Sir Clive Woodward calls for anti-rucking law change after Italy tactics

For England to be seeking guidance from the French official was embarrassing, as was the failing in leadership that meant the champions were unable to find a solution, not least after defence coach Paul Gustard had said of the ploy last autumn: “We are aware of it, we will have plans in place”.

So they did. But of course, such is the anti-Italian feeling that this was roundly criticised, too.

England eventually worked out how to get around an Italian approach that was condemned as “not rugby” by coach Eddie Jones and finally took command with three tries in the last 10 minutes, including two for replacement wing Jack Nowell.

The tackle and ruck are already being examined as part of an ongoing routine review of the laws that was initiated after the 2015 World Cup, but World Rugby may decide Sunday’s events at Twickenham warrant further investigation.

Nigel Owens, who reffed the Ireland-France game on Saturday, has expressed surprise that experienced players aren’t fully appraised of the laws in this area, not least because it is now common practice for teams to receive lectures on the rulings from worldwide referees.

The Rugby Football Union, however, has chosen not to raise the matter directly with World Rugby. “Similar rules today. congratulations to Italy, strategically it was smart, so well done to them”.

“Scotland are full of confidence, and they’re playing some really good rugby”. “But they got the result they needed”.

“It’s a roll of the dice in many ways”, said Smith.

After a rugby player is tackled, players from both sides form a ruck, which is a essentially a big mass of dudes pushing against each other and trying to pry the ball out and retain possession.

“I don’t think it requires a law change”. “You’re not just going to break down teams from minute one”. I can’t see them changing that.

England didn’t have a clue what to do to counteract things in the first half. It is another defensive strategy. easy to counter if you have some nous. “It is called coaching, Eddie”, Ryan, who guided Fiji to Olympic Sevens gold in Rio previous year, told The Times.

Despite England’s outrage, this was not the first time the tactic had been deployed with New Zealand’s Waikato Chiefs having done something similar in Super Rugby and Australia’s David Pocock almost creating a try against Ireland a year ago with the ploy.

“I certainly would have known the rules around it anyway”.

Eddie Jones, who insisted it was “not rugby” and said the crowd should get a refund, watched his side struggle to adapt to the Azzurri gameplan as they refused to commit men to the breakdown, meaning there was no offside and blue shirts were then free to step out of the line and cut down the space available to England. “But it is the sort of play you probably need some sort of a solution to”.

The win, their 17the consecutive victory, takes them to within one of New Zealand’s record and they’ll draw level with the All Blacks should they beat Scotland on Saturday week, the Scots having defeated Wales in Edinburgh on Saturday.