Why there are so few turnovers in the game when Sri Lankans play
View(s):Two weeks have passed since the Schools Division I first round was completed. Now we talk and imagine about the Bradby Shield second leg and the Asian Nations Division I Tournament where all four teams have won a match each. Philippines and Malaysia are in front having earned two bonus points each. By the time this column is in print the Bradby second leg will be over and the Asian Nations Division I too will be over. Business will be as usual talking about why we lost and what better the referee could have done. This column acknowledges a letter received addressed to the writer but will not comment any further than to say “the referee is the sole judge of fact and law” and the responsibility on decisions rest with him.
Looking at the School League first round; I have noticed that school teams have not been able to capitalise on turnover ball which is limited to one or two a match. Internationally the turnover amounts to about 6-8 per match. There was no difference when the national team played their matches. Turnover here is taken here to be at the tackle ruck or maul. A question that arises is why there so little turnovers in the game where Sri Lankans play. What is that prevents winning sides not been able to turn over the ball. Is it a case of the skills or is it that they have less of habit in going for the turnover ball. Royal in the first leg as well as in other games played have displayed a better skill at the break down at the ruck as well as the maul. But still the turnover was almost absent. If you ask the coaches why there is no turnover they will blame the referee because he will penalise hands after a tackle. The question that arises is it because the first rights are not seen or is it because the hands go late.
This leads to a question as to whether we have a proper structure to improve the skills that are needed as we aim to climb the game in Asia. By performance Sri Lanka has been playing better in the Sevens and are a threat to the first three as compared to the Fifteens. In Sevens turnover particularly at the tackle is important. The basic principles of rugby rely on this contest for possession, continuity of play, efforts to regain possession, and this applies both in attack and defence. In attack you gain possession and go forward while in defense you contest possession and move forward. Rugby is unique and somewhat confusing in that you pass the ball back for play to move forward. So turnover is an important part of the game in contesting possession to pass back and move forward. This requires skills that will come only from a structure.
The questions that then props up is whether we have a proper structure in place to take us where we want to go. Structure here is not to be confused with the SLRFU or the various committees appointed to take the game forward. The structure I mean is the Long Term Player Development Plan. Starting from junior rugby what is that we want the young to learn.
It is about the skills they have to be honed in and not the mentality to win irrespective how well you apply the skills. Up to and around 16 years of age, the player should be learning the game at various stages. There is a stage where participation comes after the early stages of fun and development. After 16 is when you should think of the game and prepare for performance. Then you proceed to compete. If the phases are not in place the basic will have to be taught at the club and national level. By this stage will you have enough time to master the skills?
We talk of losing to Malaysia and say that was because they played Fijians. The structure in Malaysia was one that took into consideration of the future of the game. They brought in Fiji players so that they will meet the eligibility criteria and represent Malaysia. Is that the structure we need for a domestic season so that we will have people eligible to play for the national team? We need to think and look well beyond our nose and plan. That does not mean we bring players who have represented another country and are beyond the best before date in that country. They may be still good to play rugby in Sri Lanka but what help does it do to our national team. What we need is young players who will have time to qualify but still young to play. That is the type of structure we need to have in place if we have to move forward.
In our case we start and stop and the ball is always passed back and continued to be move backward and not forward. Reasons often our more out of emotion than thought of rationally to enable to take the game forward and keep it alive both as a game and a spectator interest. In schools the interest is alive and the passion and emotions run high. On the long run what good does emotion and passion do to keep the game kicking beyond school rugby?
* Vimal Perera is a former player, coach, referee and an IRB Accredited Referees’ Educator