Sure.
Short response, change is part of the game’s fabric - rules have constantly been refined to make it more fun to play. What’s objectionable is WR changing rules to try create a better “product” to sell. Changes that compromise the core attributes of the game - the things that make it unique and rewarding to all players (including tightforwards.) It’s bullshit: self-defeating betrayal of their mandate.
Longer response:
Probably go so far as saying that rule evolution is baked into Rugby’s ethos. If you go to the school the boy’s will show you the little hill and tree where the main okes used to gather before the game and agree on the day’s rules.
Amongst my many unrealized rugby dreams was to be so annoyingly good at something they changed the laws. Like the Windhond who fucked up so many 1st 5s they introduced the 15 meter line at the lineout. Before that he used to line up directly opposite the poor outhalf and melt them as they got the ball. Apparently it didn’t stop him. Just gave his FH more space.
But, Law refinement should be focused on making rugby more fun to PLAY.
That’s a wide ambit, but it fucking doesn’t include changes designed to make it more appealing to Australian League fans, or Lady Mygreatgreatgreatgrandpapamadeaheapofsellingslavesandmarriedthespoiltdaughterofafrenchgangster St John Smythe who likes the social scene in the Twickers members’ lounge.
They can get fucked. And I’ve yet to see any evidence that your more likely to get them turning on TVs by adulterating our game than gaining girls (especially girls) and boys who are born props and locks when they happen to flick by a glorious scrum or great counterruck. And along with those kids their friends and then their children.
And if you give them a game where they can have a fair contest at scrum, lineout and the tightloose there’ll be plenty of space for those pretty tries.
Explicitly allowing lifting is the best example I can think of. Lots of teams were already doing it. And the ref’s allowed it to develop by interpretation initially. Probably because it made their lives easier - keeping props and flanks busy so they didn’t have time to elbow and punch their opposites. It just made sense to sanction this development as it obviously made the lineout a much fairer contest instead of a violent lottery. But the important point is it was basically player innovation led and incrementally sanctioned.
Contrast that with the change to the breakdown/maul laws where if a player gets a knee down it’s a tackle. A rule that I doubt any active player was calling for. Actively reduces the contest for possession and typically is reffed without regard to the maul laws. So it’s confusing.
I missed a few seasons as it was introduced. So its corrosive impact was starkly obvious. Just a casual viewerbait abomination of a change.
Instead of the tightloose being a battle requiring and rewarding forwards committing to the point of contact, you have the absurd situation where 2 or more attackers charge into a defender upright - by definition a maul (seriously, go look at the picture under Law 16) - drive forward a yard or two and then flop over.
Ref then farcically yells Tackle! Release! And ignoring the fact that these two fat fucks are off their feet penalizes the defender on their feet if they try to pick the ball up out of this “ruck.”
Then this is all repeated.
Since there’s no point in committing to the ignored maul or the fairytale ruck the defender’s don’t. Instead they stay on their feet, fan out and smother the attack.
So because some nimrod thought the marginal viewer wants attacking rugby and because another nimrod told him the secret is allowing attackers to get quick ruck ball we compromised the area of the game that actually creates space and time for backs to waste/ignore.
And the Aussie Leagies yawned because their team was still shit and their ground humping was still better than our groundhumping. And Lady don’t ask me where the money came from still isn’t turning on the TV because she couldn’t give a fuck.
So in summary, Carthage must be destroyed.