Refs need to listen to props more. When Italy gave New Zealand problems a few years ago, the head of refs said the problem with the scrum that day was my binding. I immediately became the most penalised prop at that year’s Six Nations. Mr O’Brien was wrong. Refs need to be careful.
Most of them don’t have a clue. Even I don’t always understand why something has happened. But the refs should talk to old props and hookers more. They need more consistency. Teams who do not scrum so well always find ways to cheat. The refs need to see this more, although I think the current “touch, pause, engage” gives them more time to work out what is going on.
But it is difficult for us to adapt to different ways of reffing each week. The best scrum refs are the French. It is part of their culture. In France the scrummage can be more important than the game. Maybe if the top refs spend a season in France they would have more idea.
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