What Ian Foster said to the referees: 'He didn't think we were getting it quite right'
New Zealand Rugby national referees manager Bryce Lawrence has admitted that there are a few areas where referees must improve after the first two weeks of Super Rugby Aotearoa – a worry that was also raised by All Blacks coach Ian Foster.
The penalty count remained high over the weekend as referees and players continue to adapt to the new interpretation of the laws of the game, which has made for a less entertaining and less fluid brand of rugby during a time when the world is watching.
Speaking to Sky Sport’s The Breakdown, Lawrence said the stricter enforcement of the laws – as opposed to new laws, a distinction he stressed – has started well but there are areas that still are “a work in progress”.
“It’s been a good start,” he said. “We’re seeing changes week to week. Some positives that we’ve seen are that in week one the average penalty count was 30 and in week two that was down to 25.
“We’re getting some really good movement and player buy-in for things like offside line and space. So we’re actually starting to see some really good attack. We saw that on Sunday with the Crusaders and Hurricanes moving the ball really nicely over multiple phases.
“We’re cleaning some of the areas up that we’ve been asked to do like side entry and sealing off and things. There are still a couple of areas that are a work in progress.”
Lawrence said the new policing of the rules was a directive passed down by World Rugby.
“It’s really been led by World Rugby but also the leading international coaches in the world – Ian Foster, Eddie Jones, Joe Schmidt, those type of guys. They’re the ones that are driving it and World Rugby have listened to the coaches and the players, and have asked the referees to try and referee to the laws that currently exist.
“So it’s no new law, they’re just asking referees to referee the laws that are already there rather than go out and create all these new laws which I don’t think any of us wanted.”
However, changing the way referees officiate hasn’t been an easy task in what is already an extremely difficult and complicated job.
Lawrence said the referees are constantly reviewing and working on correcting their mistakes, which was helped by a meeting earlier in the week with Foster who expressed concern over several refereeing incidents.
“Some of it has been really successful so far. Some of it, players are taking a little while to adjust and the referees are taking a little more while to adjust. But we’re constantly talking with coaches in our review meeting during the week.
“We had Ian Foster on for half an hour talking to the refs over a range of clips where he didn’t think we were getting it quite right. What the real positive for me was the clips that he identified were exactly the clips that as a referee group we had identified. So it’s working well.”
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The referees have also had input from some of the top players in the country.
“Talking to some of the leading players – Sam Cane and James Lentjes and all that – they’re really positive of what World Rugby is trying to do. And they’re just saying it’s going to take a little bit of time for players and referees to adjust.
“We’re putting our hand up and saying there’s a couple of areas that we’re not quite getting right at the moment.”
He said there are two technical areas at the breakdown that referees need to work on, both of which have negatively impacted the attacking team and stopped the flow of the game.
“I think we’ll be better this week, we’ll be better the week after, and once we get those pictures right, we’re going to see more attack and I think a better flow. I’m realistic to know that it takes a little bit of time … we’re close but we’re not at our best at the moment.
Super Rugby Aotearoa is at risk of alienating the massive audience its acquired in the last two weeks if things don't change soon writes @realmikepulman #SuperRugbyAotearoa https://t.co/JqcbjLllX7
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 23, 2020
“I think we might see a slightly different game – a bit more attack. Look, the refs want that just as much as you do.”
Lawrence also admitted referee Ben O’Keeffe wrongly ruled a penalty against the Blues during their win over the Chiefs, which resulted in a Dalton Papalii yellow card after he was judged to have illegally stolen the ball in the ruck. He clarified that the mistake came because of an illegal use of the “squeeze ball” by the Chiefs – where the ball is placed between the legs of the ball carrier while kneeling on the ground facing the opposition.
“We believe our decision was wrong … we believe he should’ve been rewarded either with the penalty or if not the penalty let him then go forward and then pick it up the second time.
“We had a long discussion about that clip. We’re having to work out what the ‘squeeze ball’ means again because it hasn’t been in play for a couple of years. But all the teams are using it to protect the ball. We had a great discussion and then Fozzie (Foster) came in with exactly that clip and reconfirmed our thinking.”
However, there is one area of the game that referees are going to continue to be strict on: the offside line.
Lawrence said the strict ruling of offsides will continue to allow more space in the game, which he says has led to an improvement from 12 offside penalties in the first week to seven penalties in the second.
“Referees are still going hard on that area and we’re going to stick to that because space is vital. But teams are self-policing better.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
7 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
7 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
7 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments