The proposed 'law changes' Rassie doesn't want
The game’s habitual kvetchers will be choking on their cereal, but Rassie Erasmus is opposed to a number of proposed law changes.
Matt Williams, best known for having led Scotland to 14 losses and the head anti-Springbok choir boy, would be ecstatic about the proposals.
The changes will certainly be taking the contest out of key aspects of the game, like the scrum and the high ball.
The Bok coach revealed that one of the most contentious proposed ‘adjustments’ to the laws centres around the kicking game.
“There is a lot of noise about the high ball,” Erasmus said at Springbok headquarters in the Plattekloof suburb of Cape Town.
“There is a suggestion that there is ‘too much’ kicking.
“People want certain laws changed again – which is obstruction – where they allow, after a box kick, to glove [form a protective circle] around the catcher.
“It sounds like some people [administrators] want to get that [back] in.”
The Bok coach made it clear South Africa is against that proposed change.
“We feel there is a skill, competing in the air,” he added.
“More tries are being scored [as a result of not protecting the catcher/receiver].”
The scrums is another aspect that has caused a lot of debate, especially from countries that can’t match South Africa’s brute set-piece power.
* (WATCH as Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus explains which proposed law changes he would like clarity on and those he don’t like at all….)
“There is talk about taking the ‘hit’ out of the scrum [engagement]. and let players pre-engage.
“I hope that doesn’t creep into the game.”
Another contentious aspect is the involvement of the television match official, with fussbudgets looking to reduce their role.
“Do you want [to change] that and get the wrong result?” a quizzical Erasmus said.
“It might be a spectacular game, and the TMO didn’t get involved, but then we are on the wrong side [of a critical call].
“Maybe Australia is on the wrong side of a call, because the TMO stayed out of it.”
Erasmus said it is vital to get clarity on those issues before going into a World Cup year in 2027.
“To have late law changes, in a year before a World Cup, while you are building continuity, with players getting used to the way things get done [by match officials], will be an issue.
“Hopefully, it isn’t a sudden change.
“One of the CEOs also said the process of adapting and getting law changes is taking too long.
“My opinion is: ‘Take your time’.
“Sometimes there are consequences that look cool, but the result is that a player’s value in a certain position gets taken away by a new law change.
“Take [England fullback] Freddie Steward. If you suddenly take him, going up in the contest, away by allowing escorting or gloving, which is obstruction.
“World Rugby sorted that obstruction out.
“Now you say, let us bring that back in.
“It is a game for all shapes and sizes. He is a tall fullback. Maybe not the fastest, but he is great in the air.
“The scrums got cleaned up nicely, with Mike Cron in charge of that.
“Scrums are getting refereed 10 times better.
“The breakdown is cleared out now.
“Whatever they want to have clarity on, let us not do it 18 months out from a World Cup.”
Erasmus added that with the global calendar not in place yet, the Southern Hemisphere powerhouses – South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina – won’t have enough time to adjust to any changes.
“The Six Nations countries would have played five games under the new laws, and we will be underdone.
“That is my big worry.”
@JanDKrugby
@rugby365com
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