\n Recommended\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n READ ALSO:\u00a0Jerry Flannery Reveals Choice Words From Ireland Fans During South Africa Return<\/a><\/p>\n Ex Ireland Star Worries New Law Could See End Of Some Rugby Stars<\/p>\n Ireland international Ross Byrne, who now plays for English club Gloucester, feels that the new rule has resulted in the sport becoming somewhat repetitive.<\/p>\n Speaking ahead of his side’s clash with Munster this weekend, Byrne also suggested that the law could lead to some fairly drastic changes in player positioning (h\/t Irish Times<\/a>).<\/p>\n Unfortunately I think it\u2019s changed how everybody plays. Everybody knows the stats: because of the new rules whoever kicks the ball is most likely to get it back.<\/p>\n If those are the stats, which the top teams generally tend to follow, why would you not kick the ball?<\/p>\n If I was a head coach of a country right now and the World Cup\u2019s in two years, you\u2019re going: \u2018OK, is there anyone who\u2019s 19, 20, a second-row or back-row who\u2019s a really good athlete? Can we make him into a winger in two years? Go chase some kicks?\u2019<\/p>\n Genuinely, why would you not do that?..<\/p>\n Now, we just need a couple of kickers and a load of good athletes to chase the ball. Do we need those small, silky backs any more? I don\u2019t think so. Why would we?<\/p>\n As is always the case with rugby, it is likely that the authorities will counteract this law in some way if it becomes too influential on the game.<\/p>\n For now, teams will just have to deal with its application moving forward.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n