Bledisloe 1, a great advertisement for the game.

[westdog54]

http://rugbydump.blogspot.com/2008/07/wallabies-sink-all-blacks-34-19-in.html

I'd happily sell any newbie to the game of rugby on Saturday night's match. No repeated kicking for touch, great running, high-scoring rugby. The Experimental Law Variations have worked well and this match was proof. The sooner the IRB adopts them across the board the better.

[GVGjr]

http://rugbydump.blogspot.com/2008/07/wallabies-sink-all-blacks-34-19-in.html

I'd happily sell any newbie to the game of rugby on Saturday night's match. No repeated kicking for touch, great running, high-scoring rugby. The Experimental Law Variations have worked well and this match was proof. The sooner the IRB adopts them across the board the better.


It was a terrific game and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The other codes would want to watch out if Rugby could dish out that type of standard each week.

[Mantis]

http://rugbydump.blogspot.com/2008/07/wallabies-sink-all-blacks-34-19-in.html

I'd happily sell any newbie to the game of rugby on Saturday night's match. No repeated kicking for touch, great running, high-scoring rugby. The Experimental Law Variations have worked well and this match was proof. The sooner the IRB adopts them across the board the better.

Nick,

What are the new laws they have brought in?

[westdog54]

Nick,

What are the new laws they have brought in?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellenbosch_Laws

There have been a few changes, the key ones are:


Most infringements in the field of play that would have been a penalty kick in the past now only result in a 'free kick', meaning the team receiving the free kick cannot take a shot at goal, and do not get the throw to the lineout when they kick for touch. So for most infringements, play is now restarted with the option of a scrum or a quick tap, mostly the latter. Offside and 'Foul Play' infringements still result in a Penalty Kick. This means less shots at goal from penalties and less lineouts, and more running rugby.
In the past, if you kicked for touch on the full from inside your defensive 22 line, the lineout is taken from where the ball went out. This still occurs but not if the ball is passed back inside the 22. Any kick into touch on the full outside the 22 results in the lineout being taken from where the ball was kicked. Again, the result is less lineouts and teams are encouraged to keep the ball in hand and not just play between the 22 lines.
At a scrum, both backlines must be at least 5 metres back from the scrum, with the exception of the half-backs. This opens up the game a bit at the scrum.
Both teams can now have as many players as they wish in the lineout. In the past, the team throwing in determined how many players were in the lineout.


There are others but these were the ones that were most obvious on Saturday night.

Its been described as the best Bledisloe Cup game in 8 years.

This year's Tri Nations is the first time the ELVs have been used at International Level. They were used in this years Super 14 and in the Australian Rugby Championship last year, as well as in the NSW Domestic Comp

[whythelongface]

It was a terrific game and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The other codes would want to watch out if Rugby could dish out that type of standard each week.

It was fantastic. Haven't enjoyed a Rugby game as much for years. Hope to see more of the same. Apparently the 2nd All Blacks/ Springboks game was also a ripper. The new laws seem to have made a big difference as to how the game is played.

[Chops]

I believe the northern hemi sides are upset with the rule changed.
If these rules remove a lot of the repeatitive kicking its a good thing. Still believe, you get too many points for drop goals and penalty shots.

The best rugby is when they run it and throw it wide.

[Pembleton]

I had planned to watch the game, then forgot about it. I have always liked the sport, but have also found it frustrating at times when it becomes a penalty kicking contest. Those rule changes look good.

[westdog54]

I believe the northern hemi sides are upset with the rule changed.
If these rules remove a lot of the repeatitive kicking its a good thing. Still believe, you get too many points for drop goals and penalty shots.

The best rugby is when they run it and throw it wide.

Agree with the general sentiment on the Northern Hemisphere sides, though historically one of the greater exponents of running, expansive rugby have been the French. Funnily enough, they actually enjoy attacking. The ELVs could see France return to its former standing in the Rugby world. Its the British who have the most to lose. They thrive on boring rugby.

[shifty]

It was fantastic. Haven't enjoyed a Rugby game as much for years. Hope to see more of the same. Apparently the 2nd All Blacks/ Springboks game was also a ripper. The new laws seem to have made a big difference as to how the game is played.

it was a great match.
not as quick and not as much scoring as this week's but it was bloody physical.
just a side note on all this, if anybody watched the ARU last year with the rebels, it was Luke Burgess at 9 for melbourne, and that really helped him get the job at the tahs