{"id":233643,"date":"2025-07-03T03:17:12","date_gmt":"2025-07-03T03:17:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/233643\/"},"modified":"2025-07-03T03:17:12","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T03:17:12","slug":"lions-fans-all-want-the-same-law-change-nigel-owens-calls-it-a-disaster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/233643\/","title":{"rendered":"Lions fans all want the same law change, Nigel Owens calls it a ‘disaster’"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Lions were left stunned in their clash against the Queensland Reds after referee James Dolman ruled the ball had been held up over the line \u2013 halting what looked like a certain try.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But instead of a five-metre scrum \u2013 as used to be the case \u2013 the new law handed the Reds a get-out-of-jail-free card with a goal-line dropout.<\/p>\n

Fans were furious.<\/p>\n

RUCK\u2019s Lions content is\u00a0powered by\u00a0ISUZU<\/strong>.<\/a><\/p>\n

One slammed the law on social media:\u00a0\u201cThe goal line dropout when an attacker is held up over the line is the dumbest rule in rugby. Get out of jail free card for the defence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another raged:\u00a0\u201cStill not sure what utter moron at World Rugby thought we should have a dropout and not a 5m scrum when the attack is held up over the line.\u201d<\/p>\n

A third said what many are thinking:\u00a0\u201cThe worst rule in rugby. Penalised for almost scoring.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even former top referee Nigel Owens didn\u2019t hold back. Writing in his\u00a0Wales Online\u00a0column, he said:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cJust look at the goal line drop-out. To me, that is a total disaster and I would get rid of it tomorrow if I was in charge. It hasn\u2019t brought anything positive to the game\u2026 It is a total punishment for the attacking team.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

World Rugby brought in the law change in a bid to speed up the game \u2013 but it\u2019s safe to say fans, players and even top officials aren\u2019t impressed.<\/p>\n

Four Lions players who flopped against the Reds<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some Lions roared \u2014 others whimpered. Here\u2019s the breakdown of who boosted their Test stock and who sent it plummeting.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udca8\u00a0Duhan Van Der Meh<\/strong><\/p>\n

When fast and loose turns into just loose.<\/p>\n

RUCK 5.5\/10:<\/strong>
\u201cVan der Merwe was very suspect especially in defence with some key moments when he looked well off the pace. In attack he just looked very one dimensional and looked nowhere near his usual standard we\u2019re used to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rugby Pass 5\/10<\/a>:<\/strong>
\u201cThe Reds exploited his slowness to turn with some probing kicks and he was nearly made to pay for a casual one-handed gather when under pressure on his own try line. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt took 14 minutes before he received his first pass and was largely anonymous as an attacker until the game started to break up. Nice finish for the Lions\u2019 third try atoned for some of his backfield errors, but was overshadowed by his fellow winger Freeman.\u201d<\/p>\n

FLO Rugby 3\/10:<\/a><\/strong>
\u201cFirmly on the back foot for a test spot, the powerhouse Scottish winger does not look comfortable in the Lions\u2019 system. Unlike Scotland, where his strike running ability is a key focal point, in Andy Farrell\u2019s system, more is expected of wingers to go looking for work. <\/p>\n

\u201cThrow into the mix his struggles in the air, rather reckless one-handed grab of a ball behind his own line and brutally poor positioning for the Reds\u2019 second try by Josh Flook, and it is tough to see Farrell trusting him on the big occasions. Overall, it was a fast and loose showing from van der Merwe, who did score a try, albeit it was a simple run-in.\u201d<\/p>\n

CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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