Jackal attacks slowing game

LAWRENCE SMITH/Stuff.co.nz

BREAKDOWN SHAKEDOWN: Conrad Smith believes improvements made by players at the breakdown is changing how rugby is played.

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Conrad Smith says the debate about rugby's rules is misguided.

The All Blacks centre said it was the ability of every player on the field to contest at the breakdown that was slowing the game down.

"I think the biggest thing at the moment is how teams are attacking the ground ball from one to 15," he said. "That's what everyone forgets. Midfielders didn't get steals five years ago, but now every midfielder gets two or three and every ruck they stand over the breakdown.

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"That's why everyone needs to know how to blow out the ruck. Even the first five."

Smith said every player at the top level was now coached to be able to "jackal" or step over the tackle and try to legally steal the ball by coming through the gate.

"The job description is to try and steal the ball, that's what's made it so hard because everyone's trying to steal the ball," he said.

"The game's not changing, it's not the rules, it's the players who are getting so much better at something like that."

Smith could see tomorrow's test against France breaking out into a free-flowing try fest after a year of tight test match rugby.

But he said that did not mean it would not be exciting.

Smith said it could be a match that would be decided by one critical play.

"It's got the signs of that. We talked about coming away a core group of guys, the leaders if you like.

"They are the ones who have to front. It's the little things that count. It might be a bit of magic, or it might just be the fact that you don't make mistakes, that's often the case [in a win].

"It's just cool heads at the right time and if that's the case we just have to have faith in ourselves that we're a team that's prepared well."

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