Fast-tracking of laws suits Deans

Fast-tracking of laws suits Deans
Bret Harris | April 09, 2008 Fast-tracking of laws suits Deans | The Australian

THE decision to fast-track a worldwide trial of the experimental law variations has dramatically increased the chances of this year's Tri-Nations series and the next World Cup in 2011 being played under the new conditions.

The Wallabies would have a significant advantage if the laws came into play for the Tri-Nations given Robbie Deans' experience coaching the Crusaders in the Super 14, which is trialling the laws.

The laws are designed to speed up the game and make it a more attractive spectacle, which has been evident in the Super 14 series this year.

When the International Rugby Board postponed a decision on the new laws from May to November there was little chance they would be used in the Tri-Nations or the World Cup.

The return to the May timetable follows a "positive result" at a meeting between the IRB and the Six Nations (England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales) at the end of last month. A November decision would not have allowed enough time for the new laws to be trialled and assessed before the start of a two-year moratorium on the introduction of new rules before a World Cup.

But bringing forward the IRB's decision will fit nicely into the World Cup timeline.

The IRB was originally going to make a decision next month, but postponed it to November amid speculation the powerful northern hemisphere unions were opposed to the introduction of the new rules.

"We had a good meeting with the Six Nations," IRB head of communications Greg Thomas said. "They have now gone away to discuss it among themselves.

"The original timeline was that the law project group would make a recommendation to the IRB council in May.

"That was put back to November, but following the meeting with the Six Nations at the end of March and the good response to the trial in the Super 14, it was decided the law group's recommendation would come back to May 1. Significantly, the clock is ticking.

"Because of the two-year law moratorium before the World Cup, if we were going to bring in the ELVs, the worldwide trial had to happen sooner rather than later.

"As a result, a decision on the ELVs has been added to a special meeting of the IRB council on May 1."

If the IRB council votes in favour of a worldwide trial at its meeting next month, it is likely the experimental period will begin in August to coincide with the start of the European club season.

This would open the door for the new laws to be played in the Tri-Nations Test series in August and September.

The northern hemisphere teams touring the southern hemisphere in June and July would refuse to play under the new laws because their players would not have had any experience of them at club or provincial level.

But players in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa will be used to the new laws following the Super 14 trial.

Of all the Tri-Nations coaches, only Deans has had hands-on experience with the new laws and the outstanding performance of the pace-setting Crusaders indicates he has a superb appreciation of the rules and knows how to exploit them to his team's tactical advantage.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry and Springboks coach Pieter de Villiers will guide their teams in the Tri-Nations with only theoretical knowledge of the new laws.

"This is a possibility," Thomas said of the new laws being used in the Tri-Nations. "It won't happen in the June Tests because the northern hemisphere has had no opportunity to play under the ELVs."

Most, but not all, of the laws are being trialled in the Super 14, but it is almost certain the law project group will recommend the whole lot are trialled globally.

The key laws not being trialled in the Super 14 are the use of hands in the rucks, the variation in numbers in the lineout and sacking the maul.

"The law project group believes there should be a holistic approach and that the whole raft of laws be trialled," Thomas said.

"But I have to emphasise that there is no guarantee the IRB will write the ELVs into law on a permanent basis after the year-long global trial period.

"The IRB could decide to introduce all of the laws, some of the laws or none of the laws," Thomas said.