'He was shocking': The Rugby Pod's brutal verdict on Romain Poite's Wales vs England scrum decisions
Former Scotland lock Jim Hamilton has lambasted French referee Romain Poite for his ineffective handling of the scrums in last Saturday’s Autumn Nations Cup match between England and Wales in Llanelli. The English won a dour struggle 24-13 that wasn’t helped by the frustrating set-piece ruling by the official from France.
England boss Eddie Jones refused to comment, claiming he doesn’t assess referees in public after a match, but Wales coach Wayne Pivac wasn’t shy in giving Poite a piece of his mind, saying: “There were a number of penalties awarded at the scrum and, in some cases, wrongly. If a prop loses his footing and a scrum goes down, it is his fault. They got six points through that.”
Now, The Rugby Pod have got in on the act, criticising referee Poite for ruining what should have been a good Wales vs England spectacle and adding that more teams must adopt the Exeter tactic of the quick tap from free-kicks rather than being allowed to opt for a scrum, setting in train all over again the time-draining set-piece.
“I thought he [Poite] was shocking,” said Hamilton, a veteran of 63 caps for the Scots between 2006 and 2015. “Genuinely. You look at the standard of players on show.
“We can talk about the physicality and maybe some law changes which we think might help, but ultimately you have got a referee that isn’t refereeing the game to the standard it needs to be reffed at.
Sounds like Eddie Jones had Hitchcock on his mind at the break in Llanelli#AutumnNationsCup #WALvENG ??????????????https://t.co/tQHqcBFgt6
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 28, 2020
“It’s going to be a difficult one to talk about. We can talk about the high tackle from Elliot Daly, we can talk about taking (Dan) Biggar out in the air as well. The big one for me is around the scrum because the reset saps the energy out of the spectator.
“Watching the game unfold, Romain Poite is making the wrong calls at the scrum. I’m not a scrum expert but I understand the scrums. I understand when there needs to be a reset. You can see when a prop slipped. You can see when players are trying to cheat, which they don’t do anymore because the players want it in and out mainly.
“You will get a dominant scrum who will want to keep it in, but it’s very rare now that scrums get pulled down or there is a manipulation around it. The players want the game to move forward. I’m watching him referee the scrum, it was nothing worse than shocking.
“That is one thing we can talk about, what happens with all these scrum resets…. what I have really enjoyed is Exeter starting the trend of tap and go. Just go. That is one thing they need to take out, if there is a free-kick, forget the scrum, tap and go big fella, or if it’s defensively, give them a long arm, give them a penalty.”
Ex-England out-half Andy Goode, Hamilton’s show co-host, used to salivate over the scrum being the ideal attacking platform for a backline but feels that opportunity to exploit the space which exists at the set-piece is now lost.
“It’s the only time you have got eight players tied up from each team and you have got more space than when you are attacking against a solid defensive line that are just flying off the line. I used to love scrums and trying to formulate an attack to manipulate a defence,” he said.
“Effectively a lot the time you can have all seven backs in a backs move from a left-hand side scrum coming up against four, four-and-a-half defenders. That is what a back should get excited but we are not being able to see that because scrums just aren’t being completed.
“It’s then going to a free-kick and resets and you’re right, referees like Romain Poite do not have a clue and I’m saying that as an Englishman, we got 95 per cent of the decisions going our way at the weekend. Imagine being Welsh and watching Romain Poite referee that game. I’m not taking anything away from England. We thoroughly deserved to win and it wouldn’t have changed anything, but he was brutal.”
Top-quality chat from former French International and Jim's new English teacher @BenjaminKayser on this week's episode?
Have a listen ?
iTunes – https://t.co/jxbVv4Pmou
Acast – https://t.co/w8PlocwkND pic.twitter.com/MjhtnZJ7RP— The Rugby Pod (@TheRugbyPod) December 1, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
2 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
10 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
2 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
2 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
10 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
10 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
10 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to commentsCockerill was an abrasive player in the mould of a Georgian front rower who will have the respect of that pack. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with this exciting team, hopefully they can send a message to unions like Wales that money alone doesn't buy you wins.
2 Go to commentsI like the look of those July matches. Hopefully they'll get some good tests in November too.
2 Go to commentsThis is a poor article, essentially just trolling six nations teams
22 Go to comments