Guinness Premiership: The ELV's Are Not the Problem

Sean Kelly by Analyst Written on October 02, 2008
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When two giant teams like Leicester and Wasps go head to head, you expect a brave encounter high scoring, or at least quality play and with both teams giving their all.

I'm afraid this was not the case when they both met at Adams Park last Friday.

Never have I seen two top Premiership sides so afraid to attack. Neither side played with any imagination both choosing to kick for territory and deciding to keep the ball wound up in the arms of the forwards. Instead of playing the rugby we know both sides are capable of playing.

Ian McGeechan was quick to jump on the bandwagon of other coaches and journalists alike who have been too hasty to criticise the new rules, blaming them for their sides defeats or poor performances.

"You can't afford to play in your own half and I think Leicester adopted the same principles as we did by trying to keep it tight."

Leicester coach Heyneke Meyer refused to add to the already vast complaints about the ELV's, but did however criticise his sides and his opponents tactics by kicking the ball too much.

"The difference between the two sides tonight was that when they got into our half, they punished us by kicking their goals."

I really do not believe the problem with the game in England at the moment is to do with the new law variations.

I will not lie, when first mentioned I was not a fan of the decision to change a game that really didn't have many problems anyway (why try and fix something that isn't really broken). The only point I agreed with was to keep players on their feet at the contact area.

But now hearing these coaches moan isn't doing much more for the game.

The main reason we haven't seen these ELV's flourish is because of peoples negative attitudes towards the law variations.

When up against strong opposition, teams are scared to run from deep in case of the inevitable turn over, leaving a game controlled by the boot which no one wants to watch.

The loyal Guinness premiership fans do not wish to turn up to see their loved side have an 80 minute long kick about.

The possibilities of counter attacks have become more likely with these laws, as has the likelihood of seeing running rugby. For teams to be scared into a forwards contest is ridiculous and surely an opposite upshot of the experimental law variations introduction.

Especially seeing as we are trying to sell this game as an exciting sport. So that we can finally go head to head with football as the dominant sport of the country.

Bath have still continuously been applauded for their running rugby. Rugby that has seen the Rec been serenaded. This is because they have taken the ELV's into account and used them to their advantage.

"Looking at the ELVs without putting my defence coach hat on, I think that some have had a really positive influence on the game.

"For example, the five-metre defence line at a scrum gives a great opportunity for back-row moves and space for the scrum-half to challenge the defensive line.

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written on October 02, 2008 Opinion

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