ELVs: what SANZAR has NOT included

SANZAR has adopted part of the experimental law variations (ELVs) for use in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, specifically during the Super 14. What SANZAR will apply is NOT the full ELV proposal before the International Rugby Board.

What has been omitted is that which affects the playing of the game most radically. Clearly this is to avoid having players play with different laws in successive competitions during the same year.

The dispensation allowed SANZAR is only for Super 14. That means that come the mid-year Tests, we could be back to pre-ELVs and then have the Tri-Nations with curtailed ELVs and then the end-of-year tours with the full spectrum of ELVs. That would be too confusing.

It seems that the IRB will implement their full decision on law changes, as ELVs and not as full law, on either 1 May or 1 September and it would then apply throughout the world for a year.

The decision for these curtailed ELVs was made by the presidents and CEOs of the three SANZAR countries at a meeting in Sydney.

Also at the meeting in Sydney - an annual event - are the coaches and referees. They have expressed surprise at the omissions but feel comfortable that the changes can be consistently applied. The big debate is the matter of free kicks in the place of penalties and what constitutes deliberate infringement because infringement is mostly deliberate.

These are the ones NOT being implemented:

1. Line-out numbers

a. Having no restrictions on the numbers in the line-out other than the minimum of two for each team.

b. Requiring the receiver to stand two metres from the line-out.

2. Hands at the tackle

Allowing players on their feet to play the ball with their hands after a tackle.

3. Unplayable free kick

Having a free kick instead of a scrum when the ball becomes unplayable at a breakdown.

If this happens at a kick when the catcher is tackled immediately, the free kick will go to the catcher's team.

4. Tapping free kicks

Making all free kicks, including the mark, tap kicks.

5. Tackling the maul

Allowing defenders to pull down the maul and doing away with the "truck and trailer" offence.

6. Skew option a free kick

Giving the non-offending team the option of a line-out or a free kick at a skew throw into a line-out.

7. Flag Judges

Adding to the touch judge's role by requiring him to hold out a horizontal flag to suggest to the referee that there was off-side at a tackle.

The touch judge would then be renamed a flag judge.

8. Cornerposts in in-goal

Moving the cornerposts at the jujnction of the goal-line with the touch-line and the dead-ball line with the touch-in-goal line back two metres.

These eight points are NOT included in the ELVs which will apply in the Super 14.