Warren Gatland, the head coach of Wales, recently articulated his apprehension regarding a concerning trend in the world of rugby in a recent column for the Telegraph. He highlighted a “damning statistic” that he believes is adversely affecting the sport. According to Gatland, the prevailing style of play in rugby is encouraging a negative approach, wherein teams are disproportionately rewarded for employing kicking tactics during matches. He underscored the fact that the team with the highest number of kicking metres in the recent Rugby World Cup achieved an 80 per cent win rate.
This trend is disquieting for Gatland, as it signifies a departure towards a game style that prioritises territorial gain over ball possession and creative strategic play. The focus on territorial kicking and the imperative to minimize turnovers has led to a more cautious and defensive approach to the game. Gatland even attributed Wales’ defeat to Argentina in the quarter-finals of the World Cup to their failure to dominate the kicking aspect, notwithstanding their superiority in other facets of the game.
In response to this issue, Gatland has put forward several proposals aimed at promoting positive and innovative play in rugby. He has suggested that scrums need to be accelerated in order to maintain the fluidity of the game and has advocated for a revision to the 50-22 kicking law to create more open space in the backfield. Additionally, Gatland has proposed revisions to the goal line drop-out law, proposing a return to the previous five-metre scrum or the implementation of a tapped free-kick for the attacking team in close proximity to the opposition try-line.
Gatland’s vision for the future of rugby strives to inspire teams to be more creative and inventive, while ensuring that the game retains its pace and exhilaration. If implemented, these ideas have the potential to revolutionise the sport and address the current concerns surrounding negative play and territorial dominance.
However, despite his impassioned advocacy for positive play, Gatland’s focus on the upcoming Six Nations is now in doubt following his knee surgery. This setback raises questions about the feasibility of his proposed changes for the upcoming tournament.
In conclusion, Warren Gatland’s apprehensions about the state of rugby and his progressive suggestions for positive play have generated a significant dialogue within the rugby community. As a highly esteemed figure in the sport, his ideas carry considerable weight and importance. The extent to which his vision for a more dynamic and positive style of play will be embraced and implemented, and the impact it may have on the future of rugby, remains to be seen.