Strydom Wikus, Vaz Luis, Tucker Ross, Kraak Wilbur
Division of Sport Science, Department of Exercise, Sport and Lifestyle Medicine, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
Sci Med Footb. 2025 Aug;9(3):304-313. doi: 10.1080/24733938.2024.2351609. Epub 2024 May 15.
Tactical kicking plays a crucial role in rugby union, influencing both attacking and defensive strategies and potentially impacting a team's overall success. The introduction of the 50:22 law requires defensive teams to reposition players to anticipate and counter kicks, thereby reducing the number of players in their defensive front line. This study investigated the impact of the 50:22 kicking law on kicking profiles by comparing the 2021 and 2022 seasons, as well as examining the success rate of 50:22 kicks during the 2022 season in South African rugby union tournaments. A retrospective research design was employed, utilising video-based performance analysis software (Nacsport Scout Plus) for data collection. The analysis encompassed all general play kicks from 177 matches spanning two seasons and tournaments, amounting to a total of 6,479 kicks. Within this dataset, there were 53 successful 50:22 kicks out of 162 attempts. Key findings revealed an upswing in kicks by scrum halves (2021: 20%, 2022: 26%; = 0.00) and a concurrent decline in kicks by fullbacks (2021: 21%, 2022: 18%; = 0.01). Notably, there was a significant increase in the percentage of kicks occurring in the fourth quarter of the match (2021: 20%, 2022: 22%; = 0.01). Furthermore, the study identified a noteworthy increase in the percentage of kicks following a turnover (2021: 2%, 2022: 3%; < 0.01). In conclusion, this research contributes valuable insights into how the 50:22 law shapes kicking strategies in South African rugby union, shedding light on the shifts in player roles and temporal patterns of kicking within the context of this specific law.
战术踢球在英式橄榄球联合会中起着至关重要的作用，它会影响进攻和防守策略，并可能对球队的整体成功产生影响。50:22规则的引入要求防守球队重新调整球员位置，以预判和应对踢球，从而减少其防守前线的球员数量。本研究通过比较2021赛季和2022赛季，调查了50:22踢球规则对踢球概况的影响，并考察了2022赛季南非英式橄榄球联合会比赛中50:22踢球的成功率。采用回顾性研究设计，利用基于视频的表现分析软件（Nacsport Scout Plus）进行数据收集。分析涵盖了两个赛季和比赛的177场比赛中的所有常规比赛踢球，共计6479次踢球。在这个数据集中，162次尝试中有53次50:22踢球成功。主要发现显示，半场球员的踢球次数有所增加（2021年：20%，2022年：26%； =0.00），同时，后卫的踢球次数有所下降（2021年：21%，2022年：18%； =0.01）。值得注意的是，比赛第四节的踢球百分比显著增加（2021年：20%，2022年：22%； =0.01）。此外，研究发现失误后踢球的百分比有显著增加（2021年：2%，2022年：3%； <0.01）。总之，本研究为50:22规则如何塑造南非英式橄榄球联合会的踢球策略提供了有价值的见解，揭示了在这一特定规则背景下球员角色的转变和踢球的时间模式。
