Rugby: Lam calls for strong hand from referee

Jerome Kaino. Photo / Getty Images

The Blues are looking for a threesome in Durban tomorrow. Not the sort of tryst that makes the front page but rather the kind that involves some serious sporting interaction.

Sanzar referees' boss Lyndon Bray sent out a number of memos after the opening week of the Super 15 series, pinpointing areas where he wanted stronger rulings.

He highlighted the need for strong decisions at scrums and punishing teams for early engagements, while he also wanted better compliance in the tackle ball area.

"That is probably the big one, that is going to be the big difference," Blues coach Pat Lam said from Durban. "It is a three-way partnership if the referee is strong on it and the players in both teams listen to him.

"If he is very clear on rolling away of the tackler, that makes for an exciting game and certainly we want to comply and I will be catching up with Jaco Peyper for a meeting about that."

While Peyper is sure to be in concert with Lam and his coaching opposite, John Plumtree, in those discussions, his performance under pressure during the match may bring different reactions.

The 30-year-old Peyper has been refereeing Super rugby matches since 2008, but has been in charge of only six games.

The Blues are the first New Zealand side this season to play in the Republic. After the long flight Lam said his side had recovered well and he had a full squad to choose from.

Experience would be important against such a quality side as the Sharks and that meant no changes from the opening match of the year.

"Everyone was on edge when I named the team, I did not give anyone a heads up so they are all pleased to be going again," he said.

The Sharks have made a solitary change with flanker Keegan Daniels coming in for the injured Jacques Botes.

The experienced Stefan Terblanche will continue to captain the side, with national captain John Smit back from injury but, like repaired test wing JP Pietersen, making it only as far as the bench.

Meanwhile, Lam declared himself pleased with the decisions his side made in playing the Crusaders, he liked the calls made by captain Keven Mealamu and five-eighths Stephen Brett during the match, and he approved of the team's structure.

The downside was the soft concession of points through penalties, the coach acknowledging that the Blues could not afford to repeat that pattern against the class of the Sharks' goalkickers.