by England fear the All Blacks have been given an unfair advantage for their first Test match of the autumn after a series of new laws were introduced at short notice.
Telegraph sports understands England will seek further clarification on the laws ahead of their game against New Zealand at Twickenham on November 2, where Steve Borthwick’s side face an opponent who has already played under them.
A 20-minute red card and countdown clocks for scrums and line-outs have been introduced for the Autumn Nations Series, which includes 21 games between northern and southern hemisphere teams in November.
After New Zealand, England will also face Eddie Jones’ Australia, South Africa and Japan on the following weekends. The first three of these opponents already played with the new rules during the Rugby Championship earlier this year, meaning England have only had two weeks to familiarize themselves with the new variations.
Borthwick’s squad are expected to focus on the new laws during a training camp in Girona next week so they can hit the ground running while seeking clarification over their implementation. It is expected that a number of other countries will do the same.
Variations in the law include a version of a 20-minute red card, as well as 60-second shot clocks for kickers and 30-second limits for forming scrums and line-outs. Teams that fail to form a scrum or lineout within 30 seconds will forgo free kicks.
Neither of these laws have been applied in the Premiership or United Rugby Championship (URC) this season, seemingly putting Northern Hemisphere teams at a disadvantage.
The version of the 20-minute red card that will be applied in the fall will be designed for “technical violations” and will allow defaulting players to be replaced after this period has expired. Crucially, however, officials retain the ability to permanently send players off the field for foul play that is considered intentional and dangerous.
It is understood that yellow cards for 10-minute sins can be upgraded to 20-minute reds by a TMO bunker official, but yellow cards will not be upgraded to full reds, as permanent dismissals are reserved for flagrant and willful violations. Two yellows mean a 20-minute red card, unless the second offense itself warrants a full red card.
The standalone 20-minute red card alternative, which does not involve a permanent expulsion, is due to be discussed by the World Rugby Council next month and has been heavily criticized by France and Ireland.
“The 20-minute red card relates to a foul that was neither intentional nor premeditated,” said a press release from Six Nations Rugby, the company hosting these autumn games, on Friday.
“In these circumstances the player will be removed from the pitch for the remainder of the match, with the offending team able to replace that player after 20 minutes and the team reduced to 15 players with one of their available substitutes.”
