Rassie Erasmus: South African director of rugby suggests a three-point plan to improve the game

South Africa’s director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has revealed his radical template to improve the game.

Erasmus’s concept has three points of focus; a second referee to assist with the breakdown, scrum specialist referees and clamping down on time-wasting, particularly around kicking at goal.

Writing in his column for the Daily Mail, Erasmus acknowledges how radical his ideas seem, but believes a breakdown referee will help govern a complicated facet of the game.

“The idea of two referees sounds radical and it has been tried, but it can work if done correctly. If it’s efficient and non-intrusive, it could make a massive difference around the tackle/breakdown area,” Erasmus wrote.

“The breakdown is so complicated for players, coaches, referees and fans alike. As a referee, you need five pairs of eyes to see what is going on at a breakdown – otherwise you are guessing.”

Scrums are an essential part of the game and Erasmus believes experts coming onto the field to help the referee could be a good move, with microphones on the set-piece gurus also helping to inform the audience.

“For international rugby, why not form a group of world-class scrummaging experts – former players or coaches – to serve as specialist scrummaging referees?” the Springboks director of rugby added.

“Get them in the gym so they are on and off the pitch quickly. It would be their only job, so they would have no impact on the rest of the game.”

“There are about 20 scrums a match so you could even put a microphone on them and link them up to the TV commentary team so the viewers understand what’s going on.”

Erasmus believes the ball can be in play for two extra minutes for every six kicks by clamping down on how long a goal kicker takes to complete his