Zander: It’s all kicking off
Fagerson says boot snore fest is a turn off for fans
ZANDER FAGERSON admits the increase in boring rugby kicking duels is in danger of sending fans to sleep.
However, the Scotland prop believes time and patience are required to fine-tune the faults of a fast-improving sport.
An alarming tendency for teams to launch the ball at one another is an issue which critics claim must be tackled for the good of the game.
As preparations continue ahead of an Autumn Nations Cup third-place play-off at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday, the 24-year-old admits winning comes before the risk of armchair fans switching off in their droves.
He said: “I do understand some of the fans’ frustrations but as a player I think defence is improving and attack is improving.
“It is hard to score points, it is hard to gain territory and possession. The sport as a whole is growing and I understand it can be frustrating to watch but trying to create mismatches isn’t as easy as it used to be.
“I wouldn’t say it is boring, there are still a few nuggets and you need to be patient.
“I’m a front-row, I’m not kicking the ball. I don’t like it because I have to run to and from but it is what it is and that’s how you win games, which is the main thing … winning.”
Fagerson isn’t a fan of proposals which have been mooted over limiting the number of replacements in a bid to open up games.
The idea has brought him out in a sweat and he said: “My heart is starting to race thinking about it. I feel myself wheezing a bit and blowing. I don’t think it is a feasible idea.
“In some games we’ve played recently we’ve won the game with the bench coming on and making a massive impact. That’s a big part of the game. It is a fundamental of union.
“If you read all the articles, they are going to scrap scrums and scrap kicking the ball. There are a lot of rugby experts out there.
“People say it is boring but I’m still running about and it is pretty fast and high tempo. There are a few things that could change.
“Maybe quicker at the breakdown where teams do that caterpillar ruck. We could try to get rid of that. Exeter do it very well with eight men in a line and then kicking the ball away which I don’t think is very fun or fast.
“They can’t get rid of the bench or if they do I will be blowing out of my a***!”
The Glasgow Warrior believes defeat to France in their last outing, which ended Scotland’s five-game winning run, hasn’t punctured momentum.
He said: “Looking back at the France game, we had four or five opportunities in the last few minutes to win it or get the draw. We definitely had chances but international rugby is about taking those chances and we didn’t do that.
“We have had two great training weeks. The boys are looking sharp and it has been pretty intense. I’m not really thinking about what we have done before. This week the aim is to beat Ireland.
“Maybe after this game we will look back and see where we have gone forwards or backwards but the aim this week is to beat Ireland.”