Ireland star, Tadhg Beirne, claims rugby 'going backwards'

[UKHamlet]

I agree with Beirne. Rugby has turned into kick-and-chase, which plays into the hands of teams with bigger players and a strong set-piece game. What I want to watch is clever interplay, players with skills to beat a man, not just smash through him.

Munster captain Tadhg Beirne says current laws are taking the game 'backwards'.

Beirne was speaking after his side's defeat to derby day rivals Leinster, and bemoaned that too many styles are dominated by kicking and scrummaging.

“Let’s be honest about it, the style of the game has gone backwards. If we're being serious, teams are just kicking the ball," he said.

“Why? Because it's a 50-50 chance of getting the ball back. Teams are going to set-pieces more because if you go up for a 50-50 in the air and you get a knock on, you get a scrum. And if you have a good scrum, you can get a penalty into the corner.

“It's just becoming a set-piece and kicking game with the way they've changed the rules. You see teams kicking more and more and I think it's just going to continue going that way unless they decide to do something about it.”

Pressed on what he meant by “backwards”, he replied: “What? The stop-start, it’s just kick, chase, scrum and then go from there, no. You want a bit more flow to the game, personally.

“I suppose that's my opinion on it. I guess all teams are probably spending a lot more time on how they exit and their kicking game and all that kind of stuff. It'll probably take away from attack and defence a little bit because you have to spend so much time on kicking.

“How you chase a kick, what your set-up is, all that kind of stuff.”

[paddy no 11]

His coach reckoned players aren't fatigueing in the last20 anymore due to all the stoppages and that was contributing to poorer spectacles also

[Son of Mathonwy]

His coach reckoned players aren't fatigueing in the last20 anymore due to all the stoppages and that was contributing to poorer spectacles also

They ought to limit teams to 4 substitutions from their 8-man bench. This would force most players (even front rowers ) to play 80 minutes. No more bomb squads coming on at 50 minutes (unless teams want to risk running out of players in the last quarter of the match).

[paddy no 11]

His coach reckoned players aren't fatigueing in the last20 anymore due to all the stoppages and that was contributing to poorer spectacles also

They ought to limit teams to 4 substitutions from their 8-man bench. This would force most players (even front rowers ) to play 80 minutes. No more bomb squads coming on at 50 minutes (unless teams want to risk running out of players in the last quarter of the match).

That or go down the cricket root and give each captain 1 challenge per half or 2 per match and nothing else is reviewrd irrespective? (Bar headshots)

[Sandydragon]

His coach reckoned players aren't fatigueing in the last20 anymore due to all the stoppages and that was contributing to poorer spectacles also

They ought to limit teams to 4 substitutions from their 8-man bench. This would force most players (even front rowers ) to play 80 minutes. No more bomb squads coming on at 50 minutes (unless teams want to risk running out of players in the last quarter of the match).

That or go down the cricket root and give each captain 1 challenge per half or 2 per match and nothing else is reviewrd irrespective? (Bar headshots)

That was tried a few years ago and wasn’t a huge success.

I agree with the article. I still watch games where I’m emotionally invested but don’t bother so much with neutral matches any more. The vast majority of teams seem so similar and any individuality is just sucked out of the game and replaced by relentless physicality.

[paddy no 11]

They ought to limit teams to 4 substitutions from their 8-man bench. This would force most players (even front rowers ) to play 80 minutes. No more bomb squads coming on at 50 minutes (unless teams want to risk running out of players in the last quarter of the match).

That or go down the cricket root and give each captain 1 challenge per half or 2 per match and nothing else is reviewrd irrespective? (Bar headshots)

That was tried a few years ago and wasn’t a huge success.

I agree with the article. I still watch games where I’m emotionally invested but don’t bother so much with neutral matches any more. The vast majority of teams seem so similar and any individuality is just sucked out of the game and replaced by relentless physicality.

They trialled it before in SA but they didn't put a limit on referrals if I recall correctly or else had too many

Bordeaux still play for fun but you need a budget for that, everyone else is being pragmatic and kicking the ball away

[paddy no 11]

Also the tmo decision process they use in rugby league is excellent, decisions made very quickly and consistently correct. Obviously more variables in union but an awful lot could be done to improve the process