Mauger row about tackle trial

Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger has expressed his frustration about the lack of communication in relation to Super Rugby’s new high tackle trial, revealing he only found out about it from media reports.

World Rugby trumpeted the trial in a media release on Tuesday but Super Rugby coaches were none the wiser, and Mauger said he still didn’t know how it was going to work even though Super Rugby starts in less than a fortnight.

‘‘The communication that we’ve had hasn’t been clear so far,’’ Mauger said.

‘‘We’re looking for a bit more clarity from the referees ourselves about how that is all going to be managed. I can’t give you an answer on that one.’’

Confusion around the tackle trial surrounds whether players will actually face a ban if they are handed two high tackle warnings.

At the under-20 world championship last year, where the scheme was trialled, players were suspended for one game if they fell foul of officials for high tackles on two occasions.

However, reports out of Australia suggested that players in Super Rugby would in fact not face a ban.

‘‘The first I found out about is when I read it in the press so the communication needs to be a little bit clearer so we’re all aware of what that process looks like and what any potential consequences could be heading into these early rounds,’’ Mauger said.

‘‘[Stuff] did an article with the Crusaders and their new defence coach [Mark Jones] and he was referring to it, and then I got an email from [Sanzaar referees boss] Lyndon Bray the next day, but it still wasn’t real clear.

‘‘We’ve got some referees coming at the start of next week so we’ll sit down with them and hopefully they can shed a bit more light on how it’s going to work.’’

The lack of consultation is a poor look for Sanzaar, which is effectively locked in a global competition that pits Super Rugby against other leagues around the world.

The unfolding Saracens salary-cap scandal in England shows that each territory has its challenges but Sanzaar’s inability to convey a clear message around a key area such as high tackles and player welfare is hardly best practice this close to the start of the season.

On Tuesday, Jones said he was planning to seek clarification from referees regarding the implication of the warning system, knowing time is ticking to make any adjustments before the team’s season-opener against the Waratahs in Nelson on February 1.

‘‘You can’t afford to be down to 14, 13 men in the modern game . . . yellow and red cards are virtual game-changers,’’ Jones said.

The implementation of the new high tackle trial has echoes of World Rugby’s crackdown on high contact at the World Cup.

After referees were criticised for being too lenient there was a rush of red and yellow cards at the tournament in Japan, leaving supporters confused and frustrated.

Retiring Kiwi referee Glen Jackson this week sympathised with the officials at last year’s Rugby World Cup and said World Rugby did not adequately exercise its crackdown on high tackles before the tournament in Japan.

‘‘World Rugby, referees and the game have a responsibility to protect people,’’ Jackson said.

‘‘But, in terms of the showcase, it wasn’t well exercised before the tournament and the first half was reasonably hard for everyone.’’

‘‘We’ve got some referees coming at the start of next week so we’ll sit down with them and hopefully they can shed a bit more light on how it’s going to work.’’ Aaron Mauger