ELV's.................?

Question

What do you think? Having never seen a ELV game..is this going to ruin rugby? Are these changes seriously expected to be adopted? If they are not adopted what are the potential outcomes...

Is rugby possibly going to split again?

Answer 1

I don't think rugby is likely to split. This seems more a case of sabre rattling and New Zealand testing just how far they can push the authorities without completely taking the mickey. Then again they got the next World Cup by throwing a childish strop so they may well get want they want in the end.

Secondly, I think you need to be careful what you wish for - the answerer who thinks the ELVs are great could always go watch basketball if they want non-stop action.

Rugby is one of the purest sports you can ever hope to see. It is not purely a simple test of fitness. It is also one of the few sports that huge numbers will pay to watch without really  knowing what is going on which speaks volumes.

By all means tinker where necessary but we don't want some freakish sevens hybrid game taking over.

Answer 2

They're GREAT!! if you like stoppages and delays and slow ball in the ruck and mall, and hardly any running from the backs then the ELV's you wouldn't like.They bring a really quick pace to the game.Hardly any stoppages and both backlines have to be 5m back so there's lots and lots of room for running!

Answer 3

Good question mate. It's good to see someone from the NH finally starting to take notice.

Mixed reviews down here. But people always hate new things. Seems like SANZAR are really pushing for change to be global before 2011.

Big difference noted in the games so far is the number of free kicks awarded instead of penalties, - tap and go, less time mucking about. On the whole, the ball is kept in play longer, but I don't think coaches and teams have really got to grips with how to play the ELVs just yet.

Crazy thing is that the ELVs have been approved for Super 14 and tri-nations tests but not other tests. Teams, coaches, and refs, are going to have to switch between two sets of rules for a wee while which is just confusing, and will doubtless cause a backlash of hatred for experimentation. Bound to be some upsets in the mix.

As to global adoption, well . . . the whole thing smacks of SANZAR trying to tell the world how the game should be played. It is almost as if NZ are trying to speed the game up and improve our chances of winning another world cup - can't seem to beat big slow boring teams, so let's speed them up, make them play our kind of rugby.

Looks like we are also pushing to change the way the RWC is seeded. Prevent, top teams avoiding others and make winning the world cup more about the teams you had to beat rather than the teams you didn't have to play.

I think it will come down to bargaining. "I'll vote for this, if you vote for that."  The scent of change is definitely on the wind.

Edit: Jamhead, you are misinformed. Being awarded the 2011 RWC was more about the Allblack captain and the NZ prime minister presenting our proposal to the selection committee rather than a "childish strop".  I still think the vote should not have favoured NZ, but rather Japan.

Answer 4

Its called evolution Bro

The game has to adapt to the modern era

Union is is in danger of loosing support to the more open & exciting code of league.

Dont get me wrong  mate, I am an avid unoin supporter, but things like TV adience (pay for view) have to be taken into account.

Good on the world unions for being pro active.

If these dont work, it will be back to the drawing board but I'm sure but a better game is sure to emmerge from this.

Cheers

B.