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'The laws should change NOW' - calls for action after 'horrible' Jack Willis injury
There have been calls to change the laws around ‘crocodile rolls’ and ‘can opener’ clearouts after a brutal looking injury to England flanker Jack Willis saw him stretchered off the pitch at Twickenham today.
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England ran out winners against a resilient Italian side, but the injury to Willis has overshadowed the victory. Willis suffered a twisting injury to his knee and could be heard screaming in pain on the matchday audio. While the severity of the injury is not yet known, some speculate that the back row’s season could be over.
As it stands, variations of the practice are legal and are coached as an efficient technique to clear players from rucks, with video review of the incident cleared Italy of any wrongdoing.
While the technique is outlawed when used around the neck, there is still a gray area among officials when it’s used to twist torsos, judo style out of the way. Last year World Rugby attempted to address the issue, suggesting that there would be stricter officiating of laws 14 and 15 from July 2020, with particular focus on these areas:
Tackler (Law 14): 14.5 – must a) Immediately release the ball and the ball-carrier after both players go to ground and b) Immediately move away from the tackled player and from the ball or get up.
Ball Carrier (Law 14): 14.2 – Being brought to ground means that the ball-carrier is lying, sitting or has at least one knee on the ground or on another player who is on the ground. 14.5 – Tacklers must: d) Allow the tackled player to release or play the ball.
First arriving player (Law 15): 15.11 – Once a ruck has formed, no player may handle the ball unless they were able to get their hands on the ball before the ruck formed and stay on their feet. 15.12 – Players must endeavour to remain on their feet throughout the ruck.
Other arriving players (Law 15): 5 – An arriving player must be on their feet and join from behind their offside line. 6 – A player may join alongside but not in front of the hindmost player. 10 – Possession may be won either by rucking or by pushing the opposing team off the ball.”
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Former Scotland lock Jim Hamilton called on authorities to change the laws to clamp down the maneuver, one that former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt dubbed ‘the can opener’. “Feel sick for Jack Willis. The laws should change NOW. Don’t allow players to roll out players in Rucks. So ****ing dangerous.”
Feel sick for Jack Willis.
The laws should change NOW. Don’t allow players to roll out players in Rucks. So f#^king dangerous. #ENGvITA— Jim Hamilton (Vice Captain) (@jimhamilton4) February 13, 2021
“And I rolled many players out. No criticism on players doing it. It’s currently legal. Some serious high profile injuries in the last few years. Dan Levy. Ellis Jenkins (I think) similar.”
And I rolled many players out. No criticism on players doing it. It’s currently legal.
Some serious high profile injuries in the last few years.
Dan Levy. Ellis Jenkins (I think) similar. https://t.co/Bdto1SqUlJ— Jim Hamilton (Vice Captain) (@jimhamilton4) February 13, 2021
“Why does rugby continue to allow exposed, vulnerable players on the jackal to be rolled sideways while their feet are planted?,” wrote rugby writer Jamie Lyall. “Jack Willis is one of the most flexible athletes in the game but his knees don’t bend laterally. Hideously dangerous and very avoidable.”
Why does rugby continue to allow exposed, vulnerable players on the jackal to be rolled sideways while their feet are planted? Jack Willis is one of the most flexible athletes in the game but his knees don't bend laterally. Hideously dangerous and very avoidable.
— Jamie Lyall (@JLyall93) February 13, 2021
Rugby and the Law tweeted: “It seems an appropriate time to share this again… Jack Willis suffers a horrible knee injury after a ‘crocodile roll’ at the breakdown. By the letter of the law, it’s illegal. But the laws aren’t properly applied. Feel terrible for Willis.”
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It seems an appropriate time to share this again…
Jack Willis suffers a horrible knee injury after a ‘crocodile roll’ at the breakdown.
By the letter of the law, it’s illegal. But the laws aren’t properly applied. Feel terrible for Willis.#ENGvITA https://t.co/LoStlUgiP1
— Rugby and the Law (@rugbyandthelaw) February 13, 2021
A more explicit Law change could potentially outlaw the technique and leave less to referee interpretation.
Comments on RugbyPass
Always reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
1 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
4 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
4 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
7 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to comments