Referee says rugby has to change

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BLOWING THE WHISTLE: "Everybody thinks the product needs to improve." - Bryce Lawrence.

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Top New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence warns not to expect instant miracles from the new law interpretations for this week's Super 14 kickoff but believes they will ultimately improve a product desperately in need of help.

When Lawrence and Sanzar referees manager Lyndon Bray fronted media this week to explain the changes and outline their philosophies, they didn't hold back when they described the state of the game that dominated last year.

Dire, shambles and mess were all fitting descriptions for a game they admitted was virtually "a dog's breakfast" at times, with scrum resets dominating, the breakdown remaining a murky area and kick and chase tactics being adopted as a safety net by teams.

Lawrence believes the new interpretations that favour the attacking side can really help rugby as a spectacle but stresses it will require a buy-in from everyone across the three countries involve din the Super 14.

"Everybody thinks the product needs to improve. Players are aware of it, coaches are aware of it, the referees are aware of it and we all contribute to it," said Lawrence, who has been a Super 14 ref since 2005 and has 13 tests to his credit.

"I'm not expecting miracles. I think it's going to be gradual. But I definitely think it's going in the right direction."

Bray said the referees were aware of the pressures on them to guide the new look.

"That famous word consistency is very difficult," he said of the biggest pressure on the referees.

"We are going to have 16 or 17 refs from three different countries. It's hard to get one week to the next consistent. I think we need the main philosophy consistent. There will be the odd human error but my biggest doubt going into the competition is whether we can consistently deliver the same product."

He felt the refs would require conviction in their belief to attain that and would need to push on beyond the first few weeks of the championship which traditionally brought mixed performances from everyone.

"Historically the reason you get shy is when you feel you are one of only a few doing it and everyone else has fallen back into the old way and aren't getting criticised. I am feeling confident this year that the more experienced senior referees will lead from the front.

"From the players there is the fear of change and how it's going to affect them. But I think the real positive is that all five New Zealand coaches are so positive when they are delivering the message to their players.

"There is a concern that it might take a while to adjust, so we might see a bit of that in the first couple of weeks.

"But I think if we can get the consistency around the philosophy right, come week three or four everybody should know what they can and can't do.

"I always find the first month of the competition pretty challenging anyway. Most teams find it that way too. So it's a hard time to be doing this.

"For the sake of the competition, we really need some good games where people can say, hey, it does work and I loved that night out at that game."

Lawrence sensed teams were still trying to find the best way to optimise the new interpretations.

"I think the teams are still trying to work out what are these going to mean when we have got the ball an what can we do? What do they mean when we haven't got the ball? I think it will probably take till about till week four before it crystalises as to what they are going to do.

"It's a learning process for everyone so I just hope we get some good games that we can benchmark."

Lawrence said the All Blacks had given a glimmer of hope to the game with their impressive performance in beating the French in Marseille with running rugby late last year.

"We need more games like Marseille. I'm not saying they are going to happen every week. But it would be nice to have one or two around that were a similar type of game.

"But talking to the All Blacks on that, they said you have to have two teams that want to play that style of rugby to get that sport of game. If one team wants to play it and the other doesn't, it won't happen."

With the World Cup just over a year away, this is a crucial time for rugby. The laws can't be changed but the way they are interpreted can still allow for a better style of rugby. Sanzar have been proactive with this and how the next three months unfold will be watched closely by the IRB.

If it is to have a global influence, the teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa need to show the way forward.

Bray said it was important for his referees to make their mark early in matches. Look for penalties to be used to get their message across and for little tolerance with repeat offenders.

The referees are also going to find themselves more public figures with a requirement, where necessary, to front an explain their decisions.

Here is how Bray explains the four key areas that are under scrutiny:

Tackled Ball: "The tackler, once hitting the ground in the tackle, must release the ball and the ball carrier. This gives the ball carrier a chance to ‘play the ball', and will tidy up the tackle-ball area which has previously been weighted towards the tackler. As well, any player involved in helping make a tackle, who is in contact with the ball carrier when he is taken to ground, must then release the ball, before then attempting to contest possession, even if he is on his feet. This ensures that in Super 14, we are truly refereeing the Law at the tackle, and it provides the ball carrier with his rights, having been tackled. After this tackle, any player then on his feet, in a position of strength (his side of the tackle) may then contest possession."

Scrum engagement: "The scrum engagement must follow a true sequence, starting with all props required to touch, on the touch call. Props must also have their head and shoulders above their hips, and then hit straight on engagement. This enhances the chance of the scrum being contestable, and to stay up resulting in less resets."

Players in front of the kicker: "Players will be forced to comply with standing still or retiring in relation to being in front of the kicker. This will see referees calling for a player to stop advancing – if he continues to advance, he will be penalised and players must retire from within 10m of the receiver of a kick – otherwise an immediate penalty will be given where these players look to contest the kick. The objective is that this will improve the time and space for players to counter attack, when receiving kicks in general play, and reducing some of the aerial ping pong people we have been seeing in rugby."

Formation of the maul: "At the time that a maul is formed, players supporting the ball carrier will not be allowed to obstruct the opposition. This is intended to at least make the maul defendable at the set up stage." Bray said these initiatives are a return to the laws of the game and do not represent any change in law, but are simply limiting room for interpretation and should create clarity and certainty for coaches, players, officials and fans.