Rugby's law amendment that requires the tackler to get to his feet and onside before he can contest possession continues to divide opinion.
Ball carriers are so protected by the law they are effectively in a gated community, with some defence coaches arguing that it tugs at the seams of one of rugby's central tenets - the fair contest.
Cheetahs defence coach Charl Strydom, perhaps predictably, argues that the dice is stacked too heavily in the attacking side's favour.
"With tacklers now having to come through the gate (onside) it makes it very difficult to get a steal," said Strydom.
"Previously you could make a leg tackle, get to your feet and steal the ball. Now you need one, if not two teammates to exact the steal. Rugby is about having a fair contest. I think the law is a bit daft."
The Cheetahs had to adapt to the law change last year when they started playing in the Pro14. The law only took effect in Super Rugby this year.
SA TEAMS STRUGGLE TO ADAPT
The law change however hasn't had the profound impact on the scoring many had feared. In the first three rounds of Super Rugby this year the average match produced 56.87 points, while 54.64 were scored at the corresponding stage last year.
SuperSport commentator and EP Rugby academy manager Robbi Kempson cautioned however that the impact of the law change is yet to be properly felt.
"I think as we go deeper in the competition the attacking sides will become more dominant. Defences will adjust to that with fewer people being committed to the breakdown. Defence coaches want 13 guys on their feet as opposed to having three guys going into a ruck because you'll leave yourself exposed out wide."
Strydom argues that the law didn't need tinkering. "I don't think they had to change the law. Only an elite player like, say, Heinrich Brüssow was able to make the tackle and get to his feet quickly enough to make the steal." He concedes however that some teams have adapted to the changes better than others.
SCRUMHALVES' PONDEROUS SERVICE
As ever, the trendsetting Crusaders have played their way around the law. "They come up with a pressure hit, a double hit and sometimes commit more numbers to that area. They'll push the cleaners around and just do enough unsettling for the ball to be slowed down. They do just enough to disrupt but not too much to get penalised."
Kempson says South African teams haven't adapted as well because of our scrumhalves' ponderous service.
"In that regard Ross Cronje has probably been the best but in general our teams have struggled. That's why the Stormers and the Sharks haven't done well. At the Bulls, John Mitchell understands what needs to get done and that's why he has opted for younger players," said Kempson...