Comment on Slack's law
Creating more space
Recently there has been much discussion about changes to the Laws of the Game. We give now some reaction from readers.
Law changes are likely only after the 2007 Rugby World Cup but there has been experimentation on law changes at the University of Stellenbosch.
The first is a reaction to Andrew Slack's proposal about altering the off-side line to create more space. To read it again, click here.
Peter Shortell of Cheltenham, sent us this comment – well considered and detailed.
The off-side line at rucks (and mauls).
Andrew Slack's proposal that there should be an off-side line at rucks and mauls 5 or so metres behind the hindmost foot is one that has been doing the rounds of the rugby forums for some time. I have yet to be convinced it is practicable.
There are several objections to the basic idea:
(1) the scrumhalf would be off-side;
(2) players would be unable to join a ruck without going off-side;
(3) 11.8 would be impossible to police if it included the 5-metre line.
I have tried to formulate a law to cover these points:
16.5 OFF-SIDE AT THE RUCK
(a) The off-side line. There are four off-side lines parallel to the goal-lines, two for each team. One off-side line runs through the hindmost foot of the hindmost player in the ruck. The second off-side line is 5 metres behind the first. If the hindmost foot of the hindmost player is on or behind the goal-line, the off-side line for the defending team is the goal-line. If the 5-metre line would be behind the goal-line, the goal-line is deemed to be the 5-metre line.
(b) One player from each team, acting as scrumhalf, may play to the line through the hindmost foot.
(c) All other players not part of the ruck must observe their team's 5-metre line.
Penalty: Penalty Kick
(c) Players joining or rejoining the ruck. All players joining a ruck must do so from behind the foot of the hindmost team-mate in the ruck. A player may join alongside this hindmost player. If the player joins the ruck from the opponents' side, or in front of the hindmost team-mate, the player is off-side.
Penalty: Penalty Kick on the offending team's hindmost foot off-side line (d) Players behind the 5-metre line may cross it only if they clearly intend to join the ruck.
(e) Players leaving the ruck must immediately retire behind the 5 metre line, unless they act as scrumhalf.
Penalty: Penalty Kick on the offending team's 5-metre off-side line
(f) Players not joining the ruck. If a player, other than the acting scrumhalf, is in front of the 5-metre off-side line and does not join the ruck, the player must retire behind the off-side line at once. If a player who is behind either off-side line oversteps it and does not join the ruck the player is off-side.
Penalty: Penalty Kick on the relevant off-side line of the offending team.
(g) If a player is leaving or joining the ruck under sub-paragraphs (d) and (e) above, and the ruck ends before the action is completed, such a player is not deemed to be off-side under Law 11.8.
There are still problems:
(a) the defence has a bigger advantage near the goal-line;
(b) pick-and-go appears to be impossible – only the scrumhalf or hindmost player could do it, and there would be little support;
(c) similarly attacking via pop passes, since the players are clearly not intending to join the ruck.
(d) although we are used to having 4 off-side lines at a line-out, that is a single phase, with a static start. Rucks are dynamic, and several can occur in quick succession. Even with the 11.8 dispensation, it is likely to be a referee's nightmare.
