Effect of ELVs after Round 3
After Round Three of the Super 14, being played under the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs), André Watson, South Africa’s manager of referees has produced some statistics.
He has some data from the first three rounds of the Super 14 in 2007, played under the “old” laws and the first three rounds of the Super 14 in 2008.
COMPARISON BETWEEN 2008 & 2007 S14 – AFTER ROUNDS 1, 2 & 3
Number of scrums
2008: 523
2007: 510
Difference: +13 (+4,4%)
Per game 2008: 24,9
Per game 2007: 24,3
difference per game: +0,6
Comment: No difference
Line-outs
2008: 502
2007: 641
Difference: -139 (-21,7%)
Per game 2008: 23,9
Per game 2007: 30,5
difference per game: -6,6
Comment: Fewer kicks for touch because of new law
Tackle/Ruck/Maul
2008: 3401
2007: 3021
Difference: +380 (+12,5%)
Per game 2008: 162
Per game 2007: 144
difference per game: +18
Comment: Much more activity by all players
Penalties & free kicks
2008: 615
2007: 437
Difference: +178 (+40%)
Per game 2008: 29,3
Per game 2007: 21
difference per game: +8.3
Comment: Because of free kicks in lieu of penalties
Ball in play time
Per match 2008: 35 minutes
Per match 2007: 31 minutes
difference per game: 4 minutes
Difference +12%
Comment: Great improvement
Kicks in general play
Per match 2008: 54
Per match 2007: 51
difference per game: 3
Comment: No difference.
