New tackle law leads to more points

Johannesburg - The South African Super Rugby teams’ commitment to attacking rugby this season, following last year’s rugby indaba to help the Springboks employ a similar approach, appears to have come at the expense of their defence.

With most of the franchises having played five matches this season (four for the Stormers and Bulls) before this week, five are conceding more points and tries per game. Only the Kings, whose defence wilted during the competition’s intensity in their return last year, have improved defensively.

The number of points conceded by local teams in the tournament as a whole are up. Former Bulls and Springboks defence coach John McFarland attributes this to the new laws on tackling, the way teams are setting up and the general approach of Super Rugby sides.