Super changes augur end to mediocrity

OPINION: Everyone, it seems, has a view about the new law "interpretations" in rugby, and maybe it's time for some healthy perspective on a change in emphasis that is producing positive results on the field.

Despite what northern critics like the Sunday Times' Stephen Jones might like to think – and nothing Jones says about southern hemisphere rugby surprises me – it's becoming increasingly obvious that the Super 14 is heading in the right direction.

There is less kicking for position, more counter-attacking, fewer penalties, the ball is in play for longer and we're seeing a more free-flowing game.

And, let's face it, we're still in the middle of the bedding-in period.

From what I've seen so far, we're well on the road to a better game of rugby. The anecdotal evidence tells you it's getting better each week.

Although people refer to new "interpretations", the reality is it's just the laws being applied correctly.

Players are being ruled more strictly in terms of staying onside on the kick-chase and, as a result, we're seeing sides more willing to counter-attack and having the space do so.

This appears to have reduced the amount of aerial "ping-pong" that had become a blight on the game by the end of last year.

The scrum engagement has also seen a big improvement. I reckon we need more consistency from refs here – some are still too quick – but completion rates are up significantly. Of course, the main focus has been the contentious tackle ball. The chief effect of the tighter rulings is less kicking as sides are more willing to chance their arms because they've got a much better chance of retaining possession. That's a huge positive.

Not that it's all being loaded in favour of attacking teams.

Notwithstanding that bizarre game in Jo'burg last week, well-organised defences are still able to exert an influence. And tries were up by only a couple on last year through the first few rounds. But we are getting a better game, the ball's in play more, and we're seeing sides able to keep hold of the ball and build pressure.

There are still plenty of penalties at the breakdown, but I reckon it will settle down with acknowledgement the second defender in needs to get a fair go.

We shouldn't forget referees need time to adjust as well. At the moment they're ruling it pretty harsh and there's a tendency to blow quickly. But it's a tough area, refs have got only a split-second to react and, like players, they make mistakes.

So what's next?

Teams are already adjusting. Last year tacklers would try to get the ball-carrier on the ground and turn him. You do that now you get penalised. So tacklers are staying on their feet and keeping the ball-carrier up, so they're not falling the "wrong way".

Also tacklers, even when on the "right side", often don't attack the ball, but stay strong over it, exposing it for the next player arriving to have a crack at, or even blow over.

We're also seeing a real change in some kicking games. The Crusaders last week employed a standard approach and got hurt on the counter-attack. With counter-attack fashionable again, the long kick can be a risky proposition.

The Reds kicked differently: they moved wide and kicked into space where they could compete for the ball.

In terms of the quality of rugby, you'll always get exceptions but I feel we're moving away from the mediocrity that has been too common in the past few years.

I LIKE WHAT Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper is doing with young five-eighths Aaron Cruden. Easing him in to super rugby is absolutely the right approach and my gut feeling is he'll be starting by mid-competition.

There's no question he has talent, but we have a tendency in this country to build people up too quickly and knock them down even quicker. Slow and steady is the right way.

Grant Fox is a Rugby World Cup-winning All Blacks first five-eighths.

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