Deans downplays the ELV factor
Sat, 27 Sep 2008 08:57
South Africa and its SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby) partners might be at loggerheads over the extended use of Experimental Law Variations (ELVs), but Australia coach Robbie Deans is not fussed by the drama.
Deans is of the opinion that the effect of the ELVs is minimal as far as it pertains to the sanctions regulations - in other words, the penalties are not for particular infringements which is the main
difference between the global ELVs and those approved for next year's SANZAR competitions.
The Northern Hemisphere has played with the International Rugby Board (IRB) global ELVs since August 1 - and it differs from the SANZAR set of ELVs approved for 2009 mainly in as far as the replacement of the penalties by free kicks to speed up the game and which is not part of the global trial.
"From a player's perspective, the game doesn't change; the same decisions are being made by the referee, it's just the potential consequence that's different," said Deans according to the New Zealand website sportal.co.nz.
The implication is that Deans, as national coach of the Wallabies, is prepared to play under any set of laws.
"It doesn't change the way we train or prepare to play. It might provide a little bit of tactical
difference, but not a lot.
"I think you've seen that, particularly anyone who observed the beginning of Super 14 this year and then witnessed it at the end.
"If you didn't know there were law variations applied, you wouldn't have known - it was very much the same game," Deans said.
His view could be good news for South Africa who have requested that next year's SANZAR competitions be played under the global ELVs in order to be prepared for the British and Irish Lions tour in 2009.
Deans' view implies that the Wallabies, and through them perhaps the Australian Rugby Union, may not be as opposed to the SA Rugby request as the New Zealand Rugby Union who have slammed South Africa's request as "disappointing".
A review of the global ELVs will take place from March 2009 to decide whether the measures will be adopted permanently from August 2009.
SAPA
