In a surprising turn of events, England rugby union coach Steve Borthwick has expressed grave concerns over the direction the sport is taking in light of recent law changes introduced by World Rugby. Borthwick fears that these new directives, aimed at increasing contestable kicks and unstructured possession, are pushing rugby union dangerously close to resembling Australian rules football.
World Rugby’s Controversial Law Changes
The rugby world was caught off guard when World Rugby announced a crackdown on players forming protective barriers around teammates catching the ball, known as “escorting”. The intention behind this move was to encourage more running rugby and speed up attacking transitions by making it easier for chasing players to contest for the ball in the air.
However, Borthwick believes these changes have had unintended consequences. Speaking ahead of England’s crucial clash against South Africa at Twickenham, he shared his observations:
It’s a pretty small sample size so far, but what we’re seeing is a great increase in the number of kicks, increase in the number of contestable kicks, an increase in the number of scrums and increase in the number of loose balls, unstructured balls. So the source of possession is changing and it’s only going to increase in that sense.
– Steve Borthwick, England Rugby Union Coach
Minimal Notice, Maximum Impact
Borthwick revealed that teams were given very little notice about these significant changes, receiving the information electronically just a day before a coaches’ presentation, which itself was only a week before the players entered camp. This left minimal time for teams to adapt their strategies and playing styles to suit the new laws before heading into high-stakes Tier 1 Tests.
The England coach questioned the timing and implementation of these changes, stating:
In hindsight, it could have been dealt with differently. We effectively received this information, electronically and received videos and notes the day before there was a coaches’ presentation, which was I think a week before we came into camp. And so at that point in time, no players have played with them and we’re now putting onto what is effectively the biggest stage of world rugby other than the World Cup, but straight into Tier 1 Tests.
– Steve Borthwick, England Rugby Union Coach
The Rise of Kicking and Aerial Contests
Borthwick’s primary concern lies in the potential long-term impact of these law changes on the very nature of rugby union. He fears that the increased emphasis on contestable kicking and aerial contests could fundamentally alter the sport, pushing it closer to the style of play seen in Australian rules football.
In response to these changes, Borthwick has selected Freddie Steward, renowned for his prowess under the high ball, for the upcoming match against South Africa. While acknowledging Steward’s “super strength” in this area, Borthwick worries about the broader implications for the sport:
I will be really interested to see where this goes because currently I see it only leading to more kicking and more scrums. Yes there will be more unstructured possession but I am not sure everyone wants to watch more kicking and more scrums.
– Steve Borthwick, England Rugby Union Coach
The Future of Rugby Union
As rugby union stands at a crossroads, Borthwick’s comments have sparked a broader conversation about the direction the sport is taking. While some argue that the changes will lead to more exciting, free-flowing rugby, others share Borthwick’s concerns about the potential loss of the game’s unique identity.
The England coach emphasized the need for teams to adapt quickly to these new laws, but also questioned whether the changes align with what fans want to see:
But I don’t think anyone wants it to turn into Aussie rules, do they? As you start looking at the numbers of contested kicks, loose balls, number of kicks — you don’t want to turn rugby union into Aussie rules. I thought our game was in pretty good shape.
– Steve Borthwick, England Rugby Union Coach
As the rugby world grapples with these changes, it remains to be seen how the sport will evolve in the coming years. Will rugby union maintain its distinct identity, or will it continue to inch closer to the high-flying, kick-centric style of Australian rules football? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – the debate surrounding these law changes is far from over.
