Elves are light-footed, pointy-eared creatures who live in mystical lands and prance delicately through the trees. ELVs are slightly more complicated and may have a massive impact on the once-simple game of rugby.
Experimental Law Variations, to give them their full name, have been designed with two major purposes: to make rugby more enjoyable; and to try to make it easier to follow.
The most common complaints heard about rugby in the last few years are that it has become increasingly predictable, with too much emphasis on defence, and that it has become a nightmare to follow because of confusing laws and varying interpretations.
The International Rugby Board has developed a swag of new laws and has asked Sanzar to trial eight of them in the Super 14. These are the ELVs...
Posts and flags
a) Corner posts will be positioned at the outside junction of the goal line and the touch line.
(b) If a player is in possession of the ball and touches a corner post, he will NOT be in touch unless he touches the touchline or the ground beyond the touchline.
(c) If the ball is not being carried by a player and it touches the corner post, the ball will NOT be deemed to be touch in goal.
Explanation: A relatively minor change, involving the corner post being moved slightly outwards. A (b) situation will arise if, for example, a winger scores a try while his raised foot brushes the corner post. The try will be awarded, where previously it would have been out.
With (c), an attacking team may see a kick rebound off the back corner post and the ball will still be alive.
Inside the 22m
When a defending player receives the ball outside the 22m line and passes, puts or takes the ball back inside the 22m line, and the ball is kicked directly into touch, the line-out is taken from where the ball was kicked.
Explanation: A much bigger change than you might think. Teams often use the safety net of passing into their 22m and then kicking out. That option has gone. If the ball is taken back, then a tackle or ruck forms, the ball can be kicked directly into touch and the line-out is taken from where the ball crosses the line.
Line-out
On a quick throw, the ball can be thrown in straight or backwards towards the defender's goal-line.
Explanation: Makes perfect sense. Has encouraged plenty of quick throws in pre-season games.
Tackle and ruck
(a) Players entering the breakdown must do so through the gate.
(b) Immediately the tackle occurs, there are offside lines.
(c) The halfback should not be touched unless he has his hands on the ball.
(d) If the ball is unplayable, the side that did not take the ball into contact will receive a free kick.
Explanation: Ah, the confusing breakdown. The (a) law is already in place but will be more rigidly policed this season. The offside lines that occur immediately at the tackle will force teams to be more wary about where they line up. Halfbacks should get more freedom to clear the ball. The (d) clause could be a can of worms, possibly playing into the hands of master ball-killers like Richie McCaw.
Maul
If a maul becomes unplayable, the team not in possession at the start of the maul receives a free kick.
Explanation: Same law as 4 (d). Teams will still get two chances to use the ball from a maul but will have to be more wary about freeing it on the second bite.
Scrum
The offside line for players who are not in the scrum and who are not the team's halfback is 5m behind the hindmost foot of the scrum.
Explanation: A change most people seem to be excited about. Essentially, it opens up 10m more space at scrum time, encouraging backlines to do something with the ball because they have more room to move. Also helps if you have a big No 8, who has more room to charge off the back of the scrum.
Sanctions
For all offences other than offside, not entering through the gate and foul play, the sanction is a free kick.
Explanation: You will notice immediately in the Super 14 that there are a lot more free kicks than penalties. Something like holding on to the ball in the ruck will now be a free-kick offence. This means fewer delays while a player kicks the ball out and a line-out is taken, and more quick taps and scrums.
Assistant referees
Explanation: This is essentially just a name change, with the former touch judges getting a title that recognises the fact they do more than just rule when a ball has gone out.
Feedback to the ELVs has been generally positive, with most agreeing they make the game faster and more enjoyable.
It will be interesting to see if fans and players agree over the next 15 weeks.
The laws have been trialled at lower levels in many countries but this is their first big test at the elite level.
The IRB will analyse their effect on the Super 14 and will decide in November which, if any, of the ELVs will be given a further 12-month trial. Successful ELVs would then be fully integrated into the rulebook in late 2009.
