The All Blacks and Springboks have both expressed deep concern at the new maul collapsing rule and its implications for safety ahead of Saturday’s Tri-Nations rugby test here.
The International Rugby Board (IRB) has restored the Experimental Law Variations trialled in this year’s Super 14 for the Tri-Nations and added two extra laws.
One relates to lineout, where teams now don’t have to match the number of players of the team throwing in.
The other allows teams to collapse the maul, a controversial change that has met with resistance, particularly as the law will apply at all levels of the global game from August 1.
Two weeks ago a 20-year-old Argentina player, Juan Cruz Migliore, reportedly suffered a broken neck and died from a collapsed maul during a Buenos Aires premier division game.
The English RFU decreed last month that it would defy the IRB and that the law wouldn’t be employed in any of its age grade rugby competitions for safety reasons.
South African captain John Smit today offered support to the RFU’s stance and questioned the wisdom of the change.
“That kind of rule makes me worry about lower echelon rugby played all around the world,” Smit said.
“We’re probably safest at the top of the pile (test rugby), in terms of playing with good players all the time.”
All Blacks coach Graham Henry was asked if he was concerned about an increased chance of injury.
“Rugby needs to be concerned and I’m sure they’ll keep monitoring those things,” Henry said.
Smit, who has just completed a season for leading French club Clermont, took the chance to question all the law changes being introduced this year.
Having a led a team to World Cup glory last year under the old rules and having witnessed the growing popularity of the game in Europe, he said the changes were potentially needless.
“I thought the rugby was pretty good beforehand. I’ve come from Europe where the old rules are going well, you can’t get a seat in any stadium,” Smit said.
“It’s something I’ll have to experience for the first time on Saturday and after I’ve had a few tests I’ll be able to tell you more but I didn’t think it was broken before.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
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