World Rugby appears set to make a radical change to the set-piece laws that favours teams with a weaker scrum, affecting a core part of the Springboks’ World Cup double triumph.

The governing body on Tuesday outlined the next steps in the process of reimagining rugby’s entertainment factor, part of a wider mission to grow the game’s audience over the next decade.

World Rugby has set out a five-phase approach to explore, adopt and trial laws that could revolutionise the game.

In the immediate term, from 19 March, referees will be expected to strictly apply current laws such as:

  • Law 15.17: Players will be expected to use the ball more quickly when the ball has been secured at a ruck/breakdown. Referees will be asked to call “use it” earlier, which will begin the five second count to play the ball away.
  • Law 19.10: Hookers will be expected to maintain a full brake foot to aid scrum stability and safety during the engagement sequence. Any adjustment must maintain the act of the brake.
  • Law 6.29: Strict reinforcement of the 2022 law trial relating to water carriers entering the field of play.

However, at the next World Rugby general council meeting on 9 May, a package of law amendments will be considered.

  • Recommendation to make adjustments to Law 10 in relation to players being put onside when there are kicks in open play, as per the current Super Rugby Pacific trial which aims to reduce kick tennis.
  • Removal of the scrum option from a free-kick at a scrum, reducing dead time.
  • Outlawing the practice of the ‘croc roll’, reinforcing player welfare focus

Removing the scrum option from a free kick at a scrum will certainly result in fewer set-pieces, but will also favour teams that are weaker at scrummaging.

The scrum was a crucial weapon for the Springboks in their back-to-back World Cup wins in 2019 and 2023, but could be depowered as teams will now be allowed to cynically give away a free kick when their scrum is under pressure and not face the potential of another scrum and, in turn, a potential penalty.

World Rugby has also confirmed that a final proposal for the 20-minute red card law will go before the council at the 9 May meeting.

This means that the law – which allows a red-carded player to be replaced after 20 minutes – could be in place for a global trial by the time the Springboks host Ireland in the July Test series.

According to World Rugby, a key consideration will be the potential to combine stronger off-field sanctions for foul play with the trial.

Meanwhile, unions and competition owners will be encouraged to implement a package of closed law trials which can be adopted at domestic or cross-border level, aimed at enhancing game continuity:

  • Expansion of the shot clock for scrum and lineouts and reduced kicking time.
  • Ability to mark the ball inside the 22m line from a restart, promoting attacking options.
  • The ball must be played after the maul has been stopped once, not twice.
  • Protection of the nine at the base of the scrum, ruck and at the maul following successful trials in Major League Rugby in the USA and in elite and community competitions in New Zealand.
  • Play on for lineout not straight if the throw in is uncontested.

World Rugby has also confirmed that specialist working groups will be established to further explore aspects identified by the Shape of the Game forum for further consideration.

Some of these aspects include the latest research on the impact of fatigue and the number and timing of replacements in the elite game and consider the results of the community tackle height trials across 11 unions – including South Africa – and consider its appropriateness for elite rugby.

Photo: Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images

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Src: sarugbymag.co.za