The Continuity Try - Rugby Union's Future by Mike Penistone
Now is the time for the 7-point try.
Despite what the stats men tell us. More and more rugby fans are getting fed up with kick tennis, as players often with limited ability kick the ball downfield.
Commentators try to justify it by saying, “it’s a 20 meter gain,” despite the fact that the opposing team have the lineout throw.
To try and limit the amount of aimless kicking, I would introduce the 7-point continuity try.
If a try originates from within a team’s own 22-meter zone, 7 points would be awarded to the attacking side. To achieve the 7 points a side would have to complete the try scoring process through passing and support play. No scrums or lineouts, no kicking of any sort and no conversions.
Just look at the talented backs who play rugby throughout the world. When they run, pass and support, the excitement grows. Now is the time to offer a greater incentive to run and attack.
Let’s challenge the back 3 to work together and create an off-the-cuff counter attack. Let’s challenge those in front of the back 3 to expect a counterattack and work hard off the ball to offer support.
It’s 50 years since Gareth Edwards scored the greatest try of all time.
Current and former internationals loathe this repetitive kicking coaching approach. The product is becoming boring and can’t rely on the 6 Nations and World cup to offer growth potential.
England won the World Cup in 2003, but is the game in a better place now?
When the game turned professional defense became super important. If you don’t have good attackers, make sure your defense stops their attack. Enter the defense coach.
The door is now open for the counterattack coach. He may be a player, not necessarily a coach.
Team mobility is great to watch. The Edwards try involved forwards and backs.
Make your club a club that plays 15-man rugby. Rugby, where all 15 players want to be involved in continuity, with the resilience to out- work opponents.
Money is increasingly a problem at all levels of the game. Volunteers are hard to find at club level. Players once retired and took on a role at the club, now they disappear.
The product must become important. What does it matter if you finish 6th or 8th in the league?
Merit tables can be more interesting if you get rewarded for the way you play.
Mike Penistone
