New laws more than new faces will add an element of unpredictability to the 2008 Super 14 rugby competition that kicks off Friday.
The shadow of last year’s World Cup hangs over the tournament, adding a touch of intrigue, but it may be the adaptability of players to the experimental law variations (ELVs) that bears most heavily on its outcome.
South Africa, New Zealand and Australia have agreed to embrace rule changes designed to make rugby a more free-flowing and attractive game, moved in part by the example of the World Cup, which rarely produced thrilling, running rugby.
The ELVs are designed to reduce stoppages and maximise the time the ball remains in play, but Super 14 coaches are currently divided on whether, at least in their developmental stages, the rules will achieve that aim.
Robbie Deans, in his last season with the Canterbury Crusaders before taking over Australia’s national team, has been an enthusiastic promoter of the ELVs. That seems to tow the line of the Australian Rugby Union, whose former national coach, Rod MacQueen, was a key figure in the rule development.
”It’s going to be a fascinating competition,” Deans said.
”The ELVs obviously are going to be a big part of that. There’s no doubt they’re going to make a positive difference to the game.
”There’s going to be a lot more movement, a lot more ball in play time, there’s going to be a lot more tries scored. We’ll see the game go to another level, I’ve got no doubt.”
South African and New Zealand coaches have been less enthusiastic about the effect of the new rules, and the fact international players in both countries will play Super 14 and Test matches under different laws this season.
The International Rugby Board strongly pressed Sanzar (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia Rugby) to implement the ELVs at Super 14 level, while allowing northern hemisphere Test and club competitions to continue under a single set of laws. Southern hemisphere players, instead, will play Super 14 matches under one set of rules and mid-season and end-of-year Tests under another, testing their adaptability.
”I believe that a professional referee and a professional player can adapt,” veteran South African referee Andre Watson said.
”New Zealand are not going to use all the laws, but I know Australia are. For South Africa it was an easy decision, as it’s not a matter of if the laws will come into effect, but rather of when. Rather we bleed now than bleed later. If we bleed now, we can always place a band-aid over the wound.”
Australia has enthusiastically welcomed the rule changes.
”The 2008 Super 14 launches an exciting new era for Australian Rugby,” chief executive John O’Neill said.
”With the introduction of the ELVs creating a more entertaining spectacle, keeping the ball in play longer and providing more scoring opportunities, the tournament will re-ignite the game and relight the passion of Australian fans.”
The experience of New Zealand teams, which have trialled the ELVs in pre-season matches, has been that, contrary to expectations, the new rules produced more rather than fewer penalties at breakdowns. Coaches acknowledged that may be partly due to the fact that players still have to adapt to referees’ interpretations but the reception for the rule changes in New Zealand has been only lukewarm.
Under the new laws the offside line is redrawn at the tackle, and free kicks are awarded for a wider variety of offences around the breakdown. Wellington Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper said the changes had forced his team to review how many players it committed to breakdowns and how they approached the game’s most troubled area.
”It’s still a bit early to comment on whether the laws are good for the game and a lot of it will be down to the referee’s interpretation,” Cooper said.
Adapting to the new rules adds a new pressure for New Zealand sides who already feel obliged to make up for last year’s poor Super 14 showing. New Zealand teams were depleted for more than half last year’s competition by the All Blacks’ World Cup preconditioning programme and their form fell well below local expectations.
The Western Force elevated a generally poor 2007 tournament for Australian teams and again appear the strongest of the four Australian franchises.
The test of the tournament may be of the South African teams who proved so dominant last season. South Africa, for the first time in their history, provided both finalists for the Super competition and that success carried over to the World Cup.
Whether they can sustain the success in much changed circumstances, since the resignation of Springboks coach Jake White and with several new-look squads, is uncertain. — Sapa-AP