“We learned about all this a month ago. There was a presentation and we had a video meeting with the national technical management of refereeing with the game leaders and captains,” explains Laurent Cardona.
The former referee, in charge of discipline within the Angoumois staff, details the three main new features which aim “to have greater playing time”.
1. Throws not straight
Until now, throws into touch deemed not fair by the referee were automatically punished with a scrum in favor of the opposing team. “From now on, if the defending team chooses not to jump, the referee will let it play. Except, obviously, if the incorrect throw is deemed voluntary,” explains Laurent Cardona.
“On the other hand, if it is a throw beyond the 15 meter line, opposition or not, there will always automatically be a scrum if it is not straight,” he specifies. “The stated objective is to reduce the number of scrums which disrupt the match in order to have as much playing time as possible. »
2. Thirty seconds to play throw-ins and scrums
With the same desire to always speed up the game, “World Rugby” has decided to limit the time allowed for a throw into touch and an introduction into scrum to thirty seconds.
“There will be no official time as with a penalty attempt, but it is at the discretion of the referee from the moment the linesman marks the location of the throw,” explains the former Top 14 referee. “In the same way, the countdown starts when the referee has marked with his foot the place where the scrum takes place.”
Beyond the thirty-second barrier, the team in possession of the ball will be penalized with a free kick. A development which should not change much for the SA XV, estimates Laurent Cardona: “We have calculated that a scrum or a touch that goes well takes on average 18 to 20 seconds. »
-3. Protection of the scrum half
“The objective of this change is to protect the scrum half, or any other player in a relay position, behind a scrum or a maul,” explains Laurent Cardona, who details: “On a scrum, the 9 which defended will no longer be able to go beyond the line which demarcates the middle of the scrum. It is now impossible to press the opposing scrum-half behind his number eight. » Scrum exits will therefore be much more fluid.
Same concern for facilitating game launches behind mauls. “On a spinning maul, defenders could find themselves in the opposing camp while remaining linked and then put pressure on the 9. From now on, this is prohibited. The only players who can intervene are those who are behind the structure,” explains the former referee.
“We have only been working for weeks and we have had time to adapt,” he adds. “We are not immune to the fact that there are mistakes with fatigue, but it is rather well understood.” First answers Friday evening against Dax.
SA XV – Dax: press conference Thursday from 11:30 a.m.
The weekly press conference of the SA XV will take place on Thursday from 11:30 a.m. on the eve of the reception of Dax on behalf of the 18e Pro D2 day. Manager Alexandre Ruiz and scrum half Manu Saubusse are expected there. To follow live video on the Charente Libre website.
Provence – SA XV on Friday February 21 at 7 p.m. The SA XV will once again have the honors of Canal+ during its trip to Aix-en-Provence on Friday February 21 on behalf of the 21e Pro D2 day. Kick-off will be brought forward to 7 p.m. Until then, the SA XV will play on February 7 in Brive at 9 p.m.
