Questions to puzzle the younger players and incite renditions of Auld Lang Syne from the veteran.
By Lee Smith | August 25, 2011
1) How many points was a goal from a mark worth in 1971? 4 points
2) What on earth was a goal from a mark, and when was it removed from law? A place kick at goal from a mark.When the mark could only be made inside the 22.
3) How many points was the dropped goal initially worth? 5
4) In 1990 what was the result from a 22m drop out going through the opponents in goal
area? Their 22m drop out.
6) In 1989 a player jumps in the air and catches the ball, calling “mark!” Decision? Play on.
7) How did the goal kicker get by when the opposition could charge the conversion once the ball was placed on the ground. A player held the ball off the ground and placed it as the kicker moved in.
8) What was “forced into touch” and what was the advantage to the ball carrying team? The ball carrier was tackled into touch and got the ball to throw in to the line-out.
9) What was a “wing “ forward? In a 7 man scrum this player put the ball in. The halfback was ready at the back of the scrum to pass to it.
10) What was a 2-3-2 scrum? Why change to 3-2-3 and 3-4-1? 2 hookers, 3 in the middle row and 2 in the back row. 8 man scrum gave more drive and created the tight head.
11) Who used to throw the ball into the line-out? Hint- it was to give them something to do. The wing on that side of the ground.
12) What was the offside line at scrum and line-out pre 1971? The line of the ball.
13) When it changed what was the impact on scrumming? Power scrumming as the loose forwards now oushed.
14) When it changed what was its impact on line-outs? The backs had room to run and pass.
15) What was a standing tackle? What innovation was brought into the game when it was removed from the Law book? It occurred when a player was help standing with the ball. he was obliged to release it. It’s deletion led to the maul.
16) What was it about play immediately after the tackle that led to rucking? You had to play the ball with the foot before using the hand.
17) Pre 1970 what happened when a player had to leave the field injured in an international? What happened to the player who used foul play to achieve this? The player could not be replaced. At the time the perpetrator may have been penalised.
18) What is the only linear offside line? The 15m line from line-out.
19) What management guideline has led to “stacked” defense patterns? More rights given to the attack/ ball carrier.
20) When a ruck is not a ruck what might it be called and why is the situation managed in this way? A muck or a notional ruck so that from contact space is created to allow the attack to operate.
21) What changes have taken place in Law re the Mark and why have these taken place? You can only mark the ball inside the 22m and you can mark when catching the ball having jumped into the air.
22) Previously players ahead of the kicker could not move into an imaginary circle 10m in radius around the opposition catcher. Why was this changed and what is the Law now? It prevented counter attack and now it is a line 10m from the ball carrier across the field.
23) Just for speculation around play at the tackle and post tackle and the purpose of the post tackle/ ruck:
• If the tackled ball carrier had to release the ball on the completion of the tackle and not have the” play the ball” option would this help? It would encourage the defence to join in the contest.
• If all tackles had to below the arm pits would this help? The arms would be free to pass the ball.
• If the ball had to be released and then had to be played with the foot before using the hand would this help. The defence may be drawn into the contest creating space for the team winning the ball.
• Ponder on simplifying the issues and limiting the situations in which decisions have to be made on. Then ask yourself if the decisions currently on offer should play a major part in deciding a game.
Answers in due course. Add some of your own.
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