Having watched a weekend full of Super 14 rugby, I am totally turned off by the new laws being tried out down under.
Not being allowed to kick from your 22 if the ball has been passed back produces 'table tennis' style rugby as Stuart Barnes to elegantly put it on Saturday during the very exciting Bath v Wasps game.
Taking a quick throw in backwards isn't going to make a lot of difference to play, I wouldn't have thought so why bother?
Standing 5m back from scrums is supposed to open up the game but I shall reserve my judgement on that one as it didn't seem to have much effect last weekend.
However, the major change (and the one no one seemed to mention in advance) is the fact that penalties are now given for only three offences! Yes - THREE!!! It is a free-for-all now in the rucks and mauls. Talk about a Cheat's Charter - this is it! You can lie over the ball, put your hands in the ruck and slow the ball down and the only punishment you will get is a free kick against you. Some teams tap and go but others decide on the scrum. So how does this speed up the game?
People supposedly complained that the game was too much stop/start but surely the way to speed it up is for the referee to punish miscreants early on (using the yellow card without giving numerous warning first). This will send out a clear message to the players that they infringe at their peril.
Downgrading offences is like saying that shop-lifting is rife so we'll stop treating it as a crime. Madness! I do hope the IRB gets rid of this stupid new law without bothering to trial it in the northern hemisphere next season or our beloved game will become a poor man's rugby league clone.
Few of the changes introduced in recent years has had the desired effect (whatever it might have been). The new scrummaging laws have not improved the game, only led to confusion as to who's at fault and spoilt the spectacle of two big, strong front rows scrapping it out. Now that's what I call rugby but seemingly this doesn't suit the powers-that-be. They want an all singing, all dancing game not one where you pit your strength and guile against the opposition. Am I the only one why actually enjoyed seeing repeated scrums as one side tried to out-muscle the opposition?
A free, fast flowing game can be exciting, I grant you. It can also becoming boring and predictable and end up with neither side trying to get past the opposition but only drive into it, time and time again. The Brumbies were masters at this but soon realised that it was one-dimensional and counter-productive as they certainly held on to the ball for long periods but usually ended up losing acres of ground.
I'm not against change but I hate to see change for changes sake. Our game can be thrilling and fast - it is down to the teams to be positive and innovative. We don't need these stupid new laws, where cheating is condoned, just to speed up the action. Let us not allow the IRB to dictate in this fashion. I honestly wonder if they watch the same game as me if they really think they will improve it by removing so many of the penalties. It's goodbye to Mr J Wilkinson and his ilk if they do!