NPR

Super Rugby Pacific will look to encourage more counterattacking from kicking duals as they tweak the offside laws.

The current laws state players can be put onside from a kick if the ball is either passed or the ball carrier runs five metres.

This limits the amount of opportunities and space to attack, leading to further kicking between the teams.

Super Rugby Pacific’s Law Innovation will remove those two clauses, meaning defenders will remain offside until they have been put onside by a teammate who has come from behind the kicker, or the kicker themself.

“We want to create a game that’s exciting for our fans and enjoyable for our players," Super Rugby Pacific Chair Kevin Malloy said. "Part of that is seeing our players running the ball rather than trading multiple kicks in a battle for territory. We’re listening to our fans and with the full support of New Zealand Rugby,

"Rugby Australia, and our coaches we’ve responded with a small change we think could make a big difference.

“Fans have been vocal in recent times about teams exploiting a loophole that’s seen large number of players standing still while kicks go over their heads in what some people have called kick tennis.

"We don’t believe that’s the spectacle our fans want to see in Super Rugby Pacific.

"We want to open up the opportunity for teams to counterattack with the ball in hand and we’re confident this tweak to the law will encourage that trend and encourage exciting, attacking rugby.”

The Law Innovation has been sanctioned by World Rugby as a trial during the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season.

“We were really happy with the spectacle last year and hence we have only made one tweak to the laws for 2024," Molloy added.

"We want to keep building an exciting, fast-moving brand of rugby that our fans want to watch.

Kiwias wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 10:26 am Guy

Well, given that there are always two kickers involved, maybe 'dual' is the correct term here.

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 9:47 am Fixture list?

I'm sure we've got team lists and the like to sort out and present which will come in due time

Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Thu Feb 15, 2024 3:15 am

Gumboot wrote: ↑Thu Feb 15, 2024 3:24 am
I really hope Cullen Grace can stay fit and make a compelling case for an ABs comeback.

Razor's a big fan of his on-field presence apparently, but his regular, untimely injuries in recent years has made that hard to judge.

Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Thu Feb 15, 2024 3:46 am

Gumboot wrote: ↑Thu Feb 15, 2024 3:24 am
I really hope Cullen Grace can stay fit and make a compelling case for an ABs comeback.

Razor's a big fan of his on-field presence apparently, but his regular, untimely injuries in recent years has made that hard to judge.

He's had a couple of outs, the first was a shoulder and then I think he re-injured that not long after coming back, It was his smarts that had everyone talking, unpicking lineouts in his first games is pretty impressive.

More of a worry for me is Blackadder... he has a lot of injuries and it's possibly down to a kamikaze, no thought for self preservation style of play. I really want to see him stitch a whole season together... and to see these two players together and dominating.

Crusaders and All Blacks outside back Will Jordan is facing up to a long spell on the sidelines due to a shoulder injury.

An update on Jordan’s issue is due to be provided by the Crusaders this week but 1News understands the 25-year-old could require surgery which will rule him out for the season.

Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Mon Feb 19, 2024 12:55 am geez, we can't win a trick. Neither can Jordan.

Gumboot wrote: ↑Tue Feb 20, 2024 5:11 am First time I've watched The Breakdown this year... guest starring newly minted ABs coach Razor... so much to look forward to...

But wait, 15 minutes in and it's just Goldie and JK wanking on and on about their pointless crap again. Same as fucking last year...

Meanwhile their star guest, who everyone in their tv audience wants to hear from, sits there silently, looking left and right...

Kiwias wrote: ↑Tue Feb 20, 2024 5:53 am

Gumboot wrote: ↑Tue Feb 20, 2024 5:11 am First time I've watched The Breakdown this year... guest starring newly minted ABs coach Razor... so much to look forward to...

But wait, 15 minutes in and it's just Goldie and JK wanking on and on about their pointless crap again. Same as fucking last year...

Meanwhile their star guest, who everyone in their tv audience wants to hear from, sits there silently, looking left and right...

Note to self: listen to Gumboot's comments on Breakdown and avoid wasting many minutes of my life.

Guy Smiley wrote: ↑Tue Feb 20, 2024 5:20 pm I know I could get all pedantic and post links formatted correctly according to some keyboard numpties OCD derived idea of hos the world should work outside of their sweat stained plywood walls, but meh...

The Blues have confirmed Perofeta will be running things from 1st Five,

The Wellington Union are discussing shifting a game / games away from the Caketin due to costs as they are under some considerable financial stress and there have been words about attracting a private investor to the Hurricanes, whether in part or majority ownership,

and none of us have mentioned it here yet but the Rebels are broke with massive debts and I think the last thing I read on that is that RA have taken over the books.

The Crusaders have a number of players out with injury / rehab, particularly back line players. One I think we should be looking at this year as a prospect is Fergus Burke who will be unavailable for a chunk of the season.

Ymx wrote: ↑Fri Feb 23, 2024 6:41 pm I shamefully missed the game, not keeping up. Sounded like a corker with a score line like that ??

Gumboot wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2024 6:57 am Week 2 of Supe kicking off in a couple of minutes with the Highlanders vs the Blues in Melbourne...

Gumboot wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2024 7:31 am How lucky have we been to have Fakatava, injuries and eligibility issues and all, learning from th best ever for the past few seasons.

Brilliant young player. Just hope he can stay injury free...

Kiwias wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2024 7:37 am

Gumboot wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2024 7:31 am How lucky have we been to have Fakatava, injuries and eligibility issues and all, learning from th best ever for the past few seasons.

Brilliant young player. Just hope he can stay injury free...

Roigard and Fakatava will look good in black this year.

Gumboot wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2024 7:42 am

Kiwias wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2024 7:37 am

Gumboot wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2024 7:31 am How lucky have we been to have Fakatava, injuries and eligibility issues and all, learning from th best ever for the past few seasons.

Brilliant young player. Just hope he can stay injury free...

Roigard and Fakatava will look good in black this year.

Yep, that's ideal for me, too.

Gumboot wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2024 7:50 am Great finish to the first half by the Blues, sparked by Perofeta.

Blues ahead 22-15 at HT.