Former Irish referee Owen Doyle has once again demanded that World Rugby stop tinkering with the laws following another fantastic Six Nations weekend.
In the third round of the historic competition, there was some superb rugby played with Ireland, Scotland and France emerging victorious.
But before those matches had even taken place, Doyle was extolling the virtues of the sport in its current guise.
Frustration with World Rugby
“It’s a wonderful tournament, proof that there isn’t really much wrong with the laws of the game,” he wrote in his Irish Times column.
“Those who wish to tinker with them must be resisted. Rugby union is not and must not become an all-singing, all-dancing game.
“Even if that means disobliging the new World Rugby chair, Brett Robinson, who seems to be in an almighty hurry to change things. World Rugby’s constituent unions should not follow suit – there is absolutely no need.”
Fast forward a week and Doyle watched Ireland produce 80 minutes of spellbinding rugby as they hammered England 42-21 in the Six Nations at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
The former Test official, who was also referee boss at the IRFU for two decades, has duly doubled down on his view and urged the governing body to keep the game as it is.
“Surely, it’s time for World Rugby’s chair, Australian Brett Robinson, to recognise that it’s time to call a halt to the law tinkerers,” he wrote.
“Their ideas are based only on what they imagine the game will become, and which we don’t want in any case. It was a wondrous match – and that’s the story of the Six Nations to date.
“Full of contests, both individual and collective, and full of running rugby; these are all ingredients which make rugby union a great game.
“If Robinson isn’t minded to get involved, there must be enough unions who will speak out – staying silent is not an option.”
‘Absolutely no need for change’ – Ex-referee urges top unions to ‘disoblige’ World Rugby boss
England’s dominant scrum not a factor
There has been a determination from World Rugby, following on from a concerted effort by New Zealand and Australia, to depower the scrum.
After the governing body took away the option of a scrum following a free-kick, Super Rugby are now trialing two more laws which is designed to reduce the impact of that set-piece.
But as Doyle pointed out, England dominated in the front-row on Saturday and had Ireland under pressure for the majority of the match.
That came a week after the Red Rose props sent the Scotland scrum into reverse, but in both cases Steve Borthwick’s men did not get close to their opponents on the scoreboard.
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It shows that teams have to be strong in all facets with the scrum not the decisive factor those in Australia and New Zealand think it is.
“Ireland conceded five penalties at the scrum, and still that made no difference. The English front row is a three-headed beast,” Doyle added.
“But, with the pace Ireland put on the ball, they didn’t seem to be much use elsewhere. Steve Borthwick now finds himself firmly on the horns of a very different beast, a horrible dilemma.
“The chariot has lost more than its wheels, and selection-wise the coach has to decide whether to stick or twist.”