Trial laws to spice up Bledisloe III?
The International Rugby Board's trial laws could add an extra dimension of intrigue to the third and final Bledisloe Cup clash in Brisbane on October 20.
Currently being trialed in New Zealand's provincial competition, the ITM Cup, the new law interpretations aim to speed up the pace and fluency with which the game is played.
The five-second rule at the base of the ruck, in which the attacking team have five seconds in which to clear the ball, has been effective in eliminating the increasing trend of teams stalling the action and running down the clock.
The new scrum interpretations have also led to fewer resets, resulting in a more spectator-friendly spectacle. It is believed that the trial laws would be a welcome boost for the Rugby Championship, which has dragged on in its inaugural season.
The quality of rugby on display has been disappointing and with just two rounds remaining in the competition, no team have managed to pick up a four-try bonus point.
Although the trial laws, which will be in effect during Australia’s end-of-year tour, won’t be introduced during the final stages of the new four-nation tournament, SANZAR referees boss Lyndon Bray, speaking on Fox Sports’ The Rugby Club, said they could be implemented for the Bledisloe dead rubber match.
"New Zealand and Australia have talked about this possibility," Bray said. "We have offered to, if they both agree, raise that with the IRB.
"Whether that actually happens or not I don’t know and the first step is that both unions would have to agree that they actually want to do that because they will face it in November."
Injured Wallaby wing Drew Mitchell noted the success of the new laws but said the players would struggle to prepare for the changed laws with the Test less than a month away.
"I feel the new changes have been quite successful from what I’ve seen," Mitchell told The Rugby Club.
"But I guess the thing is these guys in the ITM Cup and these teams had a fair preparation knowing that these new laws were going to come into effect.
"That Bledisloe you speak of there wouldn’t be too much time to get (used to the laws), probably the biggest one is that ball at the base of the ruck for five seconds once it’s available.
"I think not having that preparation to really get your head around it, for the few weeks of camp before the spring tour, I think you might see guys get caught up a little bit more just in that one week’s preparation."