Rassie makes big call on World Rugby laws

Rassie Erasmus has taken to social media to rather cleverly send a clear message about some of the latest world rugby law changes.

Rassie Erasmus World Rugby Coach of the Year Springboks

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus. Image: X/@Springboks

Over the last few years, Rassie Erasmus has led the Springboks back to the summit of the World Rugby rankings, often adapting impressively to an ever-changing game with constant tweaks to the laws.

Certain law changes, such as no longer being able to call for a scrum from a free kick, have been viewed as a clear setback to the Springboks, but Erasmus has sought to find solutions rather than excuses.

Most recently, World Rugby has revealed that a series of law changes have moved a step closer towards global adoption, with a key focus area seemingly revolving around a desire to “enhance the viewing and playing experience by promoting faster play, reducing stoppages, and supporting accurate and consistent match officiating”.

This past weekend, Rassie subtly commented on the concept of “speeding up the game” by posting a layered message on social media that was perhaps a clever way to showcase a bit of a World Rugby misconception.

“England v France had 83 kicks in play, 15 scrums and only 36min BIP (ball in play), yet it was one of the more exciting games the 6 Nations had in a while,” he wrote on X. “I don’t think the shape of the game can be judged always on stats! If you did not watch the game most will say those numbers (stats) won’t create excitement. Rugby is in a great shape at the moment in my opinion! Lekka”.

He also found a supporter in renowned former referre Nigel Owens, who responded: “I agree. I’ve always said that high BIP time does not make a rugby game better as you have rightly pointed out. Too much tinkering with the laws and an obsession to let the game flow at all costs will take away from the game not enhance it. The proof is in the pudding.”

Erasmus also pointed out a clever tactic from France at the lineouts, which sought to exploit a new law that states the throw in at this set piece doesn’t have to be straight if it is uncontested.

“Know its a rule now that the ball doesn’t have to be straight if the opposition don’t contest, but almost sure your team have to jump and support for that law to apply, otherwise you can throw it straight to 9 I guess! Anyways it was very creative,” he wrote in reaction to the France hooker delivering a quick underhand throw-in.

RASSIE ERASMUS MADE A FEW CLEVER POSTS THIS PAST WEEKEND THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF WORLD RUGBY:

World Rugby made another big announcement

Meanwhile, it was recently confirmed that a package of law trials “aimed at enhancing fan and player experience will be adopted as a global trial across all competitions” from this year.

Four law trials will be adopted for all competitions that start after 1 January, 2025. They are:

60-second conversion limit to align with penalties and improve game pace – This will be managed by a shot clock where possible.
30-second setup for lineouts will match time for scrums to reduce downtime – This will be managed on-field by the match officials
Play-on rule in uncontested lineouts when the throw is not straight.
Scrum-half protection during scrums, rucks, and mauls

Proposals for a global law trial to call a mark inside the 22-metre line at kick off and restarts and for single stop mauls did not receive the required 75 percent support so will not proceed.

Revised Television Match Official protocol

A revised Television Match Official (TMO) protocol was also approved as a global trial. Under the new protocol, the TMO has additional power to identify clear and obvious infringements in the final attacking passage of play before scoring (knock-on, forward pass and in touch) and in the within the final two phases specifically (offside, maul obstruction and tackle complete).

The final passage of play is defined as the passage of play since the last restart (if there has been no turnover in possession), or the passage of play since the last turnover in possession has taken place.

Twenty-minute red card replacement decision deferred

With cross-hemisphere international matches having only just begun, in line with the recommendation, the Council decided to delay consideration of the 20-minute red card trial until the conclusion of the Autumn Nations Series to enable further feedback and full data analysis to be considered.