The All Blacks are facing a tactical dilemma, and Mils Muliaina, a stalwart of New Zealand rugby, is advocating for a change in World Rugby's laws after Ruben Love expressed frustration over the current rules governing high ball receptions. Love, who splits his time between fly-half and full-back for the Hurricanes, has become particularly vocal following a challenging match that marked his return after an injury layoff.
During a post-match interview, Love didn't mince words about the difficulties posed by the removal of the 'escort' law, which previously allowed the receiving team to block chasers. "Some of the World Rugby rules right now, I mean far out. There’s no support in the backfield, so World Rugby, if you’re watching, change that rule asap," he stated emphatically.
"I think he’s got a valid point to some degree. It’s a pretty lonely place if you don’t quite get it right."
Muliaina echoed Love's sentiments on The Breakdown, suggesting that the absence of the escort law places an undue burden on players tasked with fielding high balls. Despite this, there's a split in opinion among former players. Steven Bates, another former All Black, sees the positive impact of the rule change, emphasizing how mishandled kicks can lead to dynamic, open rugby.
"The only thing I would say about this is what I do like, and I’ve never been back there, so I don’t really care that much, is when they don’t get those contestables right and the team that kicks it wins the ball back, that’s when we see an open style of rugby played," Bates commented. He highlighted the effectiveness of this strategy by referencing the recent Six Nations finale between France and England, where both teams capitalized on their kicking game to create scoring opportunities.
The debate continues as players and fans alike weigh the merits of the current law, with many echoing Love's call for a rethink to better support backline players under the high ball. As the international rugby community watches closely, World Rugby's next move could significantly influence the strategic dynamics of the game.
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The All Blacks are facing a tactical dilemma, and Mils Muliaina, a stalwart of New Zealand rugby, is advocating for a change in World Rugby's laws after Ruben Love expressed frustration over the current rules governing high ball receptions. Love, who splits his time between fly-half and full-back for the Hurricanes, has become particularly vocal following a challenging match that marked his return after an injury layoff.
During a post-match interview, Love didn't mince words about the difficulties posed by the removal of the 'escort' law, which previously allowed the receiving team to block chasers. "Some of the World Rugby rules right now, I mean far out. There’s no support in the backfield, so World Rugby, if you’re watching, change that rule asap," he stated emphatically.
"I think he’s got a valid point to some degree. It’s a pretty lonely place if you don’t quite get it right."
Muliaina echoed Love's sentiments on The Breakdown, suggesting that the absence of the escort law places an undue burden on players tasked with fielding high balls. Despite this, there's a split in opinion among former players. Steven Bates, another former All Black, sees the positive impact of the rule change, emphasizing how mishandled kicks can lead to dynamic, open rugby.
"The only thing I would say about this is what I do like, and I’ve never been back there, so I don’t really care that much, is when they don’t get those contestables right and the team that kicks it wins the ball back, that’s when we see an open style of rugby played," Bates commented. He highlighted the effectiveness of this strategy by referencing the recent Six Nations finale between France and England, where both teams capitalized on their kicking game to create scoring opportunities.
The debate continues as players and fans alike weigh the merits of the current law, with many echoing Love's call for a rethink to better support backline players under the high ball. As the international rugby community watches closely, World Rugby's next move could significantly influence the strategic dynamics of the game.