Played so far this year?

Tim Robbins

Have your team played a game yet? How did you find the reffing with the new ELVs and enforcement of law at breakdowns?

Any number 8s out there? Did they ref let you sling shot into the scrum or did you have to bind before the word crouch was uttered?

thetyreman

Me think they are just makeing it more unnessarly more complicated,with not much advantage to either the game or players safety.
In my experience the reason people that dont watch rugby,dont do so because they find the rules to complicated and hard to follow and i dont think these experment changes if enforced are going to entice too many new spectators..

Amz

Played 2 friendlies, so they weren't as strict on certain things, but sling shotting into scrum was definitely not allowed and the two refs were very strict on sealing off. Otherwise not a huge amount of difference.

Tim Robbins

thetyreman wrote: »

Me think they are just makeing it more unnessarly more complicated,with not much advantage to either the game or players safety.
In my experience the reason people that dont watch rugby,dont do so because they find the rules to complicated and hard to follow and i dont think these experment changes if enforced are going to entice too many new spectators..

If commentators knew a bit more about the sport and could echo why the Ref was making decisions, it would help spectators.

I also think if refs shouted decisions as well as hand signal it would help.

dub_skav

Tim Robbins wrote: »

If commentators knew a bit more about the sport and could echo why the Ref was making decisions, it would help spectators.

I also think if refs shouted decisions as well as hand signal it would help.

I was playing at 8 yesterday and the ref didn't pay any attention to what I was doing. I was sling-shotting sometimes binding at others. Moving from channel 2 to channel 1 etc and he left me to it.
I found the extra space off the back of the scrum - backs 5 metres away - was great.
The ref was very strict on sealing off as others have said, which I think is a definite improvement, of course that isn't an ELV

Nukem

Played two friendlies and the sealing off is a major headache - ref is a bit inconsistent and was pinging players for various infringments. The hands on rule really needs to be cleared up.

First competitive match this week so a lot will tell.

Tim Robbins

Nukem wrote: »

Played two friendlies and the sealing off is a major headache - ref is a bit inconsistent and was pinging players for various infringments. The hands on rule really needs to be cleared up.

First competitive match this week so a lot will tell.

Only the tackler and 1st man should try to use their hands - max. Once you hear the ref say anything, "release, ruck" take your hands off. Almost do it dramatically so the ref can see you do it.

Heroditas

I haven't seen any difference whatsoever but then I'm playing at J4 anyway! :P

Played two blitz matches and one match of 4 quarters and to be honest, the ELVs haven't made a blind bit of difference. The rucks are much better and more of a contest and the refs we've had have been ok in policing people going in off their feet.

justdoit

Coached a friendly on Saturday (J2 level) and found that the ELV's didn't make a huge difference.

Probably biggest change that I can see for my team will be a move away from catch and drive in line outs, as teams will counter a drive by pulling down the maul. Quick line-out ball needed most of the time to avoid a scrap.

At breakdown, the ref was conscious of 'sealing off', but so were the players as he briefed everyone prior to K/O and communicated well throughout so there was no major frustrations...

I think refs will find it tough to ensure that attacking teams are maintaining the 5 yard distance behind the scrum, which may translate in to a small advantage, but it will seldom be the winning or losing of games at my level.

Nukem

Tim Robbins wrote: »

Only the tackler and 1st man should try to use their hands - max. Once you hear the ref say anything, "release, ruck" take your hands off. Almost do it dramatically so the ref can see you do it.

The way the ref was giving away penalties you swear he gaot paid per penalty given. A lot of it was to do with hands in the ruck tell ya the truth and niggly stupid interpratations