For Ruck's Sake

First topic message reminder :

Let's revisit this, because having just watched parts of the weekends entertainment, my frustration with what is being allowed to go on continues to escalate.

1. How to form a ruck:

"(b) How can a ruck form. Players are on their feet. At least one player must be in physical contact with an opponent. The ball must be on the ground. If the ball is off the ground for any reason, the ruck is not formed."

Note: a ruck is not formed by players diving on top of a tackled player.

2. How to join a ruck:

"
(a)
All players forming, joining or taking part in a ruck must have their heads and shoulders no lower than their hips.
"

Note: players cannot dive on top of a tackled player. Or leap onto the ground on the opposition side of the ruck.

3. How to join a ruck part 2:

"(b)
A player joining a ruck must bind on a team-mate or an opponent, using the whole arm. The bind must either precede, or be simultaneous with, contact with any other part of the body of the player joining the ruck."

Note: players cannot dive headlong onto a tackled player or fall into the space between the ruck and the opposition half back.

4. How to behave in a ruck:

"(d)
All players forming, joining or taking part in a ruck must be on their feet."

Note: players may not go down on one knee and then grapple at the ball, or lean over the ruck, support their weight weight with their hands or otherwise be off their feet shielding or grappling for the ball.

5. Other penalisable offenses:

"Players must not return the ball into a ruck.
Sanction: Free Kick

(b)
Players must not handle the ball in a ruck except after a tackle if they are on their feet and have their hands on the ball before the ruck is formed.
Sanction: Penalty kick12

(c)
Players must not pick up the ball in a ruck with their legs.
Sanction: Penalty kick

(d)
Players on the ground in or near the ruck must try to move away from the ball. These players must not interfere with the ball in the ruck or as it comes out of the ruck.
Sanction: Penalty kick12

(e)
A player must not fall on or over the ball as it is coming out of a ruck.
Sanction: Penalty kick

(f)
A player must not take any action to make the opposing team think that the ball is out of the ruck while it is still in the ruck.
Sanction: Free Kick"

Fairly clear.

Now let's examine what is happening during rucks:

A player is tackled. Attacking players are burrowing lead long individually through the ruck area, not bound to anyone and with their heads often lower then their hips. These players are then grabbing hold of approaching defensive players and wrestling with them. They will then often topple on top of the ruck, or into the space between the ruck and the opposition half back. They are making no attempt to roll away and often kicking at the ball with their legs or slapping at the ball as it is cleared whilst still offside or on the ground. Further unbound players (and Robshaw is my prime offender here) are standing unbound behind or over the ruck, and reaching around with one foot and kicking at the ball on the opposition side of the ruck. Players continue to arrive at the ruck from the side and launch themselves with one shoulder into opposition players also lying on top of the ruck. The ball is often handled by several attacking players all lying on the ground before it finally finds it's way to the back of the ruck.

None of this is legal. It's getting worse. Referees are allowing it to occur at every single breakdown. Two years ago super rugby had a big crack down on ruck behaviour where pretty much every offence was penalised by short arm free kicks (under ELVs) when the ELVs were watered down, these be game full arm penalties (mostly) and we had a brief penalty festival before all the constituent team managed to figure out that they needed to STAY ON THEIR FEET, BIND CORRECTLY, ROLL AWAY, NOT HANDLE THE BALL (unless they were the tackler, or on their feet and had their hands on the ball before the ruck was formed).

My particular pet peeve is this seemingly new law (not written down anywhere) where a defensive player/tackler gets his hands on the ball which fails to be released by the tackled player. Whilst he his wrestling for it one or more attacking players blow through the ruck (unbound, often going off their feet) at which point the defender is knocked over and then penalised for "not surviving the clean out". This ruling is just fantasy invention of certain referees which seems to be gaining popularity (Joubert, Owens) and it really gets on my wicket.

The ruck laws are clearly written, the intent is obvious. I agree reality is a complex situation but to continue to ignore these laws is to turn the game into a completely different sport.

The IRB need to sort this out, and NOW.

And before I get the three favourite response "the ABs/McCaw are the worst offenders" or "any ruck could be penalised either way" or "teams need to adapt to the referees interpretation" let's agree those are different discussions. This is a nation agnostic plea for referees to return to the clean, legal rucking that accelerated super rugby and turned rugby back into a rugby contest and not a mass pile up of bodies slowing ebbing up and down the pitch, punctuated by occasional inexplicable penalties.

And real marmite, not that fake marmite you get in England.

Shhhh, now you really are revealing our secrets GE.

Next you'll be telling them that Nonu is a modern day Samson and the team derives its strength from his hair, which has caused those long, grizzly beards as diversions...

Yeah GE like the Vuinipolas, or Dylan Hartley, Marlon Yarde etc etc....

How about we try a good news story. Well done to Ireland for leap frogging Wales in the IRB rankings

ebop wrote:How about we try a good news story. Well done to Ireland for leap frogging Wales in the IRB rankings

That's a bad news story for some though

The only questionable aspects are your facts. Lomu was born in South Auckland for example.

ME-109 wrote:Yeah GE like the Vuinipolas, or Dylan Hartley, Marlon Yarde etc etc....

..or Richardt Strauss.

http://www.sportsscientists.com/2011/10/rugby-world-cup-the-ref-debate/

That's a great post.

Thats a great article although Id disagree about making the reports open.