Why ping-pong?

[Robert Goodman]

I didn't get an answer crossposting to rec.sport.rugby.union, so I'll try here.

"Bob" wrote in message


news:892ea40d-be03-4b3a-90d8-a4f0c5ce88e5@u20g2000vbq.googlegroups.com...
On Dec 1, 5:08 pm, "Chris" wrote:


> "Peter Ward" wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I've been watching some of the rugby internationals on the Iplayer. Can
> > you say why the kicking game is so much more popular than I recall from
> > back in the '90s. A game often degenerates into ping-pong for a while,
> > and it is quite annoying how often it does so. I can't work out why it
> > happens so much now, but didn't back then.
> There was a rule change involving the rucking that made penalties much
> easier to give away. So now we suffer ping pong. The rule is apparently
> going to be repealed for next season.


Do you know what specifically the change was? Are you saying they
adopted something that makes it more likely that the side going into
the ruck WITH the ball would wind up penalized? Some amendment
regarding obstruction, maybe?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

No, I don't know what the change was.
Yes, apparently so.
No idea, but it seems that a lot of penalties have been given at rucks.


I half heard a radio conversation between two commentators just before one
of the matches held last weekend.


Chris