Two law variations to continue in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman
Toni Pulu of the Western Force receives a red card during the Super Rugby AU Qualifying Final between the ACT Brumbies and the Western Force at GIO Stadium in Canberra, Saturday, May 1, 2021. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY ** STRICTLY EDITORIAL USE ONLY, NO COMMERCIAL USE, NO BOOKS **
Goal-line drop-outs and the ability to replace red carded players after 20 minutes are the law innovations trialled by New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia that will carry over to Super Rugby Trans-Tasman when the new competition kicks off this weekend.
Players, fans and coaches have grown accustomed to a range of law trials during Super Rugby Aotearoa and AU this year, but a number of these will not be used during Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.
The two law innovations used in Super Rugby Aotearoa that will not carry over to the new six-week competition are the captain’s referral and golden point extra-time.
Consistent across both competitions
New Zealand Rugby head of high performance Mike Anthony said: “New Zealand Rugby has trialled a range of innovations this season in Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa and we are reviewing those trials with a view to making some recommendations for future competitions.
“For Sky Super Rugby Trans-Tasman we have agreed with Rugby Australia to stick to laws that were consistent across our respective domestic Super Rugby competitions, which in this case are the goal-line drop-out and the red card replacement.
“Statistics from Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa indicate the goal-line drop-out has achieved its purpose of speeding up the game and getting the ball back in play more quickly than a 5m scrum, while we believe the red card replacement rule maintains the integrity of matches for players and fans alike when a player has been sent off.”
It has been agreed that matches tied at full-time during the round-robin will finish as a draw with the two teams sharing the competition points.
Anthony added: “The exception will be the final, which will follow the same extra time protocols as the Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa final. If the respective Super Rugby finals in New Zealand and Australia over the weekend are anything to go by Sky Super Rugby Trans-Tasman will be an incredibly exciting tournament.”
Really, really, really don’t like the 20-minute red card replacement thing, but surely the Taylor/Reece incidents were a decent time to use them.
— Charlie Morgan (@CharlieFelix) May 8, 2021
Super Rugby Trans-Tasman kicks off at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Friday, 14 May when the Highlanders and Reds play the first of five weeks of cross-Tasman matches.
Innovations from Super Rugby AU which will not carry over to Super Rugby Trans-Tasman are the 22/50 and 50/22 kicking law, a restart variation, which saw any infringement from a kick-off result in a free-kick on halfway to the receiving team, and golden try extra-time.
Rugby Australia director of rugby Scott Johnson said: “We enjoyed some great discussion between stakeholders here in Australia and in New Zealand, and now really look forward to the competition kicking off this weekend.
“The goal line drop-out has proven it is fit for purpose and it has allowed for greater ball in play time compared to a five-metre scrum. We have seen the red card replacement serve its purpose too in Harvey Norman Super Rugby AU, and while we never want to see red cards, we now know that it doesn’t have the potential to ruin a close contest.
“Similar to the domestic competition, we believe we have struck the right balance in preserving the integrity of the competition while also developing our players for the Test arena, which now isn’t too far away.”