World Rugby announced in May a suite of law changes and law trials to speed the game up, and SANZAAR are set to announce the Rugby Championship will be using several of them – including a 30-second shot clock for teams to set a scrum and lineout, and a 60-second shot clock for penalty kicks and conversions.
“I think there is still fatigue in the game and if a bomb squad member comes on at half-time they’ve still got to play 40 minutes,” Schmidt said.
“One of the challenges is to keep players moving from set piece to set piece. With the new law trials, 30 seconds to set a scrum, 30 seconds to have that line-out under way, [and it is] 60 seconds not 90 seconds for a conversion now. I think some of those times are being contracted a little bit and maybe that will impact on the size of the player.
“And there are risks. Talking to [Blues coach] Vern Cotter … around the Blues this year, with the 6-2 split got two injuries very early on in their back line and played a halfback on the wing for the whole of the second half. So you can get stung by it.
“Any innovation is great until it’s not, I guess.”
Eben Etzebeth and Allan Alaalatoa square up in Sydney in 2022.Credit: Getty
The smaller Wallabies will be keen for as much speed in the game as possible in Brisbane, particularly with Schmidt electing to not call giant lock Will Skelton back from France.
Schmidt said he has been open about backing locally based players but revealed he has spoken to Skelton several times and there is possibility he could join the Wallabies later in the month. But he also said the 145kg forward may not be back in gold until the Spring Tour.
“As good a player as Will is with the experience he has, if he arrives here and he’s fatigued, and he goes back there and he’s fatigued, and we’re trying to get him backwards and forwards, it’s not necessarily going to add the amount of value we’d like it to add,” Schmidt said.
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“We’ve had a few discussions, Will and I, and he’s a great fella to talk to. He obviously watched our games during July very closely … and we have chatted about him potentially being involved later in the Championship.”
Schmidt said he had selected Marika Koroibete based on his extensive experience, both as an on-field asset and as an influence for young players. After returning from another foot injury, Angus Bell is fit and will be considered for selection in the front row.
Schmidt said the Springboks looked “pretty impressive” in the drawn series with Ireland in July.
“They have guys who played a lot of Test match footy together,” he said. “I’ve coached against most of them over a number of years with Ireland and New Zealand. I probably know them better than I know us.”
Source Agencies
