Ask Kamo: Ruck policing seriously slack

New Zealand All Blacks Sonny Bill Williams dances for the ball against Ireland. Photo / Greg Bowker.

Former All Black lock Ian Jones answers your questions on the current issues in rugby.

Hi Kamo

There are three rules broken that get up my nose.

1: The kick-off now is a joke - some are a couple of metres in front and this gives the chaser another couple of yards.

2: With me being an ex-hooker we loved it but the scrum put-in is now a bloody joke and I know you can see this in every scrum.

3: The blatant clearing of men out of the way in front of the ruck. In fact, often the offside player dawdles back and is in the way a lot of the time.

Kamo, it was a joy to watch you play and I think this is a wonderful way of getting our point of view across.

Cheers and many thanks.

Ross Tuck

Mildura, Victoria

Ross, rule infringements number 1 and 2 that you mentioned I can live with, because I don't think they impact greatly on the outcome. If we start asking the referees to pick up every technicality during the 80 minutes, we will get back to the stop-start game of yesteryear and that will lead, I feel, to an even greater frustration than you are feeling now. Point number 3 on infringement around the breakdown is valid and sadly increasing as the referees are allowing this off-the-ball play to go unpunished. It is around this ruck/maul area that I would like to see tidied up also, focusing on stopping the defensive player walking around the ruck, past the halfback to get back onside (he doesn't need to do this), jersey pulling and fringe defenders not getting back behind the hindmost feet.

Hi Ian

The NZRU complain about the lack of bums on seats at various games. One answer is obvious: have the big matches and tests played in daylight. I've watched rugby since the 1960s but at my age - and I wouldn't be alone - I don't feel like going out at night, especially during winter. There must be generations of kids who have never seen the All Blacks because of the late hour and poor weather. It's time the NZRU stood up to the monopolistic Sky TV and demanded a better deal. I notice the European games are not timed to suit NZ or Australian audiences.

Andy Gorrie

Dargaville.

Andy, I understand where you are coming from and realise others may feel the same way, but the reality is in this country a lot more people enjoy watching rugby at night. The numbers, both live and on TV, are overwhelming in this regard. It's important to note that Super rugby test matches are also scheduled to protect our club game. A night test match keeps players and supporters at the clubs, which keeps them financially viable.

The All Blacks are also doing a lot of work in the schools and communities they are based in during a test week as the NZRU acknowledges your point in getting more Kiwi kids in front of our sporting stars.

Things are also changing, Andy, and with the NPC kicking off in late August you will now have about 30 of the 78 games being played during the day.

Kamo,

Did you ever have any problems with the crowds at Christchurch? I was at the game on Saturday and was embarrassed by some of the arrogant behaviour of All Black fans afterwards. You must talk to a lot of people. How are NZ fans viewed overseas?

(Name withheld)

I've played a lot of rugby in Christchurch both as one of them, for the All Blacks, and against them for the Chiefs and North Harbour, and I've never had a problem with any fan down there. I was also at the test last Saturday and while it was a tense situation around me, I thought the occasion was magnificent, with the crowd acknowledging the good play from both sides. I am sorry to hear you didn't have the same experience. New Zealand is a unique rugby destination and players and fans from around the world come here to taste it alongside us - and they love it!

Hi Ian

I have noticed in test matches and Super 15 that when a penalty kick is marked the kicker either moves about two paces to the back or side or starts his run and kicks the ball from about five yards in front of the mark. While watching my son playing at the weekend a kicker from their team did it and was brought back for a scrum as not taken from the mark. Someone said that's how they do it in the TV matches and the referee said they play under different rules. My question is have different grades of rugby got different rules?

Dennis Manson

Hi Dennis. I have spoken to many first-class referees and our Super coaches about your observations and the leniency to this ruling and it is due to a desire to keep the game flowing with minimal stoppages. As for rules at different levels of the game, there are, but most of these are for safety reasons around the scrum. The message to young referees is to understand the rules of the game, but referee your matches by feel.