Rugby officials should stop tampering with the rules, insists O’Shea

FORMER Ireland full-back Conor O’Shea has added his voice to the growing chorus of disagreement with the new interpretation of rugby laws.

Referee Craig Joubert penalised Ireland’s David Wallace at one stage against Wales, a call which infuriated the Irish management, and O’Shea says officials should focus on other matters.

“I cannot understand what the IRB is trying to achieve by changing anything in the midst of a Championship,” said O’Shea.

“There is, in my opinion, nothing wrong with the game and they are focusing on the wrong things. If they got the referee and his assistant to referee to the letter of the law the offside line, offside in front of the kicker, crooked feeds to scrums and other small things then they would free up the space we all crave.”

O’Shea added that Ireland’s potential fifth Triple Crown in seven years was an “incredible achievement” which some observers were “almost denigrating”.

“To get some perspective,” added O’Shea. “We need to think back to when Wales were in their pomp in the 1970s or the English domination of the late 1990s and early 2000s.

“Those teams were winning regularly against what were then uncompetitive Irish sides and we did not say they were having it easy because they never did.

“But that accusation is being levelled at Ireland.”

Talking to RTÉ, O’Shea added that Scotland have advanced under head coach Andy Robinson: “Ireland will not and should not underestimate the Scots. Andy Robinson, despite the results, has made definite strides with this team. They have one of the best back rows around and Beattie, Brown and Barclay will take the game to Ireland.

“The key to the game is that Scotland have had the same problem for a number of years now: they cannot turn possession into points.

“The loss of Chris Paterson and Thom Evans against Wales weakened them and cost them victory in that match and maybe subsequently against Italy. But they fought hard and showed more structure to their game against England.

“I don’t think their results reflect the progress they have made and they are only a couple of players short of making a real breakthrough.”