If we have to live with rugby’s infuriating scrum resets, I wish more referees would take a leaf out of Lourens van der Merwe’s book — even if, strictly speaking, the South African whistleblower may be overstepping the mark.
I’m not big on stats, but no doubt there are boffins out there with some pretty damning figures showing just how much this blight on the game can eat into playing time.
How interesting then to see van der Merwe, in charge of last Friday night’s Hurricanes-Chiefs match in Wellington, call “time off” after several scrum collapses -until both packs had regained their footing and were ready to re-engage.
Fox Sports’ Kiwi commentators were quick to question whether a referee is actually entitled to stop the clock in such circumstances – and I, like them, haven’t been able to come up with the definitive answer.
But they were just as quick to commend van der Merwe’s refreshingly commonsense approach.
What a shame, whatever the reason, it’s not the norm.
ScrumJunkie
Guest
Why miss the most exciting part of the game with an ad break? Stopping the clock would lessen the amount of resets, it takes away the major incentive.
Peter Thomson
Roar Guru
Fair point, Ralph, but if he wants to keep his job ... given the scenario I was referring to, it'd be interesting to get the definitive view of SANZAR refs boss Lyndon Bray.
Peter Thomson
Roar Guru
AdamS, we could get bogged down on this but you might be interested in what the IRB law (5.3) says in relation to "timekeeping": "The referee keeps the time but may delegate the duty to either or both the touch judges and/or the official time-keeper, in which case the referee signals to them any stoppage of time or time lost. In matches without an official time-keeper, if the referee is in doubt as to the correct time the referee consults either or both the touch judges and may consult others but only if the touch judges cannot help."
Neuen
Roar Rookie
Totally agree. Also they used it to wind the clock down when someone is in the bin.
Peter Thomson
Roar Guru
If you check the scheduling, carnivean, I don't seriously think it's ever that tight that it could become a major issue. But, yes, the overriding benefit is, as you say, spectators/viewers aren't being short-changed -- and, of course, if it's in the dying stages of a match there's no incentive for a team to attempt to run the clock down by employing delaying tactics before the reset.
AdamS
Roar Guru
It just shouldn't be his responsability. If you want more time offs, have the timekeeper do it anytime the ball is dead. Not like he has anything else to do.. I'd rather the ref focus on the game.
Peter Thomson
Roar Guru
Quite apart from the fact that the referee would no doubt have one of his assistants (or the TMO) in his ear very smartly, I 'd suggest if we can't rely on top-flight referees to remember to call "time on", we're in trouble.
Neuen
Roar Rookie
Maybe the Americans will like it more as they can have add breaks during scrum time
Ralph Stanfield
Roar Rookie
The referee is the sole judge on the field. He can do whatever he wants.
Slim Jim
Guest
Wouldn't it be great if the clock stopped every time the ball went dead, surely we would then get our monies worth of 80 minutes of play rather than the 20,30 or if we are lucky 40 minutes
carnivean
Roar Rookie
I really hope that he was trialling it on behalf of Lyndon Bray (or whoever is boss now). The broadcasters will probably hate it when the games start running over time, but the spectators won't be short-changed on match time.
AdamS
Roar Guru
It's a nice idea but fraught with peril If they want to do this it shouldn't be the refs job, but the timekeepers. One day, he (the ref) is going to forget to call time on and all hell will break loose.