The three-point problem that Super Rugby Aotearoa needs to fix fast
Super Rugby Aotearoa has three big problems that need to be fixed quickly to keep the large crowds rolling through the turnstiles.
Those three problems are obvious: the number of penalties, a clear confusion by all Super Rugby teams on how each game will be officiated and, subsequently, a slower than desired adjustment by players who’ve often found that the best-laid plans in training around the breakdown go out the window quickly.
If not addressed, these problems will trickle down to players struggling to deliver a consistent product.
For all the enthusiasm and commitment to the opening two weeks which have seen larger than usual crowds, such a result at the end of Super Rugby Aotearoa would be a tremendous shame.
So far, the referee’s whistle has been just as big a part of the game as any individual or team brilliance on either side, to the point where some of the paying customers could literally be heard counting the number of penalties in the stands.
Particularly in Dunedin in the very first match between the Highlanders and Chiefs, fans could’ve been forgiven for feeling like they were watching rugby played as a game of force back where the last team who had the ball with any sort of field position would be the winner by way of penalty.
That’s not the brand of rugby Super Rugby Aotearoa wants to be remembered for.
Across the four games of the competition so far, over 100 penalties have been dished out.
After the opening weekend of competition, NZR’s refereeing department had lengthy discussions with coaches, answering questions on the interpretations of the breakdown law that came out of the first two games.
In the aftermath of week two, it wasn’t obvious that players had a greater gauge on the rules – so expect further discussions.
Following his sides 24-12 loss to the Blues in Hamilton on Saturday, Chiefs coach Warren Gatland expressed frustration over how referee Ben O’Keeffe had officiated.
“It was a little bit frustrating because tonight it was refereed quite a bit different to last week at the breakdown”, Gatland said.
“One referee sees one picture and the other sees it slightly differently, they’re trying to speed things up and make the game faster but as long as they keep being consistent on the tackler the impetus is on us to get better”.
On the impetus front, Gatland hits the nail on the head. If the game is indeed to be faster, players are going to have to adjust to these rulings and get better, particularly around creating more space which only comes from cracking down on the offside law.
The Crusaders win was never in doubt, despite the close scoreline for the large portion of the match. And that's just because they are better, writes Hamish Bidwell. #HURvCRU #SuperRugbyAotearoa https://t.co/b2JSR4L5dw
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 22, 2020
Another area that players need to make concerted efforts in is addressing the act of coming into the side of the ruck at pace and knocking opposition out of the way. So far in SRA, that law has been officiated harshly and players themselves admit it is a good thing for the game moving forward.
But confusion reigns, particularly amongst coaches and players, thanks largely to different rulings during the opening fortnight.
Blues coach Leon MacDonald said that further discussions with NZR would be taking place as the Blues seek greater consistency from referees from week to week.
“We will be seeking clarity because the consistency from one week to the next is what everyone’s looking for while we are all trying to adapt to the new rules,” MacDonald said
“We all see the upside of the laws and what they’re trying to achieve, but we need to be open and honest with ourselves during the review. We want to play and people want to watch, that’s what everyone is searching for”.
What’s clear about the new interpretations is that they aim to make for faster attacking ball and a fairer contest between teams. If executed properly by all parties (referees and players), the new rules should make for entertaining rugby, at least when it’s played on a dry track.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBuGmOQg9lC/
What’s also interesting is that the four games played so far have also seen a high amount of kicks in play. Territorial battles that amount to a glorified kick fest, particularly in wet conditions, aren’t the answer to keeping fans in the stands and this needs to be looked at, though trying to find a way to combat it is outside the scoop of what referees can control.
Referees have been instructed to be strict in their officiating in the areas they can control, so should the majority of the frustration be aimed at players?
The good thing is that NZR appear to be in constant communication with coaches who now have more questions than ever about how games will be officiated.
Let’s just hope it’s sorted out quickly.
Ultimately, creating a faster and more entertaining game is going to require a team effort because, yes, the impetus should be on players to adjust and clean up this area of the game, but they also can’t come close to doing that do without clear guidelines about these news laws that are spelled out in black and white.
Comments on RugbyPass
Except for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
33 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
33 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
33 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
33 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
33 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
33 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
33 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to comments