MySport24: Have your say!

Send your thoughts and images on the weekend's Super Rugby action to Sport@news24.co.za and we'll hit the publish button!

Get Sport24 on your mobile

m.sport24.co.za

Rugby

Bryce 'was final straw'

2012-02-02 20:03

Email | Print

Johan Ackermann (Gallo Images)

Related Links

Johannesburg - The Lions’ squad members will play against each other on Friday to gain match fitness and get to grips with the laws that referees will be focusing on during the competition.

And assistant Johan Ackermann said the breakdowns would be strictly umpired following Kiwi referee Bryce Lawrence’s controversial handling of the breakdowns in the Springboks’ defeat to Australia in last year’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final.

"That was apparently the final straw and referees were told to improve the umpiring of the breakdowns," Ackermann said.

Assistant referees at Super Rugby level would also be called upon to monitor the offside lines at the ruck and maul and infringements close to the touchline.

The coach said the offside line would receive greater attention from referees during this Super Rugby competition.

This year could be a deciding one for the future of the scrums as teams have been warned to straighten up this area of the game.

It is understood that referees have been told to reduce the amounts of restarts by 20% or radical changes could be introduced which would change this facet of the game.

Read more on: super 15 | johan ackermann

Follow Sport24 on Twitter and Facebook

Comment on this story

33 comments

Add your comment

Logout

Comment 0 characters remaining

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Live Video Streaming

England v West Indies: 2nd Test, Day 1
Fri, 25 May 2012 @
11:45
BMW PGA Championship: Day 2
Fri, 25 May 2012 @
15:00
IPL: Chennai Super Kings v Delhi Daredevils
Fri, 25 May 2012 @
16:15
IAAF World Challenge League: 51st Ostrava Golden Spike
Fri, 25 May 2012 @
18:30

Show full schedule

Video Highlights

Latest rugby news from Blitz
Thu, 24 May 2012 @
22:00
Super Rugby: Chiefs v Bulls
Fri, 25 May 2012 @
13:19
Super Rugby: Working the Blindside
Thu, 24 May 2012 @
10:24
Preview: South Africa v England, 1st test
Tue, 22 May 2012 @
10:24

Show more videos

Sport Talk

TMO – Try-scoring Maybe Over?
The road to hell, they say, is paved with good intentions, and it is in that direction that we...

Breaking News

- Axed Samoa captain wants PM out
  
  Rugby
  10:14
- Chiefs hang on to beat the Bulls
  
  Rugby
  09:08
- Chop the tall poppies - or else
  
  Rugby
  14:49
- Montpellier looking for hat-trick of titles
  
  Rugby
  13:04
- Working the Blindside - Ep 14
  
  Rugby
  10:51
- Loosies will decide Durban battle
  
  Rugby
  10:17

Live Scoring by SuperSport

England vs West Indies
West Indies are 72 for 4 after 23 overs
Other live scores | View video clips
Sunshine Tour
Click here for live scoring
Other live scores | View video clips
European Tour
Click here for live scoring
Other live scores | View video clips
USPGA Tour
Click here for live scoring
Other live scores | View video clips

Latest Multimedia

VIDEO: Josh Strauss's magic beard

The weird and wonderful beard of Lions captain Josh Strauss.

More Multimedia

VIDEO: Becks plays Beethoven
David Beckham's precise footwork with a 15-foot wall of drums as he plays Beethoven's Ode to Joy.
GALLERY: Key S15 match-ups
All the key match-ups in Saturday's Super Rugby derby between the Sharks and Stormers in Durban.
VIDEO: Hilarious Usain Bolt ad
Usain Bolt, Fernando Alonso, Rickie Fowler, Yuvraj Singh, and Sergio Agüero join forces in this hilarious new Puma advert.
VIDEO: Drogba says 'bye' to fans
Didier Drogba thanks the fans for their support over the past 8 years, as he prepares to leave Chelsea for greener pastures.

WIN! WIN! WIN!

R1 000 Mr Price Sport shopping voucher!

Facebook

Click to 'Like' Sport24 on Facebook

Featured Blog

Bullseye or just bull?

Met Uysh! says Heyneke's squad confirms what most non Bull supporters feared most: Bulls favouritism. How could he have left out Siya Kolisi and Robert Ebersohn but included JJ Englebrecht, Zane Kirchner and Akona Ndungane?

Latest blogs