The tale of two coaches and their undying spirit
View(s):“Maul Confusion” is the topic as the road leads to a confrontation between Royal and Isipathana for the Schools Rugby League title. It is near impossible for another team to enjoy the perch of first and second place places. Will it be a Sanath Martis’ maul or Nilfer Ibrahim’s sambol? The battle in the last week will be the most interesting as both schools will always play each other with utmost ferocity not wanting to blink at any point.
Veteran Martis is a shrewd tactician while Nilfer is gaining ground as another young master in the making. The spectators will be on their feet cheering loud and robust. A word of advice is not to let your emotions get the better of you and to let the boys enjoy the game whatever the outcome is. Forget bygones and now that you are both the top rugby playing schools let us take the game to another level both on and off the field.
Last week the Royalists went through some anxious moments against St. Peter’s before coming out victorious. They exposed some areas of Royal’s weaknesses which otherwise was not seen so far. The non-contest of a maul following a line out did not work for St. Peter’s as they did it closer to a goal line which allowed Royal an easy way to the try-line.
Isipathana on the other hand came out all cylinders firing as they beat Science quite convincingly. The boys from the Park took the game to Science and at no stage did they move away. A feature of this game was the emergence of a place kicker that was seen no where up to that week. This will help them in the last two weeks as otherwise a difference not been able to kick thorough the post could have cost them the game.
The topic that is most talked about these days is about the maul whether it be a rolling one or non-contest at the line out. This topic will continue to haunt in the next week leading to the final battle and thereafter too. Various interpretations are given and various reasons are taken up on the basis that there was something missed when rules are interpreted and applied. Coaches will always try something new to attack as well as to defend and it is their job to try and make such moves a success. Some people believe that a knock on occurs even when a ball comes off the chest and are continuing the discussion to include the intricacies of a rolling maul and non-contest that is taking place. Those who do not know what a knock-on is talking about a rolling maul and the law is great for themselves as they are satisfied of their contribution having paid for a ticket to gain entrance.
One of the most common starting points for a rolling maul is from the lineout. In the past it was said that the best form of defense, apart from not allowing them to catch the ball, is to hit the jumper as soon as his feet touch the ground. This is just one of the traditional ways of defending a maul which is either to stop or disrupt. When all fail and now the rolling maul is thought of as a weapon that cannot be stopped people start something new. What is now argued and debated is about a non-contest at the maul. This I don’t think is anything new but something tried out again after a lull period where discussion dates back to 2009 and sometimes to 2006.
The rolling maul has been effectively used not only in Sri Lanka but elsewhere. The question is whether there is one. The answer for stopping it is another. It ends up in a mind game which is fought on the field and much discussed off the field. Whether it is in attack or defense what happens can end up in points, no points or a penalty at times. Points when the maul is effectively executed; no points when you defend it and a penalty if you break the law. This situation has a number of buts and ifs including joining, obstruction, leaving the line out and stop start, offside just to name a few. If you want to stop it best is to get there early and commit to stop the drive. Then you start many things that may have been tried and failed elsewhere and say this is new. Since there has been so much analysis, debate and comments in the social media it is best to let it lay there and for those who are interested to understand and interpret. The referee will have a couple of seconds to formulate his thoughts to decide what is right in the given circumstances. That is what matters finally.
World Rugby has brought to focus the need to enforce greater vigilance on dangerous play. The communiqué dated 15th May 2015 addresses Referees, Citing Officials and Judicial Officials on the need to be strict on areas of Dangerous Tackles (High Tackles), Dangerous grasping of neck and/or head area of player not in possession of the ball and dangerous grasping / holding of ball carrier above the line of the shoulders. I have seen his happening often and also tackling which is done with no hands as well as using a stiff arm.
I was more than amused when I kept hearing the call this is not netball every time a referee blows for an issue involving dangerous play. Safety is a much focused area as the spirit and enjoyment of the game is important. There is no point in asking what the referee is doing when a player is down and near play.
It is a new sickening dimension that the game is taken to low level without consideration to the spirit the game is about. Talking of spirit and enjoyment the corner stone of rugby is about camaraderie. Leadership to this is missing all around and not surprising to see players not thinking about building friendship whatever happens on the field. It is sad when there is no shake of hands and the traditional tunnel at some matches. Worst is when these matches are for a trophy and you got to keep looking around to get proceedings started as there are no players or that just one or two players come to receive the trophy or shield.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB