Walls of defenders blocking the kick chase

[Banquo]

Maybe I've been slow on the uptake, but I've noticed that four or five defenders on the kick reception team seem to magically appear about 10 yards from the catcher more and more in games, effectively blocking the kick chase. Have I missed some universal bit of frecent coaching advice, or has this always been happening, and I'm just noticing it now?

[FKAS]

Coaches are using a loophole, as long as they are running back to the ball and don't change their line they are fine. Probably is it used to be one or two but not as you say it's a wall and it's ridiculous. Referees should start penalising offending teams as it's a blatant tactic with no interest in playing the ball. Call a couple early in the game and it'll cut it right out.

[Banquo]

Coaches are using a loophole, as long as they are running back to the ball and don't change their line they are fine. Probably is it used to be one or two but not as you say it's a wall and it's ridiculous. Referees should start penalising offending teams as it's a blatant tactic with no interest in playing the ball. Call a couple early in the game and it'll cut it right out.

agreed, was just wondering when it started, as have only recently seen it so blatantly. Also, I thought they'd banned the caterpillar, or was that reversed.

[FKAS]

They keep on talking about banning the caterpillar but never actually doing so. Personally I'd like the law changing so that any player that binds onto the ruck after the ref has called use it means an immediate lapse of the five second and scrum to the opposition. That would cut down on a lot of the faffing.

The screening of the catcher has been creeping in for a while but I think this season has gone beyond being a bit cute to just blatant. I think it's one of those things that sides have got away with some others have copied and then just pushed the boundary further and further until the current farce.

[Banquo]

They keep on talking about banning the caterpillar but never actually doing so. Personally I'd like the law changing so that any player that binds onto the ruck after the ref has called use it means an immediate lapse of the five second and scrum to the opposition. That would cut down on a lot of the faffing.

The screening of the catcher has been creeping in for a while but I think this season has gone beyond being a bit cute to just blatant. I think it's one of those things that sides have got away with some others have copied and then just pushed the boundary further and further until the current farce.

Frustrating innit. Ditto straight put ins, binding come ruck time etc. All of these things properly enforced would make the games miles better, and not really an extra ref burden. Instead of which, we get goal line drop outs and other tinkerings (tho goal line dropouts not as bad as I thought they'd be tbf).

[Beasties]

Oh I dunno, anything that reduces the box kick effectiveness and therefore leads to less of it is alright with me.

[Banquo]

Oh I dunno, anything that reduces the box kick effectiveness and therefore leads to less of it is alright with me.

That's A way of looking at it .

[p/d]

Oh I dunno, anything that reduces the box kick effectiveness and therefore leads to less of it is alright with me.

Exactly!!! Though the Nowell kick for Steward to chase was an absolute beaut

[Banquo]

Oh I dunno, anything that reduces the box kick effectiveness and therefore leads to less of it is alright with me.

Exactly!!! Though the Nowell kick for Steward to chase was an absolute beaut

box kicking is a relatively positive way of exiting your 22 say, at least you are trying to compete. The wall of defenders is pretty cynical and negative. Sides are overdoing ithe (box) kicking and getting rid of the caterpillar would help with that.

[Beasties]

Oh I dunno, anything that reduces the box kick effectiveness and therefore leads to less of it is alright with me.

Exactly!!! Though the Nowell kick for Steward to chase was an absolute beaut

box kicking is a relatively positive way of exiting your 22 say, at least you are trying to compete. The wall of defenders is pretty cynical and negative. Sides are overdoing ithe (box) kicking and getting rid of the caterpillar would help with that.

Oh yeah, if we’re choosing, the caterpillar is far more offensive.