Geoff Parling, the Leicester head coach, has defended the crackdown on escort defenders, saying the impact of refereeing changes that promote more kicking has been “pretty positive”.
Parling’s comments come after Ross Byrne attacked the revised law interpretations around contestable kicks on Monday. The Gloucester fly-half argued a potential knock-on effect would be for international coaches to convert second-rows into wings for the next men’s Rugby World Cup in 2027.
Byrne believes the sport risks become one-dimensional but before the Tigers’ Champions Cup pool meeting with Leinster on Friday, Parling acknowledged World Rugby’s move has led to more kicking, but that had not altered his tactical approach.
“The change has been positive,” Parling said. “I think it’s opened up the game a little bit more. It has meant that teams are more likely to kick. Depending on the outcome you really wanted from World Rugby – was it to kick more? Well, that is what’s happened. But it’s more open kicking, because you get the tap-backs, and the ball on the floor, and suddenly you’re playing unstructured attack opportunities.
“I think you’re seeing it with some tall wingers at the moment,” Parling added. “We’ve got Freddie Steward and you get these taller and taller outside backs. That doesn’t mean there’s no place for some small blokes. You look at Cheslin Kolbe for South Africa, he get up and competes really well. I’m fine with the rule adaptation, I think it’s been pretty positive.”
On whether he is telling his team to kick more after the law crackdown, Parling said: “No. I always knew the importance of a kick game. It’s very important wherever you go. It’s the first thing I focused on in the first week I arrived [at Welford Road in the summer]. We’ve not changed anything but we know it’s a very important part of the game.”
Parling also made clear his disappointment at the England lock George Martin’s decision to leave for Saracens, while praising his remaining second-row options. “We would have liked him to stay but George says he’d like a fresh start,” Parling said. “We’re disappointed because he’s a quality player when he’s fit. It would have been great to have him.
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“He’s very physical. He’s hard to replace. What I would say is the guys I’ve got this season have been doing really well. When Ollie Chessum has not been playing, other guys have stepped up.”
