Paul Lewis: The rule change that rugby really needs

Anton Lienert-Brown of the All Blacks is tackled by Tom Wright of the Wallabies. Photo / Photosport

OPINION:

Now rugby's bosses have finally decided to implement a captain's referral, let's hope there is appetite for another sea change in rugby's laws.

The referral allows a captain to review a referee's decision but now it's time rugby's leaders turn their attention to loosening the grip defences have on the game.

There was a recent glimmer of hope stemming from the previous Six Nations tournament in November. England winger Jonny May's try against Ireland was hailed as a world-beater but, with all due respect to one of the most dangerous wingers in the world, the poor Brits have been starved of quality try-scoring for so long, it's no wonder it achieved legendary status.

Ireland stuffed up their throw in England's 22. England shift the ball quickly to May who beats a weak tackle and roars upfield, kicking ahead when confronted with the fullback. He grubbers over the line, outpaces the defence, regaining control to score. Classic chip and chase.

Men beaten: two. Degree of difficulty: six (out of 10; the Irish defence was late because of the bungled lineout; the fullback miscalculated).

It's certainly a bonny try, but British media devoted whole articles to it, describing it blow by blow. It's the sort of exaggerated English fanfare many people find gets more up their noses than a Covid-19 swab.

Jonny May breaks away from Peter O'Mahony to score a try. Photo / Getty

Beauden Barrett's winning try in the 2015 World Cup is remarkably similar. Australia are hot on attack in the All Blacks' 22 when the ball is dropped. Ben Smith picks it up, sidesteps two Australians. As the cover converges on him, he kicks ahead – and a jet-heeled Barrett outpaces Wallaby No 8 David Pocock to grubber ahead, regain control and score.

Men beaten: two. Degree of difficulty: probably seven (the Australian defence was nowhere with the fullback up in the line but, after all, this was a World Cup final, eh England?).

One English newspaper headlined their salute to May's try "Jonny May's magical try makes you realise why you fell in love with the game". Well, their audience is British but those of us on the other side of the world, where "magical" tries are a little more common, feel some cynicism.

The whole point of this – you knew there'd be one eventually, didn't you? – is that defence has become so dominant in the international game that coaches around the world (and especially Ian Foster) need safecracking experts to open defences; the game has become an ugly amalgam of kicking, tackling, massive physicality at the breakdown, box kicks and penalties, too many penalties.

We can't be too hoity-toity about this – the All Blacks have made a science in recent times of winning without the ball: kick to the opposition, unleash punishing defence, turnover, counter-attack. It's worked a treat and at least the counter-attack bit involves running, passing and support play, sometimes exhilaratingly so.

All Blacks winger George Bridge on the attack. Photo / Photosport

But defences have now outgrown their creators, like Frankenstein's monster. One remedy is a law change to the offside rule which has become such a casualty of the modern multi-phase game that it is difficult to referee.

Stand the defences metres further back, toeing an invisible line policed by the assistant refs with whom the defenders have to be parallel. Rugby league manages to do this effectively; they allow two markers close to the play-the-ball; the rest have to be 10m back, leaving more room for attackers – and yet that does not prevent defences from doing their job.

Surely rugby union can do something similar to free up a bit of space. Yet the only change to the offside laws in recent times has been to alter the "last foot" element at a ruck. Our lords and masters in the northern hemisphere quietly changed that law after England were denied a match-winning try against the All Blacks in 2018 when lock Courtney Lawes was judged offside at a ruck in a replay.

Self-interest still rules – which is why we can hope the Jonny May try serves a purpose greater than northern media chest-beating and persuades the Brit powerbrokers that more tries like it will be seen if the offside laws are policed and defences have a couple of fangs drawn.

You wonder why the northern hemisphere doesn't hanker more for their golden age – the 70s, when British backs were the standard-setters. The best try I have ever seen came from the Brits, the 1973 marvel from Gareth Edwards in the Barbarians-All Blacks clash, really an extra test match.

It has a bit of everything – elusiveness (the amazing Phil Bennett sidestepping backwards), dummies, breaking tackles, offloads, forwards and backs combining and that sweetest of rugby arts, the timing of a pass.

All Blacks beaten: nine. Degree of difficulty: 9.9. Try scored by a Welshman with the ball going through multiple sets of hands.

Now that was a magical try. Beats chip and chase any day. And defence…