Eddie Jones warns that World Rugby’s safety laws have turned the game into a ‘power contest’ – as inconsistencies in the disciplinary process have come under fire in the World Cup’s first week

• The Wallabies coach aired his concerns that slowing play encouraged big hits 
• England have received four red cards in six Tests and Borthwick fears bias
• ENGLAND PREVIEW: England will tackle threat of Japan with care and caution 
• Latest Rugby World Cup 2023 news, including fixtures, live scores and results

Eddie Jones has warned that world rugby is becoming ‘too powerful’.

Rugby’s disciplinary process has come under heavy fire for its inconsistencies in the opening week of the World Cup. And Wallabies coach Jones warned that the Television Match Official process is fraught with danger as it slows the game down and encourages the big hitters.

Jones said: ‘World Rugby have tried to make the game safer, but they’ve made it more powerful by having more stoppages in the game. And there’s risk to that, there are risks when the game becomes more powerful.

‘The game’s evolving into these 30-second bouts of absolute power. This World Cup will be decided by who can win those power contests. You need the game to be more continuous. The average ball-in-play is 30 seconds, the average break in the game is 70 seconds, so you encourage a power contest. We need more continuous play.’

England flanker Tom Curry was guilty of overzealous tackling against Argentina and will miss Sunday’s match. That made it four red cards in six Tests for England, although one ban was rescinded. Coach Steve Borthwick on Friday criticised the decision-making of referees and questioned the consistency when similar tackles have gone unpunished.

‘We always aim to keep 15 players on the pitch,’ Borthwick said. ‘If you look at our discipline, we want to ensure we don’t have any cards. What we all want is consistency and some transparency around the decision-making process.’

Eddie Jones called out the pitfalls of the game becoming ‘too powerful’ ahead of Australia’s clash with Fiji

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