Springbok technical adviser and former Test referee Jaco Peyper has weighed in on the debate around game tempo. CLINTON VAN DER BERG reports.
At a media conference in Johannesburg on Monday ahead of the first Test against the All Blacks, both coach Rassie Erasmus and Peyper addressed the growing narrative around the world champions allegedly slowing the game down.
“Over five games that we’ve played [this year], we’ve not had one feedback that we slowed down the game,” said Erasmus. “Maybe [the All Blacks] have played against teams in pre-season mode. It’s like playing those Super Rugby warm-ups in January.”
Peyper offered a detailed breakdown of what actually happens once a referee marks a scrum or lineout.
“There was a Shape of the Game meeting at the beginning of the year where all the big issues were discussed,” he explained. “The thing that came out was the key focus areas for referees, basically the contract between refereeing and coaching, coaching players to play this way and referee this way.
“What we expect is to play in terms of those agreements with the play between referees and coaches. The law is very clear: there’s 30 seconds from the moment the referee puts his foot down to make a mark, whether it’s a scrum or lineout, We have to adhere to that and we respect that.”
He added that the responsibility cuts both ways once that mark is made.
“The clock starts ticking, so that’s up to you. However, the attacking team, if they’re ready to play, they don’t have to wait for you. That’s the problem.”
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Drawing on decades spent in the middle of Test matches, including numerous encounters involving the All Blacks, Peyper was unequivocal in dismissing suggestions that the Springboks deliberately slow matches down.
“I’ve had the privilege of being in Test match weeks with the All Blacks a lot. What a great team,” he said.
“The narrative is about slowing down, but you can also slow the game down by continuously infringing at the breakdown or at the maul and break the game tempo there.
“The good thing is there’s proper strong referees in these matches, and we are very clear on the guidelines. It’s up to the teams who are under pressure. They will probably try and slow the game down.”
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Turning to the tactical battle expected out wide, Peyper broke down the legality of chase-and-compete kicking strategies favoured by sides like Argentina.
“You’ve got to be realistic in a position to actually receive the ball,” he said. “If you’re inaccurate, you’re penalised because you’re offside and you’re blocking a player that can get there. How do you negate it? You’ve got to beat them with speed, get shoulder to shoulder, and get yourself into that contest.”
Peyper also praised the quality of officials appointed for the series, describing them as officials who earned their appointments based on experience, “incredibly strong characters”.
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On the newly introduced coach-referee protocols limiting pre-match meetings, Peyper was candid about his personal reservations.
“It wasn’t discussed at the Shape of the Game meeting. We were as surprised as you were,” he said. “I do think, from a personal point of view, if I refereed the big Test match, I would have definitely wanted to look the captain or the coach in the eyes and let them see I’m prepared.”
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
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Springbok technical adviser and former Test referee Jaco Peyper has weighed in on the debate around game tempo.
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