KEY POINTS:
I have tried very hard to be positive about some of the aspects of this year's Super 14 but, after eight rounds, I am really wondering if we are fooling ourselves - particularly about the new scrum laws and manners of some officials.
If you think the rugby has been fantastic, stop reading. I understand why the scrum engagement steps were introduced - safety is important - but things could have been better planned.
Listening to those in authority here, we're told there are fewer resets than last year. Yet Sanzar and ARU referees manager Peter Marshall concedes things are no better than last year - and worse than 2005. It seems scrums are now contrived, with those involved trying to make the best of some very bad directives from the IRB in Dublin.
This week sees the start of club rugby - with professional players and referees struggling, how will things be for the clubs?
The pros have all week to get things right and you would imagine referees spending hours looking at previous games, trying to get instructions and timing right. Watch a couple of matches this weekend and see how each official varies his instructions and timing.
Front-rowers are known for their intelligence and patience but I suspect even they are beginning to resent the kindergarten that scrums have become.
Without getting too technical, here's some areas of major concern:
* The crouch/touch/pause/engage instructions have made the entry unnatural - often the time between the words is different. If your team wait until after the last instruction, you risk losing the initiative or getting penalised for not engaging on time. Too early and you get the initiative - but you'll most probably be penalised. For two 800kg-plus packs to be bang on time at the request of a bloke who's not in there is pushing the averages.
* If by chance things go to plan, the next important issue is to get the props to bind so the scrum doesn't collapse. Props are not permitted to attempt to stay up by anchoring a hand on the ground, or on the knee as was once allowed. I agree with this as it leads to poor technique. I wonder if the recent change from loose-fitting to skin-tight jerseys maybe contributing to problems in this area? They are designed to make them difficult to grab - yet that's the prop's job. Sounds Irish, but then this stuff comes from Dublin.
* Next, the push.You are supposed to wait until the halfback feeds the ball. You have spent the last few seconds building to accurately time a smash into another group with the same idea - and are then instructed to wait for another guy not involved to decide when to feed the ball.
A solution might be to look how things used to work. Let the officials maintain control but have the scrums decide the entry - fix the skin-tight jerseys and take the pressure off the referees.
There are now hundreds of rules and officials need eyes in the back of their head to catch the naughty guys. But I would enjoy watching and listening to a game with less chat from the refs.
Sometimes it's a commentary - particularly at the ruck and maul. It is done to speed the game, which goes against the slow-motion instructions at the scrum and lineouts.
New Zealand referees have a more discreet style. But some of the Australians and South Africans seem to talk non-stop - out of fear and a lack of confidence. And why do so many touch judges miss so much of what we can see from the stands?
What about Sanzar publicly rating officials? If they perform well, praise them. If not, then let's hear about it.
Am I alone with these gripes? Soccer is called the beautiful game and, here, league looks exciting and uncomplicated. Is rugby kidding itself about its deficiencies - and for how long will supporters, players and local officials continue to be used and abused by the dark suits in Dublin?
