There's an article in this weeks League Express stating that the Aussies are implementing a 20/40 rule next season to run alongside the existing 40/20 that we have all now become accustomed to. Exactly the same principal but just the other way around and obviously there is speculation that it could come here within the next couple of years ?? Thoughts anyone ??
It may be worth pointing out that during the days of the four tackle rule, prior to the change to six, and to some degree early days of six tackles rule you could kick for touch anywhere provided it - the ball bounced first and went Into touch. This gave the attacking side " loose head " ie, open side prop & hooker had the best sight of the ball placed in the scrum when scrums were contested + a very good attacking side could retain possession this build pressure, the value of having the best ball kicker out of hand ensured a side dictated play. Wakey had one of the best ever - Don Fox, Don murdered Hudersfield in the headingly re-play 1968. Hence when Don kicked, sides panicked, at Wembley Leeds gave away the first try with Atkinson pulling the ball back away from touch to prevent a scrum on the 25, however hurst was so quick following up he kicked ahead & scored. On the + side a side could constantly work up the field of play, more scrums, but a scrum was always in line where The ball went in, even if it was 1ft of the try line, hence push overs were possible. On the negative, a side would - could kick 1m ahead to ensure loose head & put in at any point in play. So if the new rule of 20/40 was the 1st kick, played tap was taken with a side laying deep with a further kick taken 20m back for a 40/20 then an attack taking a tap on the 20 could pay dividends if successful kicks were achieved ? Interesting times I suppose ?????
Last edited by TrinTrin on Wed Dec 11, 2019 8:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
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It'll slow the game down.
If a team is struggling to break away from their line, under the current rules they hoof it down field and the side who defended well can carry on with their momentum and run it back in.
The new rule means that a side will go for touch and a scrum or tap will result for the kicking side, if they get it beyond the forty (assuming it makes it). Don't forget, however, that there is a lot of room between the forty metre line and the try line so the same level of accuracy isn't required.
It rewards poor attack and penalises good defence, and if successful will slow the game down rather than the current situation (although teams can still go for touch now, I suppose, and use a scrum to regroup).
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Could work both ways, knowing that a 20/40 could be on will put just enough doubt in the defending team who may push their wings back to guard against it opening up gaps for the attacking team to exploit. I agree it is a get out for a poor attacking set but adds an extra dimension to the game. I'd rather it be trialled in the NRL to see if it's a positive change before SL adopted it.
If a team is struggling to break away from their line, under the current rules they hoof it down field and the side who defended well can carry on with their momentum and run it back in.
The new rule means that a side will go for touch and a scrum or tap will result for the kicking side, if they get it beyond the forty (assuming it makes it). Don't forget, however, that there is a lot of room between the forty metre line and the try line so the same level of accuracy isn't required.
It rewards poor attack and penalises good defence, and if successful will slow the game down rather than the current situation (although teams can still go for touch now, I suppose, and use a scrum to regroup).
Agree with this and RL may well start to look more like Union, with long clearance kicks from the back becoming ever more common. It's almost too much reward for kicking from inside your own 20.
It will create more scoring chances and could help prevent poor sides from getting hammered but, it's some very easy yards and with possession as a result, it seems to penalise the side that was in an attacking position.
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