The former Wales and Lions captain has been left frustrated by the number and length of stoppages in modern rugby matchesSam Warburton(Image: Getty Images)

Sam Warburton has revealed he was unable to deliver his post-match tactical analysis after Wales’ dramatic win over Japan because the game simply went on too long as he vented his frustration over the number of lengthy stoppages in the modern game.

The former Wales captain turned top broadcaster explained that he raced from the Principality Stadium TV gantry to pitchside at full-time, only to be told his segment on TNT had been scrapped due to the overrun.

In his Times column, Warburton said matches are becoming “too frustrating and too stop-start”, with officials relying on far too many TMO replays and lengthy stoppages that are damaging the spectacle.

He highlighted last weekend’s England v New Zealand Test, where it took three minutes to restart the game after George Ford’s disallowed try, a delay he says is emblematic of a wider issue.

The former flanker believes rugby has drifted too far from the pace and flow it once targeted, with modern internationals routinely producing just 30-35 minutes of ball-in-play time. During his own career a decade ago, he says teams aimed for around 40.

“The product is being diminished,” he said.

“There have been some good initiatives to speed up the game, like the shot clock for kicks, setting the scrummages more quickly and discouraging the huddles before a lineout, but it is almost as if we are walking over £5 notes to pick up pennies by shaving 10 seconds off here and there, but then taking three minutes over a tackle decision.”

Warburton also threw his support behind a bold law change proposed by fellow former Wales captain Gwyn Jones in his WalesOnline column last week.

“The aerial battle is a big talking point and that is creating a lot of contentious decisions, because there has definitely been more kicking since sides have been unable to block and protect the catcher,” Warburton added.

“I noticed a good suggestion from the former Wales captain Gwyn Jones last week: that maybe players should be able to make a mark anywhere on the field and so, as they would then be able to take a quick tap and not be touched for ten metres, that may dissuade sides from box-kicking so relentlessly.

“I wouldn’t say anywhere on the field, but how about 40 metres from your own line, rather than just the 22m it is now, with the view to lessening the trend of always box-kicking in the middle third of the field? That may speed up the game. And it would also encourage kicking to space and the 50:22, which has been a great addition by World Rugby.”

Warburton went on to call for more common sense in refereeing head-contact incidents, praising Karl Dickson’s decision to play on after reviewing James Lowe’s collision against Australia last week.

Warburton says head contact is “inevitable” in rugby and that not every incident warrants a card.

He contrasted that with the “ridiculous and dangerous” late hit by Japan lock Harry Hockings on Alex Mann in Cardiff, which he felt warranted a permanent red card, and said he was surprised World Rugby later rescinded the decision.

Japan head coach Eddie Jones mad similar points about TMOs stepping in to make decisions and things taking far too long and Warburton agrees with that sentiment.

“The referees should not be using the stadium screens to make their calls,” he added. “Something needs to change, because the games need to flow an awful lot more than they do at the moment.”

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