Jake pleads for review of 'illogical' water break rule as he bemoans Bulls' indiscipline

Bulls mentor Jake White implored World Rugby and local bodies to have a re-look at the current water break regulations.

The rule, which allows for two short intervals per half, is under scrutiny again after it directly contributed to the men from Pretoria's 28-14 victory over Connacht at Loftus taking over two hours to complete.

Admittedly, a few injuries and several long TMO deliberations also played a big part, but there was little doubt the overall spectacle was adversely affected.   

"The one area we need to look at are these water breaks. I'm not quite sure about them taking place at so many different times as determined by the match officials," said White.

"I don't know how other teams feel, but I generally don't think it's helping us. These breaks could come at a really important time in the game, like when you're building pressure.

"We've got to look at it again, either it has to be in specific slots like every 20 minutes or just can them."

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The general understanding for this year's URC is that the slots should take place after 15 and 30 minutes in each half.

Yet, as Italian referee Andrea Piardi had to juggle other stoppages, his water breaks bordered on becoming arbitrary.

"I don't think it's really about the weather, about whether it's hot or not. What just needs to happen is for the officials to decide what time these breaks take place," said White. 

"The referee is worrying about so many other things too that he might just decide: 'Water break!'. I don't understand what the logic is when it comes to calling those intervals.

"They open themselves up to scrutiny. For example, if they call a break just when a team is starting to