Mike Prendergast: 'When they changed the rules they probably didn't realise it was going to come to this'

Prendergast says World Rugby’s aerial contest directive has led to more box kicks, more scrums and a noticeable decline in match quality

Mike Prendergast believes standout games in rugby have been few and far between recently. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Mike Prendergast has called out the unintended consequences of rugby’s directives around contestable kicks, claiming they are making the game slower and encouraging more box kicks.

Asking for World Rugby to review their November 2024 decision to punish kick escorting, thereby enabling chasers to contest for aerial balls unimpeded, the Munster senior coach, with chief responsibility for attack, believes the tactical change it has ushered in has led to more stoppages with a higher rate of knock-ons and then time-sapping scrums.