Lets make the pitches wider.
+21
The Great Aukster
nganboy
wales606
NeilyBroon
Red Right
aucklandlaurie
mckay1402
SecretFly
gboycottnut
wasps
Effervescing Elephant
Comfort
Biltong
Shifty
RubyGuby
hugehandoff
A World Cup and 3 Finals
Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler
RuggerRadge2611
red_stag
HERSH
25 posters
The v2 Forum :: Sport :: Rugby Union :: International
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Lets make the pitches wider.
Seeing as International defences, player speed and bulk are far superior to what they were 10-15 years ago, should the IRB look at making the pitches wider?
I’ve seen a number of articles saying that maybe union should follow league and cut the number of players down to 14/13 players to create more room and hopefully more tries and excitement, as the recent 6 Nations has shown even a low grade team like Italy can defend reasonable well against the bigger boys but offer nothing else, therefore games are dull to watch and will only turn people away from the game in the long run.
Most national stadiums pitches that I can think of could be made wider by about 5/6m.
Thoughts please.
I’ve seen a number of articles saying that maybe union should follow league and cut the number of players down to 14/13 players to create more room and hopefully more tries and excitement, as the recent 6 Nations has shown even a low grade team like Italy can defend reasonable well against the bigger boys but offer nothing else, therefore games are dull to watch and will only turn people away from the game in the long run.
Most national stadiums pitches that I can think of could be made wider by about 5/6m.
Thoughts please.
HERSH- Posts : 4207
Join date : 2011-08-26
Location : Arundel/Bath
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
If it is possible logistically id be ok for it.
However can most pitches really get wider by several metres. Im fairly sure that some stadiums would end up not suited to it.
However can most pitches really get wider by several metres. Im fairly sure that some stadiums would end up not suited to it.
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
Sure why not, I see no real issues with making the pitches wider at international level. Club level might be a good deal more difficult
RuggerRadge2611- Posts : 7194
Join date : 2011-03-04
Age : 39
Location : The North, The REAL North (Beyond the Wall)
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
I think it can be done, just means that the ball boys and the hangers on have to move over a bit more.
Clubs can stay as they are.
Clubs can stay as they are.
HERSH- Posts : 4207
Join date : 2011-08-26
Location : Arundel/Bath
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
Couldnt we just make players thinner?
Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler- Posts : 10344
Join date : 2011-06-02
Location : Englandshire
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
That could work Peter, maybe a height and weight restiction on Backs too.
HERSH- Posts : 4207
Join date : 2011-08-26
Location : Arundel/Bath
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
I like the game the way it is. Sure bigger pitches means more tries so rugby becomes like basketball - a sport for people with a short attention span..............now what was I saying?
A World Cup and 3 Finals- Posts : 416
Join date : 2011-09-15
Age : 57
Location : Somewhere in France
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
HERSH wrote:That could work Peter, maybe a height and weight restiction on Backs too.
Yes too many white orcs in the game these days.
Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler- Posts : 10344
Join date : 2011-06-02
Location : Englandshire
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
or just have 7 players a side
hugehandoff- Posts : 1336
Join date : 2011-06-02
Location : London
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
Bad idea -Ashton would get cold and he'd probably need a megaphone to talk to the centres
RubyGuby- Posts : 7404
Join date : 2011-05-31
Location : UK
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
It's a great idea then again we could just remove the flankers so there is more space on the pitch, and make the scrums passive to speed up the game!
Oh wait...
Oh wait...
Shifty- Posts : 7393
Join date : 2011-04-26
Age : 45
Location : Kenfig Hill, Bridgend
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
Why not just remove Adam Jones, we'd have acres more room
RubyGuby- Posts : 7404
Join date : 2011-05-31
Location : UK
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
hugehandoff wrote:or just have 7 players a side
10 seems about right for me
Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler- Posts : 10344
Join date : 2011-06-02
Location : Englandshire
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
I made this suggestion in 2009 and got shot down like a pigeon on a hunt.
Biltong- Moderator
- Posts : 26945
Join date : 2011-04-27
Location : Twilight zone
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
How about we keep the pitches but plays crossways on them. Just ban forward kicks.
Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler- Posts : 10344
Join date : 2011-06-02
Location : Englandshire
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
just remove knock-ons and forward passes.
plenty more scores!
plenty more scores!
Comfort- Posts : 2072
Join date : 2011-08-13
Location : Cardiff
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
Multi-ball anyone?
