Hawkeye on the radar as World Rugby boss tackles offside defenders
Rugby fans rejoice – the game’s bosses are considering drastic action including the use of technology to sort out the offside problem.
A radical proposal from World Rugby’s outspoken vice-chairman Agustin Pichot includes using Hawkeye to police the offside line. He hit out at the lack of World Cup action, saying the games were too defensive.
An exclusive report in the British Telegraph says Pichot’s other solution involves the offside line being moved back two metres, to create more space for attacking rugby.
Pichot said officials were unable to properly police the current rule, which requires defenders to remain behind the rear foot at breakdowns until the ball is released.
This move will bring great satisfaction to many rugby spectators, frustrated at the so-called speed of rush defences, and players clearly stepping over the imaginary offside line.
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There will be inevitable questions as to whether Pichot has the power to push changes through, particularly after the Nations League he championed failed to get a foothold. But many will see his words as a vital step in the right direction.
Pichot said: “We have the technology so let’s use it as they do in NFL.
“The referee has too much to do working out what is going on at the ruck while the touch judges have a string of 12 players right across the pitch to judge on.
“Let’s use the technology and that will soon sort it. Within five games, players will know that Hawkeye is watching them and they will stay back. That is my view.
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“Or perhaps we should introduce a law that says players should be two metres behind the rear foot.
“We have seen at this World Cup that the space is at a premium. It is too defensive for my own personal liking. We have got to find a way to free it up.”
Pichot also doubled down on World Rugby’s crackdown on high tackles, using strong possible language.
“It is the right thing to do and even though as an ex-Argentina player it hurts me a lot to see what happened last Saturday and the impact Tomas Lavanini’s red card (against England) had, it was the correct decision,” said Pichot.
“Player safety is everything and the head is a no-go area. That is now clear-cut. It cannot be any other way. Rugby is a tough sport but it does not have to be a rough sport.
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“If you want to see people hit, then go and watch UFC. If we hadn’t moved to make the head sacred, then in ten years’ time there would be no sport for mums and dads to take their kids to. We have to change behaviour as well as attitudes.
“All this talk of what it takes to be a hard sport, talk that rugby has gone soft, is bullshit.
“It is not only the professional player that we have to protect. If it comes to it, he can take a hit. A 13 year old cannot. We have to make the game safer. It is as simple as that.”
Pichot also said he wished the new residency rule, increased from three to five years for players adopting a new country, was even longer.
“We have to uphold the integrity of the international game,” he said.
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and was republished with permission.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to comments