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'Listened to our fans': Law variations confirmed for Super Rugby Pacific

(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Ahead of the new season, Super Rugby Pacific have confirmed some new law innovations that aim to make the competition the “fastest professional” league “in the world.”

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Super Rugby Pacific is set to get underway in just under two weeks’ time, with a New Zealand derby blockbuster between the champion Crusaders and Chiefs getting things underway.

But the competition will look a bit different this season, with a number of law variations having been announced on Tuesday.

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The rugby lawbook is set for a radical shakeup with the pace of the game set to be prioritised and enforced like never before.

Among the new law variations, time limits will be enforced for shots at goal, lineouts, scrums and rucks.

“We want Super Rugby Pacific to be the most entertaining, innovative and fastest professional rugby competition in the world,” Tournament Director Matt Barlow said in a statement.

“We’ve listened to our fans and taken steps to reduce stoppages and video replays, increase flow and maintain the integrity of the competition and the safety of players in regard to yellow and red cards.

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“Players, coaches and referees are excited about these innovations, and we believe they will create a better fan experience both at game and for those watching on television.”

The TMO will have less of a say this season, as they’ll be allowed to “interrupt” play whenever serious, clear and obvious incidents of foul play are missed by the on-field referees.

Referees will also be able to call on the TMO when reviewing a potential yellow card decision.


The decision to award a yellow card can also be reviewed by the TMO for up to eight-minutes, which may see the sanction upgraded to a 20-minute red card.

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But that’s not. In fact, the final law change is probably the most radical of them all.

While the rugby world has become quite used to 20-minute red cards over the past few seasons, players can receive a “full red card” once again.

In instances of deliberate foul play, players can be sent from the field, and will not be able to be placed after 20-minutes.

“The review process for dangerous play will be as vigorous as ever and we believe TMOs will be able to make better judgements about the seriousness of foul play offences without the pressure of having to watch replays under stressful time constraints,” he added.

“There is also the addition of a stronger deterrent for deliberate foul play with the referee having the option of issuing a full red card.

“We know players and fans don’t want to watch multiple frame-by-frame replays while they wait for the match to resume, so we believe we’ve struck the right balance.

“TMOs will still be reviewing the two phases before a try is scored and can still be called upon by the referee to check things like the ball being grounded when a try has been scored.

“The difference will be the Match Official Team will lead the process and viewers will not see as many replays.”

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2 Comments
i
isaac 629 days ago

Just make the refs fair....dont want a repeat of the Drau vs Reds match which was decided by the ref. .

i
isaac 630 days ago

Hopefully the full red card syndrome is fair and not only applicable to moana and Drua.....who gets to decide a full or half red card? When players are always in refs ears such as Aaron smith, TJ, BB and others.....refs should also be strict on professional fouls especially by players such as Dan Coles, and the likes

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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