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Rassie Erasmus reveals 3 point plan to save rugby

South African Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus shouts instruction to his players during the 1st test at Cape Town Stadium on July 24, 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images)

Springboks director of rugby Rassie Erasmus says he wants World Rugby to introduce two referees as part of a three-point refereeing plan to improve the sport.

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The South African predicts rugby could be heading for ‘trouble’ if it doesn’t move to clean up the grey areas of the game that frustrate so many viewers and put off potential new fans. Despite his highly publicised spat with World Rugby in the aftermath of the British & Irish Lions series, Erasmus wants more officials involved in Test rugby.

Writing in his Mail on Sunday column Erasmus calls for a radical rethink of how the breakdown and the scrum is officiated, and for the length of time kickers take to kick to be properly policed.

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We are joined by Springbok rugby royalty with very special guest Siya Kolisi | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 31

We’re joined by Springbok royalty, Siya Kolisi, who discusses his incredible journey to becoming one of the most iconic players the sport has ever seen. Siya discusses his career journey both on and off the pitch including – altercations off the filed, the genius of Rassie Erasmus as a coach and selector, URC vs super rugby, the possibility of moving to play in Europe, his thoughts on Boks joining six nations, resetting rugby pathway, an incredible impromptu supper with Gerald Buttler, Drinks with Jurgen Klopp & Roc Nations positive influence on rugby.

“The idea of two referees sounds radical and it has been tried, but it can work if done correctly. If it’s efficient and non-intrusive, it could make a massive difference around the tackle/breakdown area.

“The breakdown is so complicated for players, coaches, referees and fans alike. As a referee, you need five pairs of eyes to see what is going on at a breakdown — otherwise you are guessing,” wrote the outspoken South African.

Scrums are another area of the game in which the 49-year-old believes another set of eyes are needed.

“For international rugby, why not form a group of world-class scrummaging experts — former players or coaches — to serve as specialist scrummaging referees?” asks Erasmus.

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According to the column, scrum experts would be allowed to roam the sidelines and then run onto the pitch to officiate scrums when the set-piece is contested, even if the former front rowers used as scrum experts would have to be kept relatively fit to execute the role.

“Get them in the gym so they are on and off the pitch quickly. It would be their only job, so they would have no impact on the rest of the game.

“There are about 20 scrums a match so you could even put a microphone on them and link them up to the TV commentary team so the viewers understand what’s going on. ”

He also wants the ‘shot clock’ on kicks to be more strictly managed. Currently, penalties must be taken within 60 seconds and conversions within 90 seconds. 

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“We are regularly involved in matches where the kicker goes 20 seconds over the allowance,” bemoaned the former Munster coach. “If there are six kicks at goal in a match, that could waste two minutes of ball-in-play time. Put a countdown clock on the big screens and if the time runs out then they lose the kick.

“If we want to see more ball-in-play time then we need to make sure there is less ball-out-of-play time. If a team goes into a huddle before a lineout, stop the clock. If a guy goes down to tie his shoelaces or take a drink before a scrum, stop the clock. We could easily increase the ball-in-play time by between seven and 10 minutes by enforcing the laws as they are written and again no one will have to adapt to any law changes.”

Erasmus also wants the sport to adopt the long-talked-about global calendar, which he believes will put teams on a level footing going into Test matches.

“If we had a global season, everyone could start adapting on one specified date and nobody is playing catch up.”

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4 Comments
i
isaac 918 days ago

So clearly all these penalties at ruck and breakdowns have been guesses by refs...so basically all teams defending who not only are penalised with 3 points after 3 points because of ref guesses is really baffling....need a ref to clarify this please...at test match level countries are denied because of someone guessing????

J
JB 918 days ago

These are good ideas, but it’s a little ironic to hear Rassie talking about speeding the game up and having more ball in play. The Springboks have turned time wasting into an art form. Meandering to set piece, meetings before kickoffs, mysteriously cascading injury breaks when they have gained a late lead. Dare I mention the water? Before SA fans get wound up, I think Rassie is a legend, I would give anything to have a coach like him down here, but if we are looking at these things then all of the above need attention too. Properly enforce time limits for set piece, if you’re lineout hasn't formed you concede the ball. Ban the caterpillar ruck, enforce the use it or lose it rule properly. Rolling subs to stop the injury breaks, play carries on for minor injuries and players move to sideline. Rules around water carriers and coaching. It goes on.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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