Row erupts over rugby experimental rules - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Row erupts over rugby experimental rules

By David Beniuk 01/08/2008 07:15:49 PM Comments (0)

The Wallabies have hit back at claims by New Zealand that last week's Bledisloe Cup loss in Sydney was in part due to the All Blacks coaching staff still coming to terms with rugby's experimental laws.

Australian coach Robbie Deans is the only head coach among the Tri-Nations sides to have overseen a full season under the ELVs, as Crusaders boss in the Super 14.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry on Friday restated his belief that he is still learning how to coach the new rules.

"It's a totally different game than what we've played over the last how many years," Henry said ahead of Saturday night's Eden Park Test against the Wallabies.

"Certainly we're learning about these laws just like the players are and so I think that's the circumstances that you're looking at and that's why you've got quite a bit of change in policy as you go on, as you get used to these laws and adjust to them."

But Deans said the New Zealanders had outdone Australia in using the ELVs to their advantage during the All Blacks' 34-19 loss last Saturday.

"The players have been playing with them from the start so, if they hadn't been exposed to them, that would be probably more of an issue," Deans said.

"To be honest, they probably profited from them more than we did in the first encounter.

"They scored three tries from free kicks."

Henry said he had tapped into his players' experience with the rules, designed to make the game more entertaining, during this year's Super 14.

"We've talked to the players about various policies playing under these ELVs," he said.

"I guess until you really face the challenge and you come up short that you really have to think deeply about what's going on there.

"I watch a bit of rugby on video and try and analyse the game and spend a lot of time doing that and so do the other two guys (assistant coaches).

"We thought we had done that pretty well but until you get into the heat of the battle I guess that's the big learning experience."

Meanwhile, Deans refused to buy into the "stress" fierce rival Henry admitted he was under after successive Test losses by the All Blacks.

"You have to put that question to him, I've got no idea," Deans said.

"He loves the job that he's in and that's part of the territory.

"You don't enter this industry without anticipating that stuff. You go in with your eyes wide open and we'd much rather be here and feeling that than not.

"If you've got any questions about the Wallabies, I'd be keen."

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