THE kicking game, the aerial ping-pong that has so blighted rugby over the past year or so is mercifully about to end.

The southern hemisphere nations have shown the way during the current Tri Nations series and teams in this part of the world are set to follow as the IRB finally appear to have got to grips with the problem which was stifling the game and wrecking it as a spectacle.

It is evident even after the opening weekend of the Magners League season that referees have been given instructions in two specific areas.

They govern the ruck and offside laws, and the changes are being strictly enforced with the aim of speeding the game up and making it more attractive again.

It is abundantly clear already that players who go off their feet at rucks are going to be ruthlessly dealt with. If they are pushed over and fall on the wrong side they can hardly be blamed, but they will have to roll away immediately or they will be penalised or even yellow carded.

The idea is to keep players on their feet, thus making clearance at a difficult area a great deal easier.

And players who are in front of the kicker are also going to be punished. It was partly the rushing up in the kick-chase that so restricted the ability to launch counter-attacks.

Now anyone in front of the kicker even if in deep defence will be pulled up straightaway and play taken back to where the kick was made. Again, it should free up the ability to counter-attack.

It’s all designed to speed up the game and make it infinitely more attractive. Everyone will say amen to that.