Effervescing Elephant- Posts : 1629
Join date : 2011-03-25
Age : 48
Location : Exeter/Bristol/Brittany
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
Multi-ball madness.
beautiful suggestion Carpe, beautiful .
beautiful suggestion Carpe, beautiful .
Comfort- Posts : 2072
Join date : 2011-08-13
Location : Cardiff
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
If it was just down to teams being so good defensively, surely we wouldn't get ripped apart by Australia and the All Blacks all the time.
When you watch the All Blacks play, it rarely looks as though the pitch is too small.
If they can generate space, other teams should be able to as well.
To consider increasing the size of pitches, or reducing the number of players is simply an underhand way of trying to compete with better teams.
Afterall, we all said it was the Ozzies fault when scrum laws were changed to give them a chance.
In my opinion, changing the size of the pitch would be the same kind of thing to try to help us compete with the Aus / NZ.
When you watch the All Blacks play, it rarely looks as though the pitch is too small.
If they can generate space, other teams should be able to as well.
To consider increasing the size of pitches, or reducing the number of players is simply an underhand way of trying to compete with better teams.
Afterall, we all said it was the Ozzies fault when scrum laws were changed to give them a chance.
In my opinion, changing the size of the pitch would be the same kind of thing to try to help us compete with the Aus / NZ.
wasps- Posts : 145
Join date : 2011-09-13
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
Yes... multi ball.
We used to play multi ball touch rugby in training.
Sheer carnage....
(and not a lot of fun for a fat prop)
wasps- Posts : 145
Join date : 2011-09-13
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
What about going back to the 8 men lineouts like in the past, so that a team that does win the ball should then have more room/space out wide in the backs with which to run with the ball. Also put a ban on backs wearing scrumcaps/headgear as these form of protective equipment allows for fully committed and fierce/ferocious tackling without having to have any concerns about getting injuries.
gboycottnut- Posts : 1919
Join date : 2011-05-31
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
Two storey pitch is the only answer -
forwards doing the grunt stuff (scrums and defending) on the top level and the backs on ground level doing what their fans want.
forwards doing the grunt stuff (scrums and defending) on the top level and the backs on ground level doing what their fans want.
SecretFly- Posts : 31800
Join date : 2011-12-12
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
SecretFly wrote:Two storey pitch is the only answer -
forwards doing the grunt stuff (scrums and defending) on the top level and the backs on ground level doing what their fans want.
You mean play half the game in England and half in Australia?
Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler- Posts : 10344
Join date : 2011-06-02
Location : Englandshire
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:SecretFly wrote:Two storey pitch is the only answer -
forwards doing the grunt stuff (scrums and defending) on the top level and the backs on ground level doing what their fans want.
You mean play half the game in England and half in Australia?
Whichever is cheaper on the away supporters
SecretFly- Posts : 31800
Join date : 2011-12-12
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
This is the best post I've ever seen from HERSH. Absolutely brilliant idea
mckay1402- Posts : 2512
Join date : 2011-04-27
Age : 47
Location : Market Harborough
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
Timely post, want to see some space,Hong Kong this weekend.
aucklandlaurie- Posts : 7561
Join date : 2011-06-27
Age : 68
Location : Auckland
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
Although this could easily be done at international level - most international stadia seem to have plenty of space - most clubs seem to have stands very close to the pitch. In the AP especially the stands seem to be right on top of the pitch, of the AP games that I have watched it is the thing that seems to generate such atmosphere at places like Kingsholm, Stoop, Franklins and a few others.
Not sure what the cost would be to widen the pitch in these stadia but it could be quite prohibitive.
Not sure what the cost would be to widen the pitch in these stadia but it could be quite prohibitive.
Red Right- Posts : 231
Join date : 2011-11-24
Location : Under my desk - London (via Cork)
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
why not just make the pitch a square with four sets of posts, the ball never goes off, imagine how confused a flyhalf would be if he was put in the pocket for a drop goal!
NeilyBroon- Moderator
- Posts : 3628
Join date : 2012-01-12
Age : 33
Location : Southampton
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
This thread is finally beginning to get the sensible ideas after the flurry of Monthy Python ones at the beginning.
SecretFly- Posts : 31800
Join date : 2011-12-12
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
I do feel that the small Northen Hemisphere dead ball areas,limits a lot of attacking options.
I think at Eden Park it is currently 18 metres deep.
