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Rugby union Facing Problems

When the International Rugby Board's game analysis unit compiled its reports on the Six Nations and Tri-Nations tournaments earlier this year, it found that the two winners, Ireland and South Africa, had one factor in common: a low-risk strategy by passing the ball less than their rivals. Kicking has become the zeitgeist of the modern game and, as IRB members gather in Dublin next week, they are under pressure to give the sport a stimulus even though there is a moratorium on law changes until after the 2011 World Cup.

Statistics paint a damning picture of professional rugby union. England have been condemned this month for not scoring tries but in the 10 internationals so far involving tier-one countries, the Six Nations sides have managed eight tries between them (three scored by Wales against Argentina) while the Tri-Nations teams have run in 13 (four supplied by South Africa against Italy). Including Argentina's try this autumn, it adds up to an average of 2.2 tries per match and followed an average of 3.0 in the Tri-Nations, the lowest for nine years, and 3.7 in the Six Nations, which was down from 4.3 in 2007. There were 65 kicks a match in the Six Nations and 60 in the Tri-Nations.

A number of leading coaches have in recent months spoken of their despair at the ugliness of so many matches with aerial ping-pong dominating as players fear taking the ball into contact and being penalised. The experimental law variations, which were trialled last season, were designed to encourage running rugby but they were so numerous that not all were tested everywhere and the IRB undermined them by issuing referees with a directive to police attacking sides closely at the breakdown. The result was an explosion in kicking.

"Traditional fans are now questioning the game because of the laws," said the New Zealand coach, Graham Henry. "The consequences of doing nothing about this, certainly in the southern hemisphere, are serious because we do not have the population numbers. Sides don't take risks and pass the ball because the rules make them scared of giving away penalties. The rule makers have to revisit this."

Entertainment was a feature of the Guinness Premiership in 2007-08, the season before the ELVs were introduced and a comparison of the first eight rounds of the campaign then with the current one shows a marked decline in the number of tries being scored (see graphic, below). Ten games this season have ended without a try, five involving Leicester. Two years ago Bath averaged more than three tries a game and often ran from behind their own posts but this season the figure is down to 1.4.

London Irish are probably the most ambitious side in the Premiership but they have managed only one try in their last three league matches. "There needs to be a balance between attack and defence at the breakdown," said their head coach, Toby Booth. "Until then you will see kicking and error-strewn performances. I don't want to be a part of it, to be honest, but those are the conditions we are under." The Sale director of rugby, Kingsley Jones, is equally concerned. "I've loved rugby all my life but for the first time in the last few weeks I've turned games off at half-time to go and cut the grass," he said.

It is at the breakdown that the running game is breaking down. The IRB resolved to emphasise the contest for possession in the tackle area after years of attacking sides being virtually guaranteed possession: Australia became renowned for taking play through multiple phases without going anywhere and there was nothing defences could do about it.

"I do not think it is all doom and gloom," said the IRB's referees' manager, Paddy O'Brien. "We had two terrific Test matches this month between France and South Africa and Ireland and Australia. If teams with the ball don't get the numbers into the breakdown, they're vulnerable because teams are now so good at getting their hands on the ball. Someone will unlock the door one day and it will evolve."

South Africa have not complained. hey have been the most successful side this year, beating the Lions and then winning the Tri-Nations. Yet in the first Test against the Lions they made 49 passes as a team: the visiting scrum-half, Mike Phillips, gave 76 passes. In the Tri-Nations the Springboks won two matches with only 39% of possession and in one of them, against New Zealand, they made 43 passes in all and their two centres touched the ball eight times compared with their opponents' 43. The All Blacks' front row made three times as many passes as South Africa's three-quarters and full-back combined while in the Six Nations Ireland were bottom in the number of passes made and the rate of passing. The moral is low risk, great reward.

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Has a professional rugby league team ever played a professional rugby union team?

My mate reckons professional rugby union teams regularly get eaten at their own sport when playing against their league counterparts. I get the feeling he's just talking about his pub's sunday league teams but I could be wrong. Do league vs union matches really take place, and if so who normally wins?

It happens now and then -- usually its a half-and-half affair set up as some type of fundraiser.

And the result is what you would expect. League dominates under League rules, Union under Union rules. Although the skills in each game may transfer relatively easily for backs, the forwards cannot cope. When -- for example -- would League forwards ever need to develop the specific skills needed for contested scrums, lineouts or rucking -- areas which are absolutely necessary for a successful Union side. And I'm sure the reverse it true as well.

Figaro returned as rugby boss --
Leslie Figaro has been returned for a second two-year term as Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Football Union (TTRFU) president after the Union’s recently held Annual General Meeting.

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