READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK
NICK CAIN

NOTHING illustrates the farcical nature of the “Protecting the 9” law introduced by World Rugby in 2025 more than an incident featuring Australia’s new star turn at scrum-half, Ryan Lonergan.
It came in the 52nd minute of the recent Australia v South Africa Test in Perth when a bulldozing text book counter-ruck by Springbok No.8 Jasper Wiese not only saw his team go unrewarded, but also concede a costly penalty.
It started with Wiese ramming Wallaby lock Jeremy Williams backwards at such a rate that he collided with...