New Zealand
Rip up the rule book urges Steve Hansen
ESPN Staff
September 11, 2014

Steve Hansen wants to change how rugby is officiated, the All Blacks coach declaring the sport is too complex while saying in a wide-ranging critique ahead of Saturday's Test against South Africa that international refereeing is overly bureaucratic.

"If I was allowed to do one thing in the game, I'd rip the rule book up," he said. "I'd put in the rules that are necessary."

Hansen was responding to widespread criticism of the officiating following four of the six Rugby Championship Tests this year, in which key decisions have swung matches - most notably in Perth last weekend, when Australia clinched a late win over the Springboks.

Hansen said officials are encumbered by the sheer number of laws, saying many of the clauses "don't even sound like English".

He was also concerned that referees have too many bosses. For example, a top Kiwi official has to answer to a New Zealand manager [Rod Hill], a SANZAR equivalent [Lyndon Bray] and to the IRB.

"If they've all got different ideas, then you've got three different messages coming to you," Hansen said. "The problem is, a lot of the laws are about what you see and interpret."

Hansen said the Test referee structure should be amended so a referee and the same two touch judges travel together to control matches. He said touch judge is a specialist role and they should be allowed to build a relationship under pressure with the same referee.

"Give a ref two touch judges for the year and say: 'That's your team, and we'll judge you as a team, not just as you in the middle'. That way they'd become better and more consistent."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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