FIJI SEVENS HEAD coach Ben Ryan published a number of intriguing tweets yesterday evening highlighting a technique which he believes has the game “in crisis”.

The former England Sevens boss has an issue with the rucking technique that, depending on where one is from, is referred to as a crocodile roll, tin opener, can opener, body roll, croc roll, alligator roll, gator roll, saddle roll or log roll.

Before we go any further, let’s take a look at an example of the technique in question.

We see Cian Healy employing the roll in the GIF above, wrapping his arms tightly around the midriff of France’s Nicolas Mas and then using his own body weight to roll Mas to the side and away from the ball.

It’s something we see regularly in the modern game, and in most cases the technique is carried out with no harm to the jackaling player [the defender over the ball looking to get his hands on and steal].

However, Ryan believes that South Africa captain Jean de Villiers was the “latest victim to illegal practice of crocodile/log rolls,” according to a tweet on his official account.

Jean De Villliers latest victim to illegal practice of crocodile/log rolls. Want your kid to play knowing laws of game just being ignored? — Ben Ryan (@benjaminryan) December 3, 2014 Source: Ben Ryan Fiji 7's /Twitter

Ryan is not the first person in rugby to express concern over the technique, and he certainly won’t be the last.

33-year-old de Villiers has been ruled out of the game for as estimated eight months after his horrific knee injury against Wales last weekend, which came about as a Welsh player used the ‘croc roll’ technique on him.

We see the incident above, with de Villiers getting himself over the ball in that jackal position, before Toby Faletau attempts to roll him away to Wales’ right. Unfortunately, de Villiers’ left leg is caught underneath Faletau and severe damage is done.

That Lwazi Mvovo [South Africa 11] and Dan Lydiate [Wales 6] both fall through on the same point of contact makes the situation all the more grave for de Villiers.

Ryan’s issue with incidences of the croc roll such as this one is that the technique goes against several of the World Rugby [formerly the IRB] laws around the ruck:

Source: World Rugby

It’s hard to argue with Ryan’s stance on the issue, given that a player using the gator roll technically does not endeavour to stay on their feet, does intentionally ‘fall over’ and does intentionally collapse at least part of the ruck.

Looking at those rucking laws, it seems that there is not much argument to be had here – the croc roll is against the laws of rugby? However, that’s not entirely the case.

Just two months ago, World Rugby made a clarification to the laws around this exact technique, after the RFU [on behalf of their referees] requested such an action.

Essentially, World Rugby indicated that body rolls are “permissible” as long as the rucking player does not engage around the neck or head of the defensive player. Check out the extract from Clarification 4 2014 below:

Source: World Rugby

Being such a recent clarification, it appears that World Rugby are content with croc rolls to continue as a rucking technique at all levels of the game, regardless of expressions of concern from figures like Ryan.

BT Sport’s ‘Rugby Tonight’ show this week featured Wales captain Sam Warburton including the croc roll in his rucking tutorial, which Ryan pointed to as “depressing”.

Realistically, this is just one strand of discussion to be had around the breakdown and ruck in the modern game. Go back to the World Rugby lawbook and the 16.3 section above, and ask yourself how often these laws are lived by at the majority of rucks.

We see rucking players off their feet regularly in the modern game, although it could rightfully be argued that most players are ‘endeavouring’ to stay off the ground. Ireland are one of the leading rucking teams in the world at present, but regularly their players finish their rucking actions off their feet.

Joe Schmidt’s side are merely doing what is being allowed; referees are being prompted to facilitate a flowing attacking game as best they can.

That’s perhaps the key issue here – World Rugby are unlikely to make any structural law changes that affect the attacking flow of the sport. Keeping the ball in play and encouraging entertaining rugby are deep focuses for the organisation.

Redesigning the breakdown and ruck within the lawbook would mean a major, major upheaval in rugby. The likely result would be that the pace of the game would be reduced.

Safer perhaps, but how many of the more casual rugby fans would be turned off?

What do you make of Ben Ryan’s comments on the breakdown, and particularly the croc roll technique? Do World Rugby need to make fresh clarifications around this technique?

Are you happy with the breakdown/ruck area in rugby or would you like to see changes?