All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has revealed that hip-drop and knee-drop tackles were the main topics of a recent World Rugby meeting in London, describing the sudden focus on the outlawed techniques as “a bit of an epidemic.” The gathering of the game’s leading figures, with head coaches from top nations in attendance, took place ahead of the November leg of the Nations Championship.
Focus on Tackle Laws
Rennie, speaking to the media after naming his team for Scotland, provided clarity on the discussions. We talked about knee drop and hip drop tackles and got a little bit of clarity around how that’s going to be refereed,
he said. The All Blacks boss was puzzled by the sudden urgency to outlaw the hip-drop tackles, noting no one has ever talked about it. Now it seems to be a bit of an epidemic.
From a safety point of view, he added, it’ll be refereed strongly.
The coaches also discussed the brake foot law, with referees stating they have a clear process around it, and the maul, focusing on how pulling and dragging is now being refereed.
TMO Protocol Debated
Another topic at the meeting was the role of the TMO, a point of controversy, particularly with New Zealand and Australian pundits. There have been suggestions that the fourth officials’ role will be reduced for the Nations Championships but Rennie believes that it will still all depend on who the officials are in each match,
Planet Rugby reports. It might depend on who’s refereeing and who’s in the box. There’s no doubt some referees have strong relationships with the TMO, and so maybe there’ll be a bit more trust or intervention,
Rennie commented.
Desire for Streamlined Officiating
I think all we want is to have a TMO to come in when required and if unsure, then stay out.
What we can’t have is we are stopping a game for two or three minutes and then find out that it’s just play on,
he stated. Rennie acknowledged the difficulty of officiating, suggesting everyone’s aligned, including all the officials.
They all want a game that keeps moving.
