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Jimmy Gopperth and George Kruis assess what the law changes will mean
The impact of the goal-line drop-out and 50:22 on the Gallagher Premiership are yet to be seen – but two of the competition’s most experienced names believe both law changes will have an impact.
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England’s British & Irish Lions lock George Kruis played nearly 200 games for Saracens before departing for Japanese champions Wild Knights.
During this time he developed a reputation as one of the sport’s top lineout operators, and he believes both attacking and defensive options will change as a result of World Rugby’s recent law amendment.
“The goal-line drop out is an interesting one as I’m sure it will have an effect on how teams look to approach lineout attack,” he said.
“The law change should open the game up a little and I’m fairly sure it will get quicker and less predictable as a result.
“Those teams who are very good at the lineout drive will probably stick with it, but if you’re less strong you may look at other options instead.
“The lineout drive isn’t as big a thing in Japan as in the UK where it has won games for sides for a number of years.
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“As ever, the teams that adapt quickest and are best coached will end up doing well.
“In time I’m sure coaches will develop something else to replace it and in turn that will then be looked at further down the line for more law changes.”
Plenty of Premiership clubs will be interested in this news… ?????https://t.co/8Jz7bIFG7x
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 12, 2021
Wasps’ veteran fly half Jimmy Gopperth has already seen his team concede a try direct from a defensive goal-line drop out in their pre-season derby game against Championship outfit Coventry.
And the 38-year-old admits it has provided plenty of training ground food for thought ahead of the new Premiership season.
“The goal-line drop out gives plenty of options around looking to win the ball back or perhaps taking a quick one or looking for territory,” he said.
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“We’re currently looking at options both when we have possession and how best to defend against it and what to do when the ball is kicked to us.”
Gopperth believes the 50:22 will have less impact, but warns against viewing last summer’s Super Rugby as a representative trial for rugby played in the Northern Hemisphere winter.
“In Super Rugby there has only been three 50:22’s in the whole competition but I expect there will be more in the Premiership where we tend to have more kicking,” he said.
Nic White kicks the first 50:22 in international rugby ?
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— Stan Sport (@StanSportAU) September 12, 2021
“We’ve talked about how to defend it and it’s important to remember it only applies when teams are in their own half so once they’re over that line you can go back to normal defence.
“The hardest place to defend it is from a turnover when one team thinks they’re on the attack and have left their backfield empty, so we may see opportunities in that situation.”
Law makers aim to create more attacking space with the 50:22 since they believe wingers will need to sit deeper to protect the touchlines.
Gopperth agrees with this line of thinking and says traditionally attack-minded Wasps will seek to exploit this whenever possible.
“When we’re doing our kicking practice we always look at angles and finding corners so we’re continuing with that,” he said.
“To be honest our first thought is to look at running into any spaces created by defenders dropping back rather than kicking.”
“During my time off, at the start, I genuinely thought I was going to retire. I felt like I'd had enough."https://t.co/R0ILj4r00U
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 12, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
27 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
26 Go to comments