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Players will no longer be able to score a try by connecting the ball to the base of the subsequent protectors after a change of law announced by World Rugby with immediate effect. Previously, a player received an attempt when he touched the ball against the bottom of a “post” where the filler and the ground met.
It is a sensible decision by the governing body of the rugby union that it will remove from the game an anomaly in terms of justice that significantly favored the attacking side.
Teams defending their goal line were at a legal disadvantage, as players were required to stay behind the goal line and with thick pole protectors in vogue, for obvious reasons of player welfare, it was done every It becomes more difficult for teams to legally defend this. area as they had to go out and around the pads.
A classic example of a player with an excellent appreciation of the law and the means to exploit the advantage was demonstrated by CJ Stander in Ireland’s 24-15 win over England at Twickenham in 2018 that earned Joe Schmidt’s team a Grand Slam. .
Peter O’Mahony won a lineout, Johnny Sexton fed Tadhg Furlong whose beautifully disguised pass sent Bundee Aki through a gap and, in turn, found Stander with a ball in time. There was still a lot to do for Ireland’s number eight, but he chose the perfect athletic line in support.
Despite desperate tackle from England scrum half Richard Wigglesworth and flank James Haskell, Stander had his mind in mind when grounded to plant the ball against the underside of the guard post, the attempt was finally confirmed by the official. of TV. It was reduced to millimeters on that occasion, but from now on the ball will have to land on the line or in the area inside the goal.
Special meeting
The amended law will now read: “The post protector is no longer an extension of the goal line” and therefore Law 8.2 (a) now states that “a try is scored when the attacking player is the first to put the ball on the ground. opponents in-goal. “
The minor amendment to Law 8 was approved by the World Rugby Council during its special meeting held today by teleconference and follows a recommendation from the International Federation Rugby Committee and the specialized Law Review Group.
The move to change the law was also prompted by World Rugby for “in some extreme cases, defending teams have lifted or moved pole protectors, leaving the poles exposed and thereby increasing the risk of injury.”
World Rugby did not need to look far to see an example. Munster’s Pro14 collision with Edinburgh on November 29 last year yielded such an eventuality. In the 35th minute, visiting pillar Pierre Schoeman lifted the protective fill from the post to prevent Munster prostitute Rhys Marshall from hitting the ball against the fill, continuing to hold it in the air as Arno Botha drove toward the line.
Edinburgh pillar Pierre Schoeman lifted the padding from the bottom of the visitors’ left hand as Munster prostitute Rhys Marshall drove toward the line.
Less than a minute later, Edinburgh athlete Pietro Ceccarelli lifted the padding from the right post. After the intervention and direction of the television official Stefano Penne, the referee Marius Mitrea called the captain of Edinburgh Henry Pyrgos and said: “I want to speak about your players raising the positions, raising the filling. It happened twice. If it happens again, it can be more than a penalty, okay? It is also very dangerous. “
Under the amended law, players need not be reckless with the safety of opponents. Recently re-elected World Rugby President Bill Beamont said: “World Rugby’s mission is to make the game as simple, safe and enjoyable as possible.” This amendment to the law reflects that mission. “
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