Number of Substitutions
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Topic: Number of Substitutions
Posted By: Brizzer
Subject: Number of Substitutions
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2020 at 09:46
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Interesting article on the BBC website quoting Nigel Owens saying that the way to help reduce the number of injuries is to reduce the number of substitutions allowed. His argument is that players will need to be smaller (I guess not so much bulk) and will need to conserve their energy more, which in turn will reduce the size of the impact. Another factor is that players currently try to run through the tackler rather than avoid the tackle. Another area of concern is around the ruck and namely high impact hits coming from players running into the ruck at pace. I seem to remember that some of these views were voiced on RM some time ago, so clearly we are all ahead of our time  Personally, I think that this is a good thing. The hits can be quite spectacular, but IMHO we are seeing less skill and more beef. I think that the game will be faster and more exciting with higher skill levels. Also, around the ruck area if a player is on his feet, then he is fair game to be cleared out, but players are being hit whilst off their feet (in the pile) by players joining late and at speed. I appreciate that new rules with regards to 'no arms' have been brought in (which is a good thing), but they should go further. If a player is off of their feet and effectively out of the game, then they should not be a target. If they need to be moved, a bit of leverage should be sufficient to do so, not by somebody sprinting in with pace, arms or no arms. Hopefully, Owens is respected enough to be heard by the IRB and changes will be made....we shall see. |
Replies:
Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2020 at 22:11
People never used to lie on the wrong side of the ruck, or at least not twice, but then rucking was allowed. ------------- RAID ON |
Brizzer wrote:Posted By: islander
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2020 at 06:59
| I hope I'm wrong, but I fear that fewer replacements is one of those things, like straight put-ins to scrums, that most of us would be in favour of but won't ever come about... |
Posted By: gerg_861
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2020 at 08:19
| I understand the argument against replacements, but I personally like them on the basis that they can give more players meaningful game time. If you have someone coming in as a mid-season replacement, I imagine it must be nice to be able to blood them with an insertion into the match at an opportune/safe moment instead of chucking them into the fire of a starting spot. |
Posted By: The Blues
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2020 at 20:11
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On the flip side having less replacements means players would have to play on with niggles and injury themselves further, or coaches may be reluctant to take them off as they don't want to be playing with 2 or 3 players less than the opposition. Also what Nigel Owens is forgetting, since the game has gone professional you are seeing players carrying way more muscle, fitter and faster than the olden days, so you would still have huge players hitting one another. Also some injuries occur from foul play, so the opposition could potentially benefit from foul play. With the team which has suffered the injury not having the right replacement to fill the gap. You could get backs having to play as forward or the other way round which would make the sport a potential joke, with lots of uncontested scrums etc.. 8 replacements in my opinion is the right number. |
Posted By: castleparknight
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2020 at 21:40
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I tend to agree with The Blues - the numbers are right at 8 ------------- Onward and Upwards C'mon Donny! |
Posted By: Raider999
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2020 at 21:42
You are missing the essence of Nigel Owens point - because more than half the side can be replaced players can muscle up knowing they will only play half a game, they also look to make contact rather than run at gaps. The elephant in the room is the need for front row replacements. ------------- RAID ON |
Posted By: The Blues
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2020 at 22:13
And my point was since professionalism you now have players who could run as fast as the players of the past but with more muscle and can play a whole game. I could highlight a load of players but will list a few for backs and forwards... Looking at forwards Billy Vunipola or Nathan Hughes, they play 80 mins, are you saying they would lose weight? Maro Itoje, about 18 stone of muscle and an athlete Courtney Lawes tackles through the opponents Sinclair or Genge could do 80 mins if needed Looking at these backs (all have played wing), these all get through 80 mins Naiyaraovo North Nadolo Nalaga Tuilagi - to makes sure I don't just have N's Any Pacific islander pretty much! Looking for contact is just bad coaching. They should always look for a gap, as getting through a chest on chest collision is a lot harder than running at a weak arm. |
Posted By: Pappashanga
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2020 at 10:35
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The thwack as enormous players collide is all you need to hear as you wonder how people survive. I boxed for nine years, ignorant of the possible harm to my brain. I admit I was never hit on the head during rugby matches( I was a prop) except a couple of times deliberately. A middleweight aged 20 packs a very powerful and dangerous punch, so these big blokes should be lethal. Luckily, from what I've seen, their timing is mostly poor. It's the crunching tackles that are dangerous. I agree with Owens in that allowing subs means you get fresh big front rows. Not sure disallowing subs is the answer though. ------------- pappashanga |
Posted By: marigold
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2020 at 10:46
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Independent doctors now at each match for HIA assessments so have a full front row on the bench but they can only be substituted in the case of injury. One other forward to cover back 5 and 2 backs-again only for injury. Players outside the front row would have to be able to play 80 mins so would have to change body shape/fitness levels. The majority of players would have to last 80 mns so fatigue would reduce the number of high intensity impacts plus lead to more gaps in the defence line in the last quarter of a game. |
Posted By: Pappashanga
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2020 at 13:00
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Doctors at pitch side are good. However they can’t undo serious concussion, just stop it from getting worse. Also I have read that tired players are more likely to get injured and would welcome knowledgeable input on this point. ------------- pappashanga |