I think at Eden Park it is currently 18 metres deep.
aucklandlaurie- Posts : 7561
Join date : 2011-06-27
Age : 68
Location : Auckland
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
Just do this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIl45f6i1PU
(about 2 minutes in)
Would certainly work at making football better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIl45f6i1PU
(about 2 minutes in)
Would certainly work at making football better.
wales606- Posts : 10728
Join date : 2011-03-04
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
Nah just learn to attack better.
nganboy- Posts : 1868
Join date : 2011-05-11
Age : 55
Location : New Zealand
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
It seems a lot of tries are missed because teams don't see the wide players as it is, so would they miss them even more?
The Great Aukster- Posts : 5246
Join date : 2011-06-09
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
How about the All Blacks play with 10 players and the rest of us with 15.
I'm sure Scotland would still find a way to butcher the overlaps, though.
I'm sure Scotland would still find a way to butcher the overlaps, though.
George Carlin- Admin
- Posts : 15780
Join date : 2011-06-23
Location : KSA
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
If you like I'll put together a paper stating the benefits of pitch widening and send it off to the IRB?
HERSH- Posts : 4207
Join date : 2011-08-26
Location : Arundel/Bath
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
If we made the field 5 kms wide by 10kms long then the Kenyans and Ethiopeans would be world champs.
No room for fatties
No room for fatties
nganboy- Posts : 1868
Join date : 2011-05-11
Age : 55
Location : New Zealand
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
Why don't they put a weight limit on rugby players. Let's say maximum weght 85KG for a back and 100KG for a forward.
They will all spend less time in the gym and more time practicing their skills. Which inevitably will lead to more gaps and better scores.
They will all spend less time in the gym and more time practicing their skills. Which inevitably will lead to more gaps and better scores.
Biltong- Moderator
- Posts : 26945
Join date : 2011-04-27
Location : Twilight zone
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
that would probably rule out the entire islands of Samoa, Tonga & Fiji... thee only lads who fitted the rules would be the national U14 side and below.
Strangely enough that was probably the average weight of backs & forwards prior to professionalism but they didn't score more tries back in the day and more tries were scored at the begining & middle of the last decade when packs were larger (Pre ELVs) then what they are now.
Strangely enough that was probably the average weight of backs & forwards prior to professionalism but they didn't score more tries back in the day and more tries were scored at the begining & middle of the last decade when packs were larger (Pre ELVs) then what they are now.
fa0019- Posts : 8196
Join date : 2011-07-25
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
Billtong
Players wouldnt spend more time on skills, but more time keeping their weight down, and finding ways to increase strength and size without adding weight.
If you want to see lots of tries, plenty of free flowing stuff just follow 7's, that'll give you everything you want.
I want to see how teams are going to breakdown opposition, I want to see the arm wrestle in midfeild, and finding ways of creating space. Rugby is like chess, and long may it continue, anyone who was bored of this 6N isn't a true rugby fan. There was everything, intensity, pride, passion, last ditch defending, tries, contraversy etc... Yes the super games are littered with more tries and linebreaks, but they don't have the pressure that comes with 6N rugby.
Players wouldnt spend more time on skills, but more time keeping their weight down, and finding ways to increase strength and size without adding weight.
If you want to see lots of tries, plenty of free flowing stuff just follow 7's, that'll give you everything you want.
I want to see how teams are going to breakdown opposition, I want to see the arm wrestle in midfeild, and finding ways of creating space. Rugby is like chess, and long may it continue, anyone who was bored of this 6N isn't a true rugby fan. There was everything, intensity, pride, passion, last ditch defending, tries, contraversy etc... Yes the super games are littered with more tries and linebreaks, but they don't have the pressure that comes with 6N rugby.
thebluesmancometh- Posts : 8358
Join date : 2011-05-04
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
wasps wrote:
Yes... multi ball.
We used to play multi ball touch rugby in training.
Sheer carnage....
(and not a lot of fun for a fat prop)
In multi-ball can two teams be in possession at once then?
ChequeredJersey- Posts : 18707
Join date : 2011-12-23
Age : 35
Location : London, UK
Re: Lets make the pitches wider.
Wales606
Where can I play this boblfotball????
That looks like the most fun ever, except I don't understand the penalty decision.
Where can I play this boblfotball????
That looks like the most fun ever, except I don't understand the penalty decision.
thebluesmancometh- Posts : 8358
Join date : 2011-05-04
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