Rolling Subs to be trialled in England's County Championship.

toomevara

Rolling subs, like we use in RL, are to be trialled in England's county c'ship. Be interesting to see how it works in union. Fantastic in league, gives the game a whole new tactical level. Might be an answer to coaches emptying benches in the final 10/15 mins and destroying the flow of many a game.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8571351.stm

thomond2006

I remember reading Shaun Edwards on Rugby World who was against the idea of rolling substitutions.

His main points were:
If players can leave the field more often: power and size, not stamina and skill will become their trademark. It will alter the balance between stamina and power.
Impact Players will be "bred" to come on for 5-10 minutes and do as much damage as they can.
Players will become bigger and consequently will have shorter careers.

Risteard

Curse that NH team, trying to make us more like League.

Still though, I don't like this. It means you can just bring players on at key times as a fresh player. e.g. I'm not sure how it's covered in the rules but say you start with a fourth backrow instead of a prop and if there's a scrum bring on a good scrummager and then just bring him off again and bring back on the back row.

I can see how it works in League as there is less difference between the positions and they would be running for a lot more than their Union counterparts.

Ian_K

thomond2006 wrote: »

If players can leave the field more often: power and size, not stamina and skill will become their trademark. It will alter the balance between stamina and power.
Impact Players will be "bred" to come on for 5-10 minutes and do as much damage as they can.
Players will become bigger and consequently will have shorter careers.

Risteard wrote: »

Still though, I don't like this. It means you can just bring players on at key times as a fresh player. e.g. I'm not sure how it's covered in the rules but say you start with a fourth backrow instead of a prop and if there's a scrum bring on a good scrummager and then just bring him off again and bring back on the back row.

I can see how it works in League as there is less difference between the positions and they would be running for a lot more than their Union counterparts.

Ya agree comletely with the above, bad idea

pickarooney

It might put an end to the O'Gara/Sexton debate (bring on ROG every time a penalty is blown).

thebaz

The Bull may make 200 caps !

Stev_o

There's a limit to the amount of interchanges you can have, in League its limited to 10 changes and not forgetting that blood subs and injuries count as a interchange, so you couldn't have subs going on every ten phases.

irishbucsfan

It's worked in it's trial here so far as far as I'm concerned, wouldn't be surprised at all to see it brought in to the professional game eventually.