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Bloemfontein – Free State did not scrum well against the Sharks and will put that right against the Pumas on Friday.
However, coach Naka Drotské believes the Cheetahs were disadvantaged by referee Pro Legoete at the scrums. They conceded a number of free kicks.
Drotské said that Legoete had spoken to the front rows before the game and told them that he would delay his instructions with the engage at the scrums.
“I totally disagree with the free kicks at the engage. We reviewed footage of the incidents and don’t think the decisions were consistent.
“Pro said before the game that his call would be longer. I don’t know why because it makes it difficult. If the timing of the two front rows are out, someone can break his neck.
“Now there are changes to the call all the time. Then it’s slow and then it’s fast.”
Drotské believes it’s difficult to determine who is guilty of an early engage, particularly if the referee’s approach is different.
“If the front rows face up to one another and the referee says ‘crouch, touch, pause’ and does not say ‘engage’, it is an early engagement. But all six players engaged early. If you didn’t, why is your head there? Who do you penalise? Pro penalised us on our ball for early engagement,” said Drotské.
“The Sharks did the same on their ball, but he only penalised them once, whereas we were penalised four or five times.”
Drotské is dismissive of the remarks by Sharks coach John Plumtree that there are always problems with the scrums when his team plays the Cheetahs.
“I differ with his comments. He probably remembers what happened in the scrums in last year’s Currie Cup semifinal. It’s psychological games from his side.”
Even so, the Cheetahs will sweat during scrumming training.
“We are not satisfied at all. We have not scrummed as well as we would have liked for the entire season. We placed emphasis on it before the Bulls game and scrummed brilliantly,” said Drotské.
“After that the guys went into a comfort zone. We spoke very hard. Our scrumming cost us the game against the Sharks. But it’s nothing we can’t fix. It’s little things.
“It’s also a psychological thing. The players have to take responsibility and buy in.”
Bloemfontein – Free State did not scrum well against the Sharks and will put that right against the Pumas on Friday.
However, coach Naka Drotské believes the Cheetahs were disadvantaged by referee Pro Legoete at the scrums. They conceded a number of free kicks.
Drotské said that Legoete had spoken to the front rows before the game and told them that he would delay his instructions with the engage at the scrums.
“I totally disagree with the free kicks at the engage. We reviewed footage of the incidents and don’t think the decisions were consistent.
“Pro said before the game that his call would be longer. I don’t know why because it makes it difficult. If the timing of the two front rows are out, someone can break his neck.
“Now there are changes to the call all the time. Then it’s slow and then it’s fast.”
Drotské believes it’s difficult to determine who is guilty of an early engage, particularly if the referee’s approach is different.
“If the front rows face up to one another and the referee says ‘crouch, touch, pause’ and does not say ‘engage’, it is an early engagement. But all six players engaged early. If you didn’t, why is your head there? Who do you penalise? Pro penalised us on our ball for early engagement,” said Drotské.
“The Sharks did the same on their ball, but he only penalised them once, whereas we were penalised four or five times.”
Drotské is dismissive of the remarks by Sharks coach John Plumtree that there are always problems with the scrums when his team plays the Cheetahs.
“I differ with his comments. He probably remembers what happened in the scrums in last year’s Currie Cup semifinal. It’s psychological games from his side.”
Even so, the Cheetahs will sweat during scrumming training.
“We are not satisfied at all. We have not scrummed as well as we would have liked for the entire season. We placed emphasis on it before the Bulls game and scrummed brilliantly,” said Drotské.
“After that the guys went into a comfort zone. We spoke very hard. Our scrumming cost us the game against the Sharks. But it’s nothing we can’t fix. It’s little things.
“It’s also a psychological thing. The players have to take responsibility and buy in.”
