New Super 14 rulings for All Blacks tests

Referees dominate opening round of Super 14

Concern Over Ticketing Before World Cup

Related Links

Richard Kahui eyes Super 14 title Canes change to flatter, same old Blues Encouraging signs for Crusaders in first clash Chiefs lose their top lock Kevin O'Neill Blues go back to school over breakdown Discipline key to Chiefs success

Relevant offers

All Blacks

Former All Blacks captain Tom Willis retires All Blacks to play at La Plata against Argentina Ian Foster reveals why ABs news was a secret Steve Hansen recruits old mate McLean on merit Fox 'on the outside looking in' for All Blacks Ian Foster named All Blacks assistant coach Hansen has much to prove as All Blacks coach Aussie McLean to be added to ABs coaching team Headgear won't protect players from concussion 'Sir Ted' still courted for help with All Blacks

Sanzar referees boss Lyndon Bray is hopeful rugby's new law interpretations will be played during the All Blacks home tests against Wales and Ireland this year.

Bray was "encouraged" by what he saw in their official airing in the opening round of the Super 14 and remains committed to seeing them change the face of the game.

That includes the test scene and suggested that could happen on a global scale sooner rather than later.

Bray downplayed reports questioning the buy-in from northern powers and suggested some changes were already happening in the Six Nations.

Bray says the IRB and their refereeing boss Paddy O'Brien have encouraged the new moves to clean up the breakdowns, scrum engagements and kick and chases in an effort to bring more flow to the game.

"I think it's important to understand that the IRB actually helped draw up these priorities," Bray said. "We have Paddy's absolute support in getting these through. I think Paddy is 100 percent behind these things and we have to keep driving it and making sure it is across the world.

"The only challenge up in the northern hemisphere is the fact that they are halfway through their season which makes it a lot tougher on their players and referees to adapt."

The timing midway through European club competitions would be difficult but Bray noted "the intention is to drive this home" during the Six Nations.

"They have started - it's just harder for them to get the change of behaviour as quickly," Bray said.

Some transition in Europe's glamour test competition would clear the way for Wales and Ireland to play the new interpretations in their three tests against the All Blacks in New Zealand in June.

With England and Ireland touring Australia then and the French in South Africa, having the new interpretations played then would bridge the rules through to the Tri-Nations.

"I would like to think so, very much so," Bray enthused at that prospect.

"Sitting with the All Blacks coaches in Christchurch on Saturday night, they are really in favour of where all this is going.

"And I don't hear anything different from up north. The big teams, the likes of England, have made it clear that they are comfortable with where this will go.

"But like anything, you have got to get everybody across that line starting to change the behaviour together so that teams can trust it. That just takes a bit of time ... it will be a bit more gradual."

Bray was confident even sceptics like the British media, headed by Stephen Jones, could be won over as rugby looks to better itself as a spectacle with next year's World Cup looming.

"Interestingly he (Jones) wrote an article the other week after the first round of the Six Nations and the essence of it was that rugby needed to be far tighter to law. I would have thought that if he's consistent to that he would be singing off the same sheet as us."

- © Fairfax NZ News