Leinster coach Feek feels for refs

Leinster coach Greg Feek has sympathy for referees battling to interpret new scrum laws which have proven a controversial addition to the new rugby season.

Many of the olds problems, including endless resets, have yet to be purged from the game as packs get to grips with rules aimed at empowering the scrum and returning the focus towards technique.

As ever with rugby, rules remain one thing and interpretations another and Leinster were furious on Saturday when hooker Sean Cronin was sin-binned after a succession of failed pack downs though his side were camped on the Ospreys line.

“I’ve watched a lot of new games with the new laws and you see the referees are trying to police it,” said Feek, the Kiwi who is scrum coach at Leinster and has filled the same brief in recent times for the Irish national side.

“It makes it difficult for them, especially when they’re presented with something new.

“It’s the same with the players,” he emphasised. “No-one says you’re an expert in anything. I think if we can learn from this we can see a gradual improvement, and that would be good.”

That this whole thing is complicated goes without saying and Feek’s overview of the new laws took a full two minutes yesterday and simply wouldn’t be printable without a raft of accompanying diagrams.

Yet, he already claims to have seen anecdotal evidence of less collapses and resets and believes the situation will improve but added the rider that players have a habit of finding ways and means around new diktats.

Feek confirmed Leinster would be seeking clarification to the new regulations this week ahead of their trip to Glasgow Warriors, in buoyant form after a smash-and-grab win over Ulster in Ravenhill last week.

Leinster’s five Lions will be reintroduced in “the coming weeks” according to the club, although Cian Healy may play some part in Glasgow for the first time since his tour to Australia ended with an ankle injury.

Luke Fitzgerald is also being talked up despite being named and then withdrawn for the Ospreys game with a groin problem although wing Darren Hudson will sit Scotland out with a hamstring strain.

Meanwhile, former Wallaby Lote Tuqiri is still awaiting the result of his request for a work permit.