‘Pile-up’ cause of more rugby injuries—Norton

Press, 11 April 1979, Page 46

‘Pile-up’ cause of more rugby injuries—Norton

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

The so called “pile-up” which is now a legitimate part of rugby is not only ruining the free flow of the game, but is also bringing players into serious physical risk.

I This view was expressed yesterday by the former All < Black captain, Tane Norton ; whose playing days ended • on the recent Cantabrians i tour of Britain. As the member of a sub- j committee formed two years < ago by the New Zealand * Rugby Union to keep the j sport’s administrators in < touch with the views of j players, Norton has a spe- < cial reason to protect the j interests of the players. t Norton believes that it is 1 no accident that serious injury, including deaths, have 1 become more prevalent since < the “pile-up’’ was in- ■ troduced. I “This is new to the game and something has to be i done about it. I am in no doubt that the ‘pile-up’ is j the problem and the sooner i it is outlawed the better.’’ He said that players had i told him — and from his own experience he agreed i with them — that it could i be quite frightening to be at ’ the bottom of a collapsed i maul when players were diving in generating fresh and 1 unexpected pressures. t

Providing the packs were of comparable size, Norton said he did not believe that a scrum was a danger zone. “The threat to life and limb is when players are knocked over from standing or bending positions and they are unable to protect themselves.” Norton is especially worried about teen-age players. “In the very junior grades there is not much danger of serious injury and senior players are usually mature, and experienced enough to look after themselves. “But there is so much more vigour — youthful exuberance you' might call it — in games involving boys between the ages of 16 and 19 and this is where the danger lies. “Many players in this age group do not have the technical grounding to save themselves, and others, from injury.” Norton said he felt very strongly on the subject and was determined to make his views known to people in authority. "The Canterbury union has shown a responsible attitude in keeping rugby

clean and safe, but there has to be an attack on the root of the problem, and this, in my view, is the ‘pile-up*. Eliminate the ‘pile up’ and the game will immediately become safer,” he said. On the playing front, the "pile up” was ruining back play and this view had been rammed home to him on his recent visit to Britain, said Norton.

“In England, back play has degenerated alarmingly and this is simply because of the slow feed of the, ball from forwards to backs. “When a ‘pileup’ develops the backs know which side has the ball and the backs who are not going to get it move up in defence. The backs who get the ball are then tackled before they can do anything with it.” There were other instances in Britain where Norton found the new ruck laws made no sense. Once the Cantabrians pack, in true New Zealand style, turned a maul into a ruck by driving over the ball. The Cantabrians forwards were then penalised for being offside, because they were in front of the ball.

The temporary suspension period, or “sin bin,” is another innovation which Norton does not agree with, certainly not for senior players. “It may have some merit for younger players, thinking again of the vigour found in the 16 to 19 age grades, but if a senior player commits a deliberate and blatant foul then he should be ordered off, not given some half punishment,” said Norton. “And if it is applied at all levels this means tests. I can tell you that if I was ordered to go and stand under the goal posts at Cardiff Arms Park I would head straight for the dressingroom and not return. Imagine a Welshman being asked to cool his heals for five minutes in front of No. 5 stand at Lancaster Park.

“The players soon forget their differences once a game is over, but to subject top players to "sin bin” treatment is a bad move. It’s like telling naughty children to stand in the comer and grown men are not going to take kindly to this sort of banishment,” said Norton.