Interchanges and the reduction thereof : Sun Sep 16, 2018 4:58 pm  

I've been thinking about the interchanges.

Do you think if we reduced the number of interchanges and the bench size to 3 we would get less "robotic" football. If forwards had to last a whole match (like they used to).

Re: Interchanges and the reduction thereof : Sun Sep 16, 2018 5:59 pm  

I would be in favour of this as I've often wondered why some players are on the field for 15 minutes or less out of 80, and some aren't used at all. Hopefully, this will lead to more gaps in play, but only if the amount of stoppage time is also reduced for all the frating about at a scrum/drop out/injury/video ref/taking a penalty kick to touch etcetera. If the number of subs is reduced, I can only envisage the amount of stoppages proportionally increasing if allowed to.

Re: Interchanges and the reduction thereof : Sun Sep 16, 2018 7:44 pm  

MorePlaymakersNeeded wrote:

I would be in favour of this as I've often wondered why some players are on the field for 15 minutes or less out of 80, and some aren't used at all. Hopefully, this will lead to more gaps in play, but only if the amount of stoppage time is also reduced for all the frating about at a scrum/drop out/injury/video ref/taking a penalty kick to touch etcetera. If the number of subs is reduced, I can only envisage the amount of stoppages proportionally increasing if allowed to.

I think the reduction to 10 interchanges was about right, I wouldn't reduce it further at the moment.

Definitely need to stop players going down injured at every drop out, and messing about at scrums though. I know they then call time off but they are still getting the benefit of a breather, and it's frustrating for fans as we are waiting for action. The recent Huddersfield match had a 1 hour 1st half, and that was with no video ref decisions.

NRL had the shot clock for scrums and drop outs and extended it this year to also call time off for 30 seconds after conversions. This is leading to the ball being in play more.

A change I would make is if you have a player taken out of the game by foul play you can add a player who didn't make the 17 to the bench.

Re: Interchanges and the reduction thereof : Sun Sep 16, 2018 9:49 pm  

I think the high intensity of the game makes such a move almost impossible without some lessening effect of quality...
However it may help make the role of a crafty 7 and specialist 6 and the ball playing forward resurface.

Re: Interchanges and the reduction thereof : Mon Sep 17, 2018 2:40 am  

Wires71 wrote:

I've been thinking about the interchanges.

Do you think if we reduced the number of interchanges and the bench size to 3 we would get less "robotic" football. If forwards had to last a whole match (like they used to).

Interchanges in the NRL have been down to 8 for a couple of seasons with calls to drop to 6 already being considered. Polarised views on this proposal but I have a preference for it ultimately to be reduced to 6.

Re: Interchanges and the reduction thereof : Mon Sep 17, 2018 6:48 am  

Rugby Union has 8 substitutions but usually once you've gone off that's it. Unless the player went off temporary for a blood bin.

So that would be a team of 23.

They also have the rule that a player who has been substituted may return temporarily, to replace a player who has a blood injury or has suffered a concussion, or permanently, if replacing a prop forward.

Substitutions to replace a player unable to continue due to foul play don't count.

The ball can be in play for around double the amount of time in Rugby League though.

Re: Interchanges and the reduction thereof : Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:21 am  

Warrington under SP would benifit from such a reduction as he is open reluctant to make interchanges....and he's had unused subs on at least one occasion.

Re: Interchanges and the reduction thereof : Mon Sep 17, 2018 5:06 pm  

rubber duckie wrote:

Warrington under SP would benifit from such a reduction as he is open reluctant to make interchanges....and he's had unused subs on at least one occasion.

Compared to Tony Smith's 'Must make interchange at set time'.