Bernard Jackman questions new breakdown laws in rugby
Thursday 5 October 2017 20:29, UK
Dragons head coach Bernard Jackman has urged rugby's lawmakers to reassess the new breakdown laws as he contends with an injury crisis.
Jackson is without 27 players for Friday's trip to Cardiff Blues and it is a similar story at other clubs. Harlequins and London Irish were forced to train together due to injuries while a number of Aviva Premiership A League fixtures cancelled.
While Jackman puts some of the Dragons' injuries down to the increased intensity of training, he believes the breakdown laws are a major factor.
World Rugby introduced law changes for this season. A ruck now begins when at least one player is on their feet, players are no longer allowed the kick the ball out of a ruck, while a tackler has to return to his own side and come through the 'gate' before competing for the ball.
There are no sitting ducks anymore - there's no big tighthead prop who waddles around the field.
"Year-on-year the average amount of players injured is increasing," Jackman told Sky Sports News.
"It just seems everyone started off this season with a chronic injury crisis across the board.
"Maybe the lawmakers need to look around the defensive breakdown. There is not enough reward to contest the ruck, which means there's 15 guys on their feet, there is no space and it's just collision after collision.
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"Some people might enjoy that but for the spectator in the long-term, it's going to be more about space, skill and speed, and allowing that to flourish.
"At the moment, the laws protect the defending team a little more than the attacking side."
Jackman hung up his boots in 2010 and says the game is much more attritional now.
"There's not as many average athletes," he explained. "Players are a lot more advanced in terms of their athleticism than five years ago.
"There are no sitting ducks anymore - there's no big tighthead prop who waddles around the field.
"There are 15 really good athletes on the field and that just means there's no space.
"Also with the impact players coming off the bench and GPS, the coaches know when a player is starting to tire and when to make a change.
"For 80 minutes it is 30 athletes running around trying to bash each other. It's not easy."
