Coaching News

RATIONALE:

There is unanimous agreement from global stakeholders at the shape of the game conference Croc roll MUST be removed from the game.

A pull to the side is allowed with no weight dropping near jacklers lower limbs as it’s rarely dangerous for the jackler.

A slam down on the jacklers back/lower half and then roll is not allowed from the cleaner.

We need to assess where the cleaner finishes his action – Close to the jackler’s legs, the degree of danger is often high.

The law change will encourage players to drive the jackler instead of using a croc roll

Watch the video below for examples of legal, safe clean outs.

DEFINITION OF CROC ROLL

Croc roll: A prohibited action where a player laterally rolls/twists or pulls a player, who is on their feet in the tackle area, to ground. The action often lands on the player’s lower limbs

a. Twisting action – Wraps and rolls/twists jackler, dropping weight onto/near lower limbs

b. Pulling action – Pulling jackler and dropping weight onto/near lower limbs

Watch the video below, that gives a great insight into what is a croc roll.

The following video shows examples of when a referee should

PLAY ON – Arriving player pulls the jackler backwards or immediately to the side (Clip1)

Then examples of FOUL PLAY – cleaner pulls or rolls jackler past the point of initial contact forward (risk of dropping on limbs or hyper extension). The level of sanction is based on the danger of the action and the proximity to limbs.

Award PK or YC – Croc roll with a drop near or onto lower limb – Low/Medium danger (Clip2)

Finally award a RC – Croc roll with a drop onto lower limb or causing hyper extension of leg – High danger (Clip 3)

APPLICATION:

It is expected that referees and ARs to try to observe and sanction croc rolls in live play

A try must be disallowed if there is a croc roll in the lead up (Same principle with neck roll)

Reminder: There MUST be a sanction when there is a clear and obvious croc roll.

SCRUM OPTION REMOVAL AT A FREE KICK (FK)

Rationale: Speeding up restarts after technical offences. Currently many scrums result in long periods of dead time with resets, leading to more FKs, penalties and then kicks to touch. ‘Shape of Game’ recommendation was to remove the scrum from a FK option. It remains an option for penalty offences.

LAW

Law 20: Options at a penalty or free-kick

Law 20.3 A team awarded a penalty or a free kick may instead choose a scrum.

Law 20.4

i. A team awarded a penalty or free-kick at a lineout may instead choose a lineout or a scrum   at the same mark.

ii. A team awarded a free-kick at a lineout may instead choose a lineout at the same mark.

Consequential change: Mark law

17.6 If the player is injured in the act of claiming a Mark, and is unable to take the free-kick   within one minute, a team mate may take the FK.

QUESTION

What is our philosophy if we have cheating from the weaker scrum?

ANSWER

We trust the referees to manage/sanction these situations strongly

REMINDER: QUICK TAPS

Following the global law change the prediction is – we will see more quick taps at scrum

All quick taps must be played behind the scrum (around no8 position)

Players not 10m must retreat

OFFSIDE IN FRONT OF A KICKER

Rationale: Teams and players have recognised that in a kick battle with opponents, the kicking team – providing they are more than 10 metres away from the ball alighting – can be put onside by the actions of the catcher who runs 5 metres,
passes or kicks.

This has created freedom for players to loiter in the middle and wait for a kick tennis battle to conclude. The new wording makes clear that any player who is offside in open play needs to take action to put themselves onside and not just remain stationary.

The clauses relating to the catcher running 5 metres and passing the ball to put an opponent onside, will be removed.

Law 10.1 A player is offside in open play if that player is in front of a team-mate who is carrying the ball or who last played it. An offside player must not interfere with play. This includes:

a. Playing the ball.
b. Tackling the ball-carrier.
c. Preventing the opposition from playing as they wish.
  d. Loitering in an offside position

Law 10.4 An offside player may be penalised, if that player:

a. Does not make an effort to retreat and interferes with play; or

b. Move towards the ball; or

Law 10.7 Other than under Law 10.4c, an offside player can be put onside when:

a. An onside team-mate of that player moves past the offside player and is within or has re-  entered the playing area.

b. An opponent of that player:

i. Kicks the ball; or
ii. Intentionally touches the ball without gaining possession of it.

QUESTIONS

The kick receiver intentionally plays the ball with hand or foot without gaining possesion?

All the players in front of their kicker must retreat. Then they can move forward once the ball has been intentionally played without gaining possession

 

What happens if there is no player to put players onside?

i.e. kicker tackled with no support?

All the players in front of their kicker must retreat until put onside

 

When ball goes into touch – what is the obligations for the players who was in front of kick inside 10m and those outside 10m?

The ball is still live (ie a Quick throw is on) then the offside players still need to be retreating

and can’t benefit from loitering. Only when ref blows whistle or AR arm goes out for a full

lineout makes ball dead and so the players can move to the line. (2012 LAG)

 

What is a retreat?

Players in a offside position must move backwards – walk, jog

New Definition – Loiter / Loitering

A player who remains in an offside position is loitering. A loiterer who prevents the opposing team from playing the ball as they wish is taking part in the game, and is liable to sanction. A loiterer must not benefit from being put onside by the opposing team’s action.