 am
We need a new scrummy. Ruan spends time toe pocking the blo ody thing back into rucks…
10 Oct 2012, 10:14 am
Consistently Clearing the ball Quickly from a ruck or consistently not doing so is a matter of strategy, which should fall solely within the discretion of each team. Clearing quickly like the Brumbies teams of old presents a tactical advantage. On the other hand a team that plays with its forwards more would favour a different tactic
10 Oct 2012, 10:18 am
with Phibbs and Sheehan at 9, i would refuse too
10 Oct 2012, 10:19 am
@viewer-3: See the return of the fetchers slowing up the ball ? or is this rule applied when you can physically see the ball at the back of the ruck ?????
10 Oct 2012, 10:22 am
@viewer-3: but we can’t continue to have the human train that teams like the all blacks, cheetahs etc continue to do, wasting time and adding players to join a ruck.
10 Oct 2012, 10:23 am
Heyneke Meyer will wreck any scrumhalf who plays for the Boks.
Under his direction, those poor okes are forbidden to do anything but kick the ball back into rucks, and watch a rolling maul go on for 20 minutes too long.
And also telegraph an up and under from a set piece.
10 Oct 2012, 10:24 am
@stew-5: back of the ruck…ref sees the ball is available but not out will yell “USE IT” and half-back has to play within 5 seconds…
10 Oct 2012, 10:34 am
@Transformation-8: seems a good rule – will failure to abide by this rule mean penalty or free kick ?
10 Oct 2012, 10:37 am
I say bring it on. It will cause us to rethink our game plan, defensive coach and the need for a skills /backline coach, Though it’s right up the alley of the AB’s it will force us to tackle the ball which we need to learn.
10 Oct 2012, 10:41 am
Actually, 5 seconds is a long time with the ball sitting available for the half back to use.
I have yet to see any team infringe the new rule during this years ITM.
Mind you, the ref screaming at the half back to get the ball in play probably helps as well.
10 Oct 2012, 10:46 am
@groen-10:
The rule does tend to ask questions of some of the heffalumps getting back into line.
10 Oct 2012, 11:13 am
I think this rule may actually help us .. it will force Meyer to change his outdated gameplan … and that can only be a good thing.
10 Oct 2012, 12:04 pm
@stew – there we go, Trans cleared it up
I like it provided ref tells s/h to use it, then starts counting 5 seconds (in his head hopefully & not into the microphone)
10 Oct 2012, 13:40 pm
I think part of the reason that this rule was introduced was so that the ball won’t sit at the back of the ruck for 5 mins re. the final 5 mins of the 2011 rugby world cup final where they ground out the win from holding it at the back and france couldn’t reasonably contest..
10 Oct 2012, 21:11 pm
Oh no.
This will be another angle for the moaners to say ” The ABs get 6 seconds to clear while the Boks only get 4 seconds”
I can see it now. Bakkies will be counting the whole game, he will find one and prove this is why NZ won.
10 Oct 2012, 21:12 pm
@Diontnz-15:
Alot of games have been like that. Not just the final.
10 Oct 2012, 21:39 pm
5 years ago the Aussies would have jumped at playing under these new rules. They use to love playing a high speed game.They need to get rid of Deans now, not tomorrow.
10 Oct 2012, 23:56 pm
Australia have a lot of backline injuries while their pack looked good in the tight against Argentina. It makes sense for them not to want to speed the game up.
11 Oct 2012, 02:53 am
@Big Hit-19: But they still have some pretty capable backs who’s forte is running off quick ball. Beale in particular is a very dangerous character in this situation, coupled with Digby and if played, Cooper.
I’m so confused with their injury list, who is actually available?
11 Oct 2012, 09:27 am
@Diontnz-15:
CORRECTION:
it was way, way more than 5 minutes that shitt went on for.
i dont have a problem with you telling the truth but get yourt facts right.
@Hurricane-16:
you joke… but its true…
you know
i know it
the world knows it
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