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Rugby’s new scrum calls produced a first-night lottery according to Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie and All Blacks counterpart Steve Hansen said they created ‘another wee issue’.
The revised calls of ‘crouch, bind, set’ were on display in a high-profile match in Australia for the first time in Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship match at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.
Both camps predicted potential teething problems in the leadup to the game and they were proven correct.
It threatened to become a shemozzle when only one of the first six scrums was completed.
South African referee Craig Joubert dished out penalties for crooked scrum feeds and collapses.
Wallabies halfback Will Genia was pinged for a crooked feed into the first scrum, but his New Zealand counterpart Aaron Smith appeared to get away with the same offence a few seconds later.
Joubert was heard to utter the word “perfect” on one of those rare early occasions when a scrum was completed.
“The scrum was a bit of a lottery for both teams, so a bit of a mixed bag there,” McKenzie said after New Zealand’s 47-29 victory in his first match in charge of Australia.
Hansen initially took a tongue in cheek approach to the issue.
“I thought the scrums were great … we’ve just created another wee issue, haven’t we?,” Hansen said.
“Once we get that sorted out and the halfbacks put the ball in straight, we’ll be fine.
“And obviously, at the moment, they are being very, very vigilant on it.
“You had two sets of halfbacks out there who, every time there was a scrum, were very reluctant to put the ball in because they didn’t want to be yellow-carded.
“But I think it’s like anything – we said there would be some teething problems.
“But the great thing about it, I thought, was we didn’t have too many collapses so, once we iron out the whole thing and get used to it, I think it will be great for the game.”
Wallabies captain and lock James Horwill said it was a feeling out process for everyone, the referee included.
“They are obviously going to be pretty strict on the feed and they’ve made that pretty clear so we will learn from that,” Horwill said.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.