‘It’s madness’ – Irish pundit calls for law to be changed after Wales v Scotland incident

Adam Kyriacou
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Scotland fly-half Finn Russell against Wales.

Scotland fly-half Finn Russell against Wales.

Former Ireland hooker Bernard Jackman has called for a change in the law to help combat a ludicrous moment of kick tennis in last week’s Wales v Scotland game.

Speaking on RTE Sport, the now pundit highlighted one incident when the two teams fired the ball back and forth while the watching players stood still underneath it.

The moment of debate came with less than a minute remaining of the first half of the Six Nations fixture when Finn Russell and Cameron Winnett had a mini kicking duel.

Waiting to advance

Upon receiving possession for the second time, Russell, clearly aware of the law, stood and waited before throwing a dummy as the Welsh defenders had to watch and wait.

Thankfully full-back Winnett then went for a shorter up-and-under that ended the saga long before it could have turned into a farce, much like a recent Premiership game.

However, that has not stopped Jackman highlighting the moment as cause for concern and urged the rule makers to find a solution for what is currently a blight on the sport.

“There’s hasn’t been a change in the laws but it’s called the Dupont law because a year and a half ago Antoine Dupont, the French captain, went to the referee before the match and explained that on a kick tennis battle they don’t actually have to retreat to be put onside as long as they stay static and the catcher of the ball runs five metres or throws a pass and then they’re onside,” he said.

“There was a great example from the game at the weekend and it’s something that the law makers are going to have to change.

“The reason you kick back and forth is to tire out the front five. Now look at the Welsh forwards and backs. So, that’s not a mark (from Russell), it was caught outside the 22 yet it creates a natural break in play.”

He added: “Now in fairness Wales kick it up in the air here for a contestable and that changes the dynamic but there’s been a game recently in the Premiership when there was 14 kicks back, forth, back, forth and everyone else in the middle of the field not having to move.

Smart from Dupont

“Now, that’s wrong and also because they’re not having to move it doesn’t open up the opportunity to counter attack so the only way to break out of that is to put up a Garryowen.

“It’s very smart from Dupont and everyone is copying that now but I think it’s an area we’re going to have to change because we don’t want to see the ball just being kicked 50 metres, 50 metres, 50 metres. Finn Russell could have just stopped there and taken a break in play, it’s madness.”

Fellow panellist on RTE, Donal Lenihan, was equally unhappy with the rule and believes that tight five forwards are benefiting from this rest period in matches at the moment.

“Before you had to retreat then come again but as Bernard says the likes of Uini Atonio and these guys, they’re thrilled. ‘Lads keep up the kicking for five minutes while we get a breather’,” he vented.

READ MORE: Six Nations: Five things we learnt from the opening round of action

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