Tadhg Beirne: 'They're trying to protect the nines and get rid of scrums'

New law changes are good news if you’re Conor Murray but for his captain and master disrupter, quite the opposite

LAW CHANGES: Munster’s Tadhg Beirne is not happy with the timing of the latest law changes. Picture: ©INPHO/Billy Stickland

The four new law trials introduced midway through the Champions Cup pool campaign may not have prevented Tadhg Beirne from picking up the man of the match award after Munster’s crucial win over Saracens but the skipper was none too pleased at their implementation nevertheless.

Competition organisers EPCR adopted the law trials ahead of last weekend’s penultimate round of pool matches after the game’s governing body’s World Rugby Council kick-started them globally from January 1 in all new competitions in a bid to enhance fan and player experience.

They include a 60-second conversion limit for kickers to align with penalties and improve game pace, a 30-second set-up for lineouts to match time for scrums to reduce downtime and a play-on rule in uncontested lineouts when the throw is not straight.

Yet Ireland lock/flanker Beirne is particularly aggrieved by the fourth trial designed to offer greater protection for scrum-halves which sees defenders penalised for making a tackle on an opponent if they are part of a ruck or a maul.

Nines at scrums are now also protected from their opposite numbers, with defencding scrum-halves unable to advance beyond the centre line of the tunnel.

Good news if you’re Conor Murray but for his captain and master disrupter quite the opposite.

“They may as well wrap the nines up in cotton wool at this stage,” Beirne said following Munster’s 17-12 defeat of Saracens at Thomond Park on Saturday.

“It's becoming ridiculous in my opinion. I was just joking, I said to Murr, there's another five years left in his career yet.

“I showed a few videos to referees this week and it was a bit like, 'hmm I'm not sure on that one'. It's making life more difficult for them in terms of that law, in terms of you can't touch the nine within a metre of the ruck. When's the ruck over? When's the ball out? When can you come through the ruck?

“It's worse for me because it's something I like to do so obviously I'm not going to like it. The nines are probably delighted with it so look, not straight in the lineout, people will like that, it brings more flow into the game but I guess they just don't want scrums in the game.” 

Beirne was also peeved by timing of the law trials being introduced.

"We're just adapting to the law change for the access for catchers and then they throw another curve ball at us with three new laws halfway through a season and give you a week to get ready for it.

“It doesn't make it easy. It makes it harder for fans to understand as well, learning all these laws which are continually chopping and changing. They're trying to make the game quicker. I see it as they're trying to protect the nines and they're trying to get rid of scrums as much as they can as well so that's the way I would look at it.

"But look, everyone is entitled to their opinion. Obviously one law affected me so I'm obviously not going to like that. The nines are going to be happy with it. Every team is on the same playing field. They all have to adapt to these new laws. Not just us. So, it's up to you whether your adapt to it quick enough or not so I think we're prepared as best we could for that this week and I don't think those laws affected us in that game today.”

Beirne found other ways to make an impact, not least with a vital maul turnover as Saracens threatened to rally in the last 10 minutes after Munster had transformed a 9-3 deficit into a 17-12 lead through converted tries from Dian Bleuler and John Hodnett on 59 and 64 minutes.

The win in front of 22,030 supporters keeps Munster in the hunt for a top seeding for the knockout rounds but they must win their final game at Pool 3 leaders Northampton Saints this Saturday while a single point at Franklin’s Gardens would ensure progress to the Round of 16.

“It was a bit of slog out there at times,” Beirne said. “It was probably one of those typical European nights in Thomond Park and getting the crowd behind you like we did today was huge for us and to get them a win was massive us for as well.

“We wanted to give them something to shout about and they certainly did shout out there today and it was class for us to feel that energy behind us so certainly a win today was good.

“Every win in this competition goes a long way. The way its set up, you can lose three and win one and then you can still qualify but you win two or three all of a sudden you're looking at home last 16 and home quarters so a win is huge.”