Munster captain Tadhg Beirne branded some of rugby's latest law changes "ridiculous" and reckons those in charge want to get rid of scrums.
Last weekend’s European games saw a number of new rules in place with extra protection for the scrum-half chief among the complaints for the Ireland forward.
A player who is, or was part of the ruck or maul may not play an opponent who is near it (within 1m), and who is attempting to play the ball away, according to new laws.
Additionally, crooked throws where the lineout is not contested will go unpunished in an effort to reduce the number of scrums.
"They may as well wrap the 9s up in cotton wool at this stage. It's becoming ridiculous, in my opinion," Beirne (above) said following his team’s 17-12 Champions Cup pool win over Saracens.
"I was just joking, I said to Murr [Conor Murray, 35-year-old Ireland and Munster scrum-half], there's another five years left in his career yet.
"I showed a few videos to referees this week and it was a bit like, 'hmm I'm not sure on that one'.
"It's making life more difficult for them in terms of that law, in terms of you can't touch the 9 within a metre of the ruck.
"When's the ruck over, when's the ball out, when can you come through the ruck?
"It's worse for me because it's something I like to do so obviously I'm not going to like it.
"The 9s are probably delighted with it.
"Look, not straight in the lineout, people will like that, it brings more flow into the game but I just [feel] they just don't want scrums in the game."
A 20-minute red card rule was trialled during the Autumn Nations Series but that has been shelved, while a 60-second shot clock for kicks, and lineout clocks (30 seconds), are now in force to speed up the set-piece.
Prior to the November internationals, officials were given instruction to enforce an already existing law allowing kick-chasers access in order to contest high balls.
"We're just adapting to the law change for the access for catchers and then they throw another curve ball at us with three new laws halfway through a season and give you a week to get ready for it, " added the 33-year-old, who has 57 international caps.
"It doesn't make it easy. It makes it harder for fans to understand as well, learning all these laws which are continually chopping and changing.
"They're trying to make the game quicker. I see it as they're trying to protect the 9s and they're trying to get rid of scrums as much as they can as well so that's the way I would look at it.
"[It’s] not just us, it's up to you whether your adapt to it quick enough or not so I think we're prepared as best we could for that this week and I don't think those laws affected us in that game [against Sarries]."
The win puts Munster in second place in Pool 3, one point behind Saturday’s opponents Northampton.
The Saints beat Munster twice last season but a win for the visitors would set up a home match in the round of 16.
Wing Shane Daly failed a HIA on Saturday evening and will enter the graduated return-to-play protocols, while Peter O'Mahony (above) will increase his training load after a calf issue and a decision on his availability will be made later in the week.
Mark Donnelly has recovered from the ankle injury he sustained on Emerging Ireland duty and returns to full training.
