Missed kicks - balls or balls-ups? Or is it under the soil?

[megweya]

Hi all

Apparently this type of ball has been used throughout the 6N (&TN?), so the unusually high number of _very_ wide kicks from kickable distances/positions by well-established & reliable kickers (JW, DC, ROG, ...) can't be assigned to having to deal with a new type of ball.

Besides, given the usually tumbling motion of a rugby ball (apart from a torpedo kick), I would have thought that there would be little/no effect from the surface/shape of the ball on the flight. (Unlike a cricket ball when bowled for swing when it moves with the seam in a consistent position to act as a rudder)


Maybe another factor may be the cause - the pitch?
Modern pitches often have a nylon mesh/weave in the soil to make the roots stronger (and so allow more games to be played, &/or less gap between games).
If this is the case for RWC pitches, perhaps a slight difference in the 'give' underfoot when a kicker places his the non-kicking foot in the kicking step could result in enough of a difference in where the kicking foot strikes the ball, causing it to be kicked off-target.

Is there anyone on RH with some real knowledge of aerodynamics or pitches to provide some insight?

Cheers

Megweya

[ruggerfan]

I'm no expert but I read on another site that the new balls have a lighter valve and a different bladder. They were made available to teams 6 months ago. Dan was kicking it ok, apparantly kickers that lean it forward and slightly spiral the kick are having less problem with it. I don't imagine anyone has a stricter training regimine than Dan so that could be a factor.

[megweya]

Thanks for the info about when the ball became available - I've also since come across this:

official match ball, the Virtuoso, was launched last April in Auckland and “by July every RWC 2011 participating union will have played and/or trained with the ball for extended periods”.  . . . Gilbert claims that the Virtuoso features exciting new performance developments, including innovative valve and bladder designs that will deliver superior shape retention and spin rate over previous Gilbert match balls.

Could be that the new valve arrangement affects the centre of mass & so affects the flight?
That said, some kickers had a good/exceptional return:
Fiji kicker Seremaia Baikeinuku got 8 from 9 - and he has played in France for quite a while (so no NH/SH factor).
France's Yachvili got 7 from 9.

Kick success stats:
100%: South Africa (3/3)
89%: Fiji (8/9)
78%: France (7/9)
71%: Australia (5/7),   New Zealand (5/7)
67%: USA (2/3), Italy (2/3), Tonga (2/3), Wales (4/6), Japan (4/6).
62%: Romania (5/8)
56%: Scotland (5/9)
40%: Namibia (2/5)
37%: Ireland (3/8), England (3/8)
33%: Argentina (3/9)

Megweya

[megweya]

More on the ball:
www.sportstechreview.com/2011/09 - Gilbert . . . most consistent ball
The 2011 Virtuo ball has a number of similarities and changes compared to its 2007 predecessor the Synergie.
For example, the pimple pattern and compound of the outer part of the ball is exactly the same.

The ball’s main change occurs internally, with a different type of bladder that maintains the air inside the ball at the same pressure for the duration of the match. The bladder which has a different shape and increased weight also helps to increase ball stability in the longitudinal axis.

The shape and weight of the valve have also been changed helping the ball to spin on its longitudinal axis, these features are especially useful for torpedo kicks or spin passes. These characteristics also help to increase the consistency of the ball throughout the game and when different balls are used.

They have been used internationally since Autumn 2010, with large amounts of positive feedback. England World Cup winner and former fly half says that, ‘If you hit it sweet, the ball will hold its line and do exactly what its meant to do’.
 Statistics have also shown an improvement in goal kick success rates, since the balls introduction

The quote
'former fly-half quote doesnt name JonnyW but maybe he might have changed his mind since Saturday?

Cheers

Megweya

[Geeves]

That Romanian flyhalf didn’t have a lot of problems drilling it from 55 + out.  But that wasn’t in Dunedin

[ruggerfan]

Apparently that stuff hurts like hell to slide on too, welcome back "the house of pain"

[megweya]

Old leather apparently kicks more accurately than new leather ...

England will be striking their share more than usual in an effort to increase the size of the so-called sweet spot that kickers aim for.

"The sweet spot is always in the same place, it's just how small it is. When it's new, it's just a bit smaller,"
said Toby Flood, who could replace Wilkinson at flyhalf for the Pool B match.
"They are the same Gilbert Virtuo as in the Six Nations. It's the same piece of equipment. I just think it's because they are a bit fresher at game time.
When we are at home, we'll probably kick them in for a few days, whereas here's it's just an hour or so, so they behave slightly differently."

Cheers

Megweya

[ruggerfan]

So do they get new balls for each game? If so wouldn't they be better practicing with balls closer to the match balls?

[Geeves]

So do they get new balls for each game?

Nope they should have their original pair!