KEY POINTS:
Rugby bosses are poised to make the toughest decision of the year on whether to adopt the new rules for the Tri Nations.
Sanzar executives will meet early next month to make a call on adopting the new rules without any detailed analysis of whether they have improved the game.
If they agree to playing their showpiece competition under the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs), they run the risk of asking test players to switch between the old rules and new rules four times this year.
The June internationals against England and Ireland and the end of year Grand Slam tour will be played under the old rules.
Adopting the ELVs for the Tri Nations will see the players go from the new rules in Super 14, to old rules in June, back to ELVs for the Tri Nations and back to old rules on November's tour.
The IRB council is due to meet in November to vote on whether they should persevere with the ELVs and introduce them worldwide.
To help them make that decision, detailed analysis of the Super 14 will be available.
Unfortunately no such data will be ready before the Sanzar bosses meet next month.
"We will have to make a decision that makes good business sense and one which we feel is in the best interests of the players," said NZRU professional rugby manager Neil Sorenson.
"We have to ask whether it is fair to ask the players to switch back and forth between the old rules and the ELVs."
The magnitude of the decision is possibly not fully realised. If the IRB vote in November to implement the ELVs worldwide, the Sanzar nations will have gained a massive jump on the Northern Hemisphere - a point that was raised by one home union at a recent IRB get-together.
If, however, the IRB rejects the new rules, the All Blacks will have spent a full season conditioning their players to a game that no longer exists.
Adopting the new rules in the Tri Nations carries a major risk but fuelling confidence is the belief that the Super 14 will show the game to be markedly improved because of ELVs.
"From what we have seen so far, the game still looks very much like footy and the players have really enjoyed it," Sorenson said.
"We have seen less confusion at the breakdown and there is still a place for fat props, beanpole locks and fast outside backs.
"I think it was Robbie Deans who said the other day that he thinks there is an even greater requirement for a strong scrum now because it is going to be such a good attacking platform."
The detailed analysis conducted by the IRB will determine such things as how many linebreaks are made per game, who makes the breaks, where the ball next breaks down after the set-piece and whether the various positions change in nature - do they become more defensive or require a new set of skills?
The NZRU will also provide the IRB with detailed feedback from players, coaches, fans and broadcasters at the end of the competition.
What the NZRU is hoping to see under the new rules is a game that is easier to play, easier to referee, easy to understand and a game where the outcome is determined by the players and not the officials.
