Change seems to be the buzz word these days. It was used extensively by president Barack Obama in the run-up to the successful 2008 US election and is now being utilised by the Conservatives ahead of May’s General Election here in Britain.
It’s something which the US were and the UK are now crying out for after months of discontent, and the same craving for transformation has also been seen in rugby.
For the majority of this season, a dour brand of unattractive, kicking-based rugby has helped tarnish the sport’s reputation in the eyes of its supporters. It was universally accepted that changes were a necessity to revitalise the game.
And, while the IRB have recognised that a review of the breakdown law was required, any amendments for that particular law can’t be introduced before the 2011 World Cup.
So, instead, the RFU have agreed to revamp the refereeing in tackling situations, in a bid to inject some much-needed entertainment back into the sport. Tacklers must now roll away from tackled players; and this has been implemented to ensure that the balance is restored between the attacking and defending sides.
Over the course of this season, the average number of tries scored in the Guinness Premiership per match has fallen by a significant 38% to less than three a game. However, last weekend marked the first two days where the match officials applied the new rules.
Needless to say, it had the desired effect, and the impact was particularly evident at Vicarage Road as Saracens smashed Newcastle Falcons 58-15. Before Sunday’s emphatic victory, Sarries had only scored 16 tries in their 16 league matches. But their tries average received a welcome boost at the weekend as they crossed the line no less than seven times during the match.
Although there was drier weather in Hertfordshire on Sunday afternoon – not to mention harder grounds and a lacklustre Newcastle team – the fact that more tries were scored this weekend, at the same time these new changes were brought in, was not merely a coincidence.
There were 21 tries were scored in total from the six Premiership matches last weekend, and these instant results have prompted RFU elite rugby director Rob Andrew to hail the impact of the new interpretations.
"In our most recent meeting Premier Rugby raised concerns about the impact the breakdown was having on the state of the game," Andrew said.
"To the credit of the clubs that message seems to have reached the players and last weekend's games started to show some of that in action."
Fans of the English game and of the national team will have welcomed these new changes with open arms. For months now, pundits, players, coaches and supporters have all recognised that the sport was flagging under the weight of the unpopular breakdown law.
Fortunately, the governing bodies have also detected that the time for change, is indeed, now.
It is certainly well worth a try.
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