Maul law change welcomed worldwide

LONDON - Rugby union's decision to change the maul laws in a bid to encourage more creative running received a warm reception from players, coaches and referees across the world today.

But, Australia coach Rod Macqueen said he did not want the game to go back to times when some teams mauled the ball for half the game.

From June 1, the laws will change so that a maul can be restarted after it has stopped moving forward, providing this happens within five seconds.

The International Rugby Board (IRB) hope the change will get more forwards to commit themselves to mauls, rather than spreading across the field in a defensive line.

This makes it difficult for the backs to use skill, rather than sheer size, to break through.

"The maul is an intrinsic part of the game but we hope we don't go back to the times when teams mauled for half of the game," Australia's World Cup-winning coach Macqueen said.

"But, by allowing teams just one chance to re-start, hopefully that won't happen. We'll have to wait and see how it goes."

At the moment, referees stop play if a maul is not moving forward and the team with the ball is unable to bring it back into open play.

"We have to make the laws more simple in that area to make it easier for the spectators and even for the referees, players and coaches," Macqueen said.

"It's all a product of professional rugby because the game has changed a lot over that short period of time. I think the game is in reasonable shape but there is still some work to be done, especially in the tackle area."

South African referees chief Freek Burger said the new rule was aimed at making defending players more committed to mauls.

"With the maul, when it became static and the referee called 'use it or lose it' or 'play it' the defending side immediately fanned out across the field and cluttered up the midfield," he said.

"We thought, if the maul was allowed to resume movement, then that would keep defenders committed and give the backline players the space the coaches want."

Burger said South Africa had also proposed that once a player joined a maul he should not be allowed to leave it, creating more space for the back divisions. That proposal had been rejected, he added.

French manager Jo Maso, whose team has a reputation for flamboyant play, said he believed the change could bring more flair into the game.

"We are interested in all the changes which can help to improve the show and lead teams to greater attacking performances," he said.

"It's a brand new rule and we are going to work on it and implement it. It's certainly going to help the game to get some more flair. But it will take some time to get used to it.

Asked if it could be a boost for the French attacking game, Maso said: "If you allowed more room for handling the ball, it can only be good thing."

Scotland captain and flanker Budge Pountney said the decision was good for the game.

"It means that there can be greater competition for the ball at the point where the play is stopped, rather than having sides wait for it to come to them in defence," he said.

"It is a superb technical form of the game and, if you do it well, it can look a very impressive sight on the pitch.

"When the All Blacks used to be at their best, it was awesome to watch and they used to be able to go 40 metres with the ball that way."

He added: "You can see the IRB's point in what they are trying to do, because what you would see before is teams only committing four or five players to the breakdown and the rest waiting in the line."

- REUTERS