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few instructions to officials coming with refs meant to strictly adhere to timings around kicks at goal

• Law 8.8d Conversion. [The kicker] takes the kick within 90 seconds (playing time) from the time the try was awarded, even if the ball rolls over and has to be placed again. Sanction: Kick is disallowed; 
• Law 8.21: Penalty Kick: The kick must be taken within 60 seconds (playing time) from the time the team indicated their intention to do so, even if the ball rolls over and has to be placed again. Sanction: Kick is disallowed and a scrum is awarded;
• Law 9.7d: A player must not waste time. Sanction Free-kick;
• Law 18.12 Lineout: Teams form the lineout without delay. Sanction: Free-kick;
• Law 19.4 Scrum: Teams must be ready to form the scrum within 30 seconds of the mark being made. Sanction: Free-kick.

Also will be less reliance on TMO. Less involvement from water carriers

The scrum half ruling could be huge. Players such as Ardie Savie attacking from the base of a scrum without having to deal with a scrum half lurking will be interesting.

Once the scrum begins, the scrum-half of the team not in possession must have both feet behind the ball and be close to scrum but not be in the space between flanker and number 8 of opposition or they can go back to offside line at their number 8s feet or return to 5 metres back with their backline

I agree about TMO influence. Wont agree about 20 minute red cards. red cards especially serious foul play should always see team down to 14 for remainder.

Golden point at this level will be interesting to see

Strangely was thinking about that today and moving the kick in from the sidelines. Just no point in taking the kick if it hasn't a hope of making the distance.

Ive seen it in Munster and Connacht with u13 boys, u14 girls. Think it should be case for youngest age groups where kids realistically wont be near kicking ball over bar..

I dont see how its bizarre hes suggesting it. When he gives examples from his own team in games this season

I dont think its bizarre as well as he is speaking of the womens game overall and you do see it at womens games with kickers. and lack of kicks compared to mens games.

Look at the comments he made. stats mentioned in article about successful kicks.

kiera bevan the welsh scrum half has come out with similar thoughts to mine

ive already spoke on the fact that they have only kicked 8 out of 22 so far - its partly due to the fact that they are (were, she wont be kicking in the next game apparently) using an inexperienced kicker who isnt first choice for her club and is probably 4th or 5th choice at best if all options were fit and available.

As far as the penalty try goes i cant see how the ref has decided he wouldn't have gone to touch anyway.

Mind boggling decision

I dont see that he did, he went after the ball, but i can see how the rule can be applied in this instance by an over zealous ref.

That rule is in place for blatant late hits after the ball has been touched down.

While the interpretation of the ‘tackle’ is iffy at best the awarding of a penalty try is hardly warranted as there is no way of knowing the first defender wasnt going to get him into touch anyway

Big difference in the contact in both incidents.

There may need to be clarification from the rule makers as to what IS allowed here because a new focus on something like this so late in the season when it hasnt been a problem all year could cause a lot of hassle.

Take the stormers / munster game. https://youtu.be/6rXi0Kpglk0

In the first maul try the stormers 5 flops onto grounded players, in the stormers maul try in the second half ben healy does the same, and over the leg of a downed stormers player.

How are they different? And was the enforcement in the exeter game due to an officall and pre flagged emphasis on the rule or did dickinson just decide the time is right to enforce the rule?

Doesn't that give it even more credit. It is no benefit for him and his team, is actually a bad thing as it gives his opponents more scoring chance and yet he is still suggesting it.

The call for diving on him is marginal at best, but to me the decision to award a penalty try is worse, there is no change in the players trajectory once woodburn comes in so he cant say that a try would have been scored were it not for woodburn.

Off your feet in the air is a different concept. Player jumps up and slaps a ball back in, that's already over the sideline in the air. Off your feet on the ground totally different, a la James Hume.

For me that seems to be more the pertinent piece, and makes it different to trying to stop someone who has simply dived for the line.

Tackle has already been made and player brought to ground. Therefore you can go after the ball but have to stay on your feet whilst doing so

He is literally on top of the tackled player. And he pretty much got there in the same way as Hume did. Ground first, then player.