Ireland struggle with tackle area laws
Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:16
Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll believes his side need to adapt to the new law interpretations at the tackle area as fast as they can.
The Irish conceded 16 penalties against Wales in their last Six Nations encounter, with many of them being awarded for infringements at the tackle area.
International Rugby Board referee's chief Paddy O'Brien issued the decision for the tackle area to be officiated more strictly, as has been the case in the southern hemisphere's Super 14 this season.
The major reason for controversy is that the decision was made halfway through the Six Nations rather than before the tournament began.
"There's no point in crying about it, though ideally you'd prefer something not to be changed midway through a tournament," O'Driscoll told Sportinglife.com.
"This is the way it's panned out and we'll have to deal with it like every other team in the competition.
"Old habits die hard but it's our responsibility as professionals to make sure we correct the mistakes we made last weekend.
"We've been practising this week and looking at the video to make sure it doesn't happen again."
The Irish centre also believes that the new interpretations will have a big affect on specialist ball poachers such as South Africa's excellent openside flank Heinrich Brussow.
"The change in emphasis negates the strength of every team," he said.
"When you've put many years into honing one skill and all of a sudden it's changed you have to go and practice a new skill.
"If you asked Heinrich Brussow he was probably crying over it because he's made a career out of it as the world's best.
"Now the rules have changed. Now we all have to poach balls in a different way."
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