News
France prepares for ELVs
August 11 2008
A new era is possibly about to begin as the global ELVs make their debut in the Northern Hemisphere. Unlike the reaction across the channel, the new laws have generally been received in a positive light in France as referees tour the country to explain and exchange with clubs.
Christophe Berdos, one of France's top referees, has been one of the officials travelling around the country working with players and coaches, with information flowing both ways.
"These meetings have been very positive and very interesting. Both for players and for ourselves," Berdos, who is one of the two French representatives on the IRB's International Referees Panel, told lesite.
"It helps [the players] learn the new laws and for us to get a feeling for the players' reactions. I've gained a lot from the exchanges. We'll remain firm on certain positions while on others we're waiting to see how it turns out. And there are others where we'll no doubt change our way of seeing things."
Berdos is amongst those who are positive about the new laws, citing the Tri-Nations matches this year as proof of the positive influence the changes have had.
"I'm expecting a lot from the opening [Top 14 ] matches. We all saw the Tri-Nations where in most matches we saw good things. Will we see the same things in France? I believe so - the players are certainly capable. " said Berdos.
"When I hear coaches tell me the new laws are complicated, I reply that we have no reason to be envious of the Southern hemisphere. We have the players. All that's missing is the will. It's up to us to step up."
Berdos is enthusiastic about the law that gives five metres more space behind the scrum.
"It's a good law that adds a dynamic to number eights breaking from the scrum. That said, I'm yet to be convinced that we'll use this law to it's maximum effect in France. I'm not sure we're seeing the same dynamism in the Top 14 compared to the Tri-Nations," he added.
"The clubs (in France) are still a bit reserved. The priority is on keeping possession rather than opening up."
When it comes to the law allowing for collapsing the maul, Berdos said the referees had a lot of work to do.
"Last year, we realised that we accepted a lot of mauls that could have been considered as collapsed," he said.
"This year we're legalising what unfortunately we allowed to happen last year. After that, once the maul has been collapsed, it will be up to the referees to manage the situation because players will try to enter from the sides.
"From what I've gathered so far, the players don't really seem concerned. But, that'll be tested in the opening matches of the championship."
Berdos said the point of the referees' visits to clubs was to avoid having to 'coach' players during the games.
"There'll be less teaching than people are expecting. We want to anticipate what we'll see in the championship."
The ruck zone comprises potentially the most important part of the game in the modern era. The laws are the same, but Berdos says attitudes need to change in France.
"It's the international norm. We want to change the attitudes to tackles notably with all those players who voluntarily go to ground in an illicit way," he commented.
"We want to give a chance back to defenders who stay on their feet and even out the battle."
"Mentally, the players are struggling to come around to it. They're not used to coming in from the bottom up. We've all been wrong, myself included, in accepting players coming in and going down."
The law change that has stirred the most interest is the quick throw-ins.
"[The new law] is very interesting for full-backs who want to inject some energy into the game," said Berdos.
"They're the most sceptical about the tackle situation and rucks were they must go in with the head below the hips. They're working on it, but don't see the point yet.
"When it come to the tackle, players' physical dimensions are causing the most questions. For a tall player, rucking upwards like that is harder than for a small player."