iafrica.com's Rob Peters wonders why the laws of rugby need to be changed simply because the All Blacks aren't winning…

It was only a matter of time really. Let the All Blacks and Wallabies lose enough games and they blame the laws — not their inability to adapt to them. The Springboks, of course, are 'boring'. They don't play rugby like New Zealand and Australia like to play. The Kiwis and Aussies play for the fans, provide them with a spectacle, and the latest law variations are not allowing them to do that — they're also to blame for why they are losing.

The Boks don't care about the fans, they just want to win, doesn't matter how they do it either… how selfish of them.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry reckons there is an over-emphasis on kicking and the game has suffered as a result. The laws need an overhaul to ensure the game becomes a spectacle again. He's all about the fans is Henry.

Wallaby coach Robbie Deans, meanwhile, says the Boks don't play rugby. In fact, they won the last World Cup without playing any rugby. The ELVs should never have been abandoned because the result has meant more kicking. He too feels the laws need to change.

What a load of bollocks.

Firstly, the Boks won the World Cup after running in 33 tries. They also lay claim to the tournament's top try-scorer, with Bryan Habana running in eight tries and equalling the record by Jonah Lomu in the process.

Secondly, the laws were changed recently when the ELVs were trialled by the IRB and all it resulted in was mass confusion — for the players, referees, media, and yes, also the fans that Henry cares so much about.

The last thing rugby needs is more of the same by giving them another go or, even worse, coming up with another variation of them.

The reason the All Blacks — and Wallabies — have been losing to the Boks this season is because the South Africans have exposed and capitalised on their opponents' weaknesses — notably the lineouts, scrums and ability (or lack thereof) under the high ball.

Isn't that what rugby is all about? Searching for a weakness in the opposition and then exploiting it? The All Blacks were woeful under the high ball, while their lineouts were horrible in both Tests in South Africa and they paid the price. It is up to them to rectify the situation, not the IRB.

The Wallabies have been moaning about the laws for years. They were the biggest driving force behind the ELVS. Why? It was not to make the game more of a spectacle, but rather to move the play away from the set-pieces, where not coincidentally, they are historically weak.

The Australians were admittedly better under the high ball, and their lineouts were not quite as dodgy against the Boks at Newlands, but they were monstered at the breakdown, bettered at the lineouts, and, ultimately, they were simply not good enough.

This weekend's Test match between the All Blacks and Wallabies had only one try. It was littered with handling errors, poor kicking and even worse decision-making. The All Blacks squeaked home at the death courtesy of a Dan Carter penalty.

The Kiwis, unsurprisingly, hailed it an epic Test match, one of the best ever. It was a spectacle and the fans loved every minute of it.

Of course they did. It's only boring if you're losing…

  • Are the laws in need of a change or are the All Blacks just sore losers? Comments below!


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