New Zealand Rugby reveal back-up plan for Auckland Bledisloe Cup test if COVID-19 restrictions remain in place

Most times the team that deserves the scrum penalty gets the penalty. I can think of many games that have been won or lost because of poor TMO decisions (with the benefit of multiple replays and angles) and hardly any because of a scrum penalty awarded to the undeserving team.

I’m not sure why I’m even suggesting this - but surely referees should be better (better trained) on officiating scrums. My 11 year old daughter could call most scrum penalties correctly.

However, constant re-setting of scrums is boring and a waste of time.

Worse is when the referee penalizes the dominant pack for a collapse or awards a penalty when neither pack has established dominance and then that team scores points off a referees mistake or 50/50 call.

The team awarded the scrum penalty gets guaranteed clean ball from the ensuing scrum and the offending team will be punished by being on the backfoot.

If one team is consistently being penalized for collapses, bin the prop responsible.

Faster! Faster! You miserable slow basterds!

Good idea 👍

I would really like to see all conversions and penalty kicks at goals being reduced to 15 seconds, that is get rid of the kicking tee and make them all drop goals, 7s style. That way teams will be forced to play more instead of these 60 meters penalties.

I expect another 70% season in 2025. A perfectly respectable outcome in a year where boldness in selections and blooding new talent is vital.

Razor went for respectable and safe in 2024. Build a relatively solid foundation. Albeit a boring one with more questions than answers. But he has to take a few chances in selections in 2025 or stick around 70% with the current crop to 2027 AND miss a World Cup medal.

The question is whether the NZ public can live with another 70% season whilst Razor and his 5-7 assistant coaches get their feet properly under their desks. I suspect they will accept 70% if they see innovation. And I suspect they won’t accept 70% if they don’t and it’s more of the same.

But indeed DMac is the best 10 NZ has got. Can’t argue that.

I genuinely am concerned about messing with the most unique part of Rugby Union.

I don’t really see what the issue is with teams scrumming for penalties* - but I take the point about refs being under pressure and making the wrong call.

(*I mean putting 16 forwards into a meat grinder for a knock-on or forward pass seems a bit harsh too!)

But winning a penalty/penalty advantage encourages the attacking team to have a crack at it with space when a free kick turns the whole thing into a ruck. And all 8 forwards leisurely fan out in a line ready to receive you. Unless it’s a quick tap which it rarely is.

The penalty also gives teams a reason to kick for territory and set up an attacking lineout. Which means more tries.

I also don’t get why scrums should be a deterrent to gaining “new fans”. Perhaps the drama and mystique (including the time wasted) setting up and engaging in scrums should be glorified over the shrill complaining about how slow the game is. Why put down as a negative something that is great albeit an acquired taste? Market the scrum. Don’t change it.

Has anyone watched American sports? Built in boredom which Rugby is far from if we’re close to 40mins in play time!

Stopping the clock during resets makes perfect sense. As for the rest. Leave the scrum alone please.

PS. How come American sports can have the clock start or stop on a dime, as a finger brushes a ball, but we can’t have a clock start on the hit in a scrum?

A pet hate of mine is how some English refs (not Luke Pearce or Matt Carley funnily enough) will say "use it or reset" if the scrum has gone down despite the ball successfully making its way to the feet of the #8. Under no circumstances should that ever lead to a reset.