Rugby must not go soft on the true red card offences

ALL those supporters from the UK and around the world who tuned into the Super Rugby Aeotearoa matches in New Zealand last weekend will feel a tinge of jealousy.

- JEREMY GUSCOTT

The 40,000 crowd at Eden Park, Auckland, made it look as if life was back to normal, and although it was great to see a stadium full of people enjoying themselves, chatting, eating and drinking, and acting normally, it also looked strange, especially to those in lockdown here.

I have no idea when we will see scenes like that again in this hemisphere, especially in the UK.

As far as the rugby spectacle was concerned, we saw plenty of things we’ve come to expect from skilful, accomplished New Zealand players, and the new rules introduced for the tournament produced a lot of food for thought – especially at the breakdown.

There were 30 penalties in all, with a large number given for breakdown infringements, ranging from side entry to a delayed release by the tackled player. It’s been a long time coming, and in my view that clarity should never have gone out of the way the breakdown is refereed.

We have listened to referees telling players they are infringing, and then doing nothing but warn them, for far too long. Referees got into a zone where they were coaching players rather than penalising them, and the idea that we have to reset this, rather than it already being in place, is a sign of where we have got it wrong.

This is simply refereeing the game as it should always have been. You penalise a player and then tell him why, NOT tell a player he’s getting it wrong, and then let it go.

I’m happy with the sin-bin and a red card as they are, and I’m not convinced by the new red card ruling in New Zealand which allows for a player who has been sent off to be replaced by another player after 20 minutes.