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Super 14 laws to suit Sharks
29/01/2008 11:38 - (SA)
Durban - Common consensus from the Sharks is that the new ELVs, designed to make the game more exciting, will suit their style of play and they have embraced the changes readily.
AJ Venter has admitted he is very excited about the new laws.
"I think the game will be more positive. You will see tries coming out of nowhere because there will be more space. Let's embrace them," Venter said.
According to Michael Marnewick, writing on the Sharks website, www.sharksrugby.co.za, the new law concerning players rolling away doesn't simply mean they must make an effort to get out of the mass of bodies, but that they must roll away to the side, towards the touchline.
Heineken Cup rugby is enjoying huge popularity because of this one small adjustment - players rolling away at the tackle/ruck situation. It has been reported that there are now 47% more tries because of easier access to the ball, and less slowing down the process of getting the ball away, and that's what fans pay good money to see.
Hard to judge
The most successful coach in Super 14 history, the Crusaders' Robbie Deans, has also offered his sentiments.
"Just what overall impact the ELVs will have on the way the competition unfolds is hard to judge at this early stage but it seems likely that the changes that have been brought in will serve to make the game even faster."
Deans also believes that this will place even more of an emphasis on the players to make sure that they have prepared properly physically during the strength and conditioning phase of our overall season planning. Quite clearly, any players who have taken short cuts in this area will get exposed as the season unfolds, he suggested.
A similar point was made by Sharks captain Johann Muller, when he added that "if you want to win this competition you need to be super-fit."
Express themselves
Super 14 referee Mark Lawrence believes Deans's feelings on the new laws were that "this will teach players to be more positive, to know the laws and play accordingly."
Sharks coach Dick Muir believes that the Sharks coaching philosophy of allowing the players to express themselves, to play the game as they see it unfolding in front of them, suits what the ELVs are trying to accomplish.
"We believe the new laws will benefit the Sharks' style of play, a style that we have been playing and will play in the future.
"I think the ELVs are quite exciting and it is going to be up to the sides who adapt early on and make use of the early advantage. I think the ELVs will suit the Sharks in that it allows more ball in play time and that's something we have tried to grow in our game. It will benefit us."
Last year Muir made an interesting statement that the Sharks may not be as consistent in 2008 as they were in 2007, but that they would be more exciting. He elaborated on this saying, "with the loss of the experienced players, we have a lot of youth in our side. With experience comes consistency, but with youth comes a lot of excitement. Add to that the laws creating a more exciting game and you have all the ingredients for a good campaign."
Positive
Sharks assistant coach Grant Bashford anticipated the ELVs will affect different teams in different ways.
"They are not going to be a problem for us as we have been trying to play a little differently to a lot of the South African sides and some of the overseas sides already, so I think they are positive for us.
"We believe some of the laws will be to our benefit, but without having played under them, there is still going to be a lot of learning along the way. But I don't think they will hinder us in any way."
As with any new law implementations, teams will be trying to think up ways to use them to their own benefits, small tricks of the trade to turn any negative into a positive.
Quick play
"It's going to be new for everybody and along the way people will try certain things," explained Bashford. "Some will work, others won't and you will grow. The Australians that used it in the ARC competition used all the ELVs, so for them it is going to be different as well.
"But we are very positive about them, for the way in which we want to play."
Bashford believes that referees will look at the tackler a lot harder at the breakdown area than before. "The tackler's got to open up, move his body to the touchline so he can get out of the path from which the ball should be emerging. Tries improved by 47% apparently overseas when that's all they focused on. If they do that, it is a positive, it will create quick play and quick ball.
"It should suit us."
- Sport24
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