New breakdown focus will keep the jackals on straight and narrow

THE breakdown is back at the top of the refereeing agenda as we go into the restart, and it has put Tom Curry and the rest of the openside jackals in the Premiership on notice that they will have to raise their game. Curry and his Sale team-mates learned the hard way in their defeat against Harlequins on Friday night, with many of the 19 penalties they conceded coming as a result of the new ‘Breakdown Refocus’ through which match officials are aiming to make the breakdown safer, fairer, and clearer. Turnover aces like Sale Sharks and England No.7 Curry, and the current Premiership pilferer-in-chief, Wasps flanker Jack Willis, will be under the greatest scrutiny because the breakdown is their main hunting ground. Clamping down on side entry is a main objective for referees, and the back row boys will have to pay particular attention to ‘coming through the gate’ before attempting to win turn-overs. There is also the requirement that jacklers support their own bodyweight with no elbows/forearms on the ground, and that they must show a clear lifting action of the ball to the referee. Another area of special attention is players from the attacking team diving over their own ball-carriers – including often coming in at the side – and going off their feet to seal the ball off and prevent a fair contest for possession. Other important adjustments are that ball-carriers are not allowed an extra crawl or roll, with secondary movements penalised, and for tacklers and assist tacklers to release and roll away immediately to allow the ball to be played. The overall aim of the breakdown initiative is to reward positive defence as much as positive attack, with match officials recognising they have favoured attack more because of the desire for continuity. It’s good to see contest back as a priority over continuity.