Where to start?
This week will see the introduction of new global law trials, which are the fruit of World Rugby’s various specialist groups. They have been charged with delivering a fresh “fan-focused, reimagining of the game”. But before we get to those, I am compelled to start with some scrum stuff.
And that’s because, with all this reimagining going on, nothing has been suggested to improve what is not far short of a disastrous phase of the game. It is a bewildering, incomprehensible omission. And the only people who are left to handle what is rugby’s problem child, are the referees. It is really a damn difficult task, and very hard for decisions, which can be result-altering, to be accurate.
In Connacht v Ulster, Andy Brace was in charge, and, early on, he opted for resets. One scrum lasted the guts of three minutes, and on the second reset he told the players that “you’ll force me to make a decision, next time”. But there wasn’t a decision when it collapsed again, just another reset. Managing a game is all about getting the correct balance between sanction and communication; here the referee was clearly overcommunicating, forgetting about the sanction.
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Don’t forget that the referee has the opportunity to chat to the frontrows before the match. From what we’re watching week-in and week-out, the players never appear to have paid the slightest bit of attention. Better outcomes are possible, but not guaranteed, when the referee tilts the balance firmly on the side of sanction. Polite cajoling has never worked. Scrums and their illegalities present referees with a real dog’s dinner and, by no stretch of the imagination, does what’s happening qualify as fan-focused.
Apparently, we are fated to continue watching two opposing packs, each weighing just under half a ton, trying to balance against each other, with the referee hoping that it will all work out. Far too often it doesn’t, it’s a near impossibility.
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The luckiest man on planet rugby is South African prop Steven Kitshoff. The recent neck injury he suffered, as a scrum engaged, apparently came within a few millimetres of being catastrophic. The fact that it was so close to disaster should lead to discussion and action on the scrum, it should not be treated as “just one of those things”. Yes, it was the rarest of occurrences, but if one of rugby’s greatest and strongest props can be susceptible to an accident of this gravity, then it must surely be time to put on the thinking caps.
World Rugby also dodged a bullet on this one, by the same few millimetres. A catastrophic injury, to such a visible, renowned international player, would have done massive damage to the game’s image, and to its appeal.
The only alteration to the scrum is to hurry things up. From New Year’s Day we will see referees insisting that players are ready to form the scrummage within 30 seconds of the mark being given. However, referees must continue to take great care with the actual process of setting the scrum, that cannot be hurried. The scrum engagement has potential for serious injury, as Kitshoff will attest.
Thirty seconds will also apply to formation of lineouts. Hopefully, it should get rid of the annoying pre-throw huddle discussions, and walking to the line of touch at a snail’s pace.
Here’s a coming trial which should help. The offside line at the scrum will now be the centre of the tunnel for the scrumhalf of the team not in possession, leaving his opposite number time and space to get the ball away. Similarly, players in a ruck or maul can no longer interfere with an opponent who is attempting to play the ball away.
Crooked throws into the lineout will not be sanctioned, unless the non throwing-in team compete by lifting up a jumper. I’m unsure about it, or what it will lead to, and there may well be unintended consequences.
Next, the 20-minute red card replacement, what’s happening you may well ask? So, a final decision on it has again been deferred, to May 2025. I’d have thought there was enough information on it by now, so this decision is something of a surprise. It’s the second or third time this particular can has been kicked down the road since last spring.
However, the Six Nations have appointed bunker officials for the upcoming championship, so it looks like they are opting to trial it. So, by the time May comes around, effectively there will have been a global trial, it just won’t be called that.
And here’s a new year wish. That referees get serious again about penalising side entry, and sealing off the ball at the breakdown. These two bugbears have made an unwelcome return. They do only two things, illegally protect possession, and create slow ball, which in turn leads to more kicks. WR’s reimagining includes, I’m sure, both contest for possession and fast ball continuity. It’s not a new law, it’s just that referees need reminding that they have a job to do to ensure that’s what we get.
When Mack Hansen ran out in Galway, many wondered how come he was on the pitch at all, following his recent post-match opinion on referees. He also notched a try, following a lucky bounce of the ball. Connacht, disappointingly, have no problem with what he said. But I don’t see Hansen getting another lucky bounce which would see his diatribe avoid a disciplinary hearing by the URC or IRFU.
Unlike Connacht, they understand that there is no convenient magic carpet to sweep it under.
