You say it like wire jump off tackle straight away...

The thing that is slowing the game down is players improved fitness and defensive skills.
Almost every tackle is a three man tackle. I remember the days when a three man tackle would get the stands up of its feet, because surely they were all piling in to someone to get some biff going.

Quite simply the more men in the tackle the longer it takes for each one to get off...so its no suprise we are getting slower play the balls

I dont know what the solution is but we had some really slow play the balls yesterday....but then I'm not a fan of the Saints model of playing unopposed rugby ..ie getting ridiculously quick play the balls and running at players who cant touch you and beating no one and being told its entertaining.

somewhere between the two extremes is what most people want.

How about players 'roll away' from the tackle immediately the tackle has been effected. If the acting halfback then deliberately runs at or into a player making a genuine effort to get back into the line, or get himself square, it's playon (maybe even that player is then deemed to be onside and can tackle). And in order to stop a Saints style march up the field with constant dummy half scoots, if the acting halfback moves forward from the PtB and gets caught with the ball (ie doesn't pass it) then it's a turnover regardless of the tackle count.

[size=85I'd just like to point out that I haven't thought this through - just 'thinking' aloud whilst I have a quick coffee break![/size

I remember after the last world cup a lot was made about the speed of the PTB over here compared to the NRL, and a lot of fans thought our quicker PTB and our 'scoot culture' was hindering the development of players with the required skills to unlock a organised defense.

I personally don't have a problem with it as its still possible to get a quick PTB its just you have to earn it. Having said that there's still a major issue around the consistancy of how its policed. Ganson's first job needs to be making sure that a consistant approach by all refs and all fans, players, and coaches are clear on what the interpritation is.

Theres nothing wrong with winning the collision and rubbing the other guy into the floor for a few seconds.... the problem we have now is the gang tackle.. one man makes the tackle, then 3 or 4 pile in.. they then peel off one at a time.

Like someone has already pointed out, Brown and McGuire brought it into our game and it has spread like a cancer.

i dont know how you would go about stopping it now.. looks like its a tactic thats here to stay.. i guess its the evolution of the 'win at all costs' mentality.

as you say, its probably something thats difficult to police, but as a tactic adopted, it can be countered. in the past few years wigans apparent downfall has been against teams with lots of offloads. the many men in the tackle means they are not in the line, therefore a couple of offloads in a set, dragging approximately 6 men into tackles, leaves huge gaps. low percentage play, but what i am saying is maybe the coaches/players should think of ways of getting round that sort of defensive play.