Danny Brosnan
As is usual with World Rugby. They like to experiment with new laws or at least a variation of them. But in the last few years a few have stood out to me for various right and wrong reasons.
Goal line drop out.
This is one actually agree with when the defending team holds the ball up in there own in goal area. Rather than a 5 metre scrum to the attacking team. It does reward the hard work of defending teams.
Captains challenge.
Probably it’s most famous use was in the rainbow cup before the South African franchises officially made the Pro 14 the URC. Yet it was met with criticism. Now I get where it’s important that the captain can have a word with the referee about a forward pass in the lead up to a try or a high tackle. But the whole idea seemed pointless and a waste of time. Personally prefer the captain to go to the referee and air out the issue. But even then the TMO could have a look and refer to the on field referee if it’s deemed necessary.
The Bunker.
I get the idea of speeding up the game and using the TMO more often. But this just undermines the on field referee. By right if the TMO sees an issue then the referee gets alerted or if the on field referee says a word like “pass” “tackle” or “touch” then the TMO checks it and refers it. But the biggest problem was with handing out cards and either keeping at a yellow or upgrading it. If it takes an extra minute for the referee to consult the TMO and at least one assistant to make the best call then give them the extra minute. It just undermines the authority and respect for the on field referee. It also adds an air of the “the referee isn’t good enough to make the right calls” which shouldn’t be the case.
20 minute red card
This one baffles the mind. Maybe I’m just old school, maybe I’m getting more cantankerus in my old age. But a red card is a red card. That teams down a player for the remainder of the game. It doesn’t matter if it’s one minute into the game or one minute left. If this does go ahead then every minimum suspension for a red has to be at least doubled to make it a workable detterant for any foul play. As much as World Rugby say about caring for player welfare. This has the potential to make a mockery of it. Let’s face it, it’s a high stakes game and players will play right on the edge or past it if they know it’ll benefit winning.
Final call on decisions.
Regardless of the decision and how it’s made. The one person to have any final call on a decision has to be the referee on the field. They should be given that ability back. Something that’s slowly being eroded away in the game.
Proper trial time.
I know I’ve only used four examples. But the first two were done right in using them in the Rainbow Cup. The Bunker was used in Super Rugby but felt rushed into the RWC last year for northern hemisphere people involved. The 20 minute red has been used in Super Rugby but has yet to be trialed up here. So it begs the question of when is the right time. Honestly, for me, it has to be during the Summer and November series games for them to get trialed. After all it gives everyone involved a chance to get to grips with them and give feedback.