The new rules have reduced that aerial ping-pong that everybody hated.
It's been fascinating watching the effect of the new rules on the Super 14 and I'm afraid you'd have to say the New Zealand sides are being out-thought a bit.
It's well known that teams have responded to the new rules covering the tackled ball and the breakdown by committing
far fewer players at the ruck.
Instead, they are boosting their defence and looking to force errors to regain possession.
The new rules are working in that they have reduced that aerial ping-pong that everybody hated.
They give the ball-carrier more time to place the ball after being tackled and referees are reffing the tacklers harder - to stop them interfering with the recycling of the ball.
So far, so good. However, there's a way to go yet for both players and refs.
The most noticeable aspect of the new rules is the effect they've had on tacklers like Richie McCaw who are so adept at tackle-up-grab the ball. That traditional role for the openside flanker has changed - and we saw a bit of a masterclass in it by Daniel Braid against the Chiefs last weekend.
He and the other players who have thought their way through this are hanging back so that the ball-carrier is allowed to place the ball. That's because it's the second and third men to the ruck who are in a position to pull off turnovers.
Braid did that to perfection the other day and it played a large part in the Reds' victory. The Crusaders are adapting - and that's why they are playing George Whitelock, McCaw and Kieran Read at 7, 6 and 8.
The South Africans are also clearly thinking their way through this. Look at the Stormers-Highlanders match, won 33-0 by the Stormers. They used a weapon I am a great fan of - the rolling maul.
It keeps the ball off the ground, which negates the whole tackled ball issue and takes the ball-fetchers out of the game. It also requires the defending sides to commit their forwards.
The old pick-and-go move also invariably results in the ball-carrier going to ground and the Stormers did less of that and more of the rolling maul - and that played a large part in their win.
However, we are in transition with all this and the referees as much as anyone. There was a moment in the Crusaders-Blues game, when Alby Mathewson scored his try, that showed this up.
Mathewson went on a run, was nailed by Read - who rolled away when the ref told him to release the ball-carrier. Fair enough - except that Mathewson, when released, got up and strolled over for a try.
He should have, according to the rules, released the ball and then picked it up again. This just goes to show how new all this is and that the rough edges have yet to be smoothed out.
The refs also have a hard job to get their interpretations consistent.
I was amazed to see IRB referees boss Paddy O'Brien saying the same new rules are in force in the Northern Hemisphere. I haven't watched all that much rugby up there but what I have seen made me think the new rules were in force only in the south.
Getting consistency in the hemispheres will be vital before the World Cup or the appointment of referees will take on even more importance at that tournament.
Another bouquet for the IRB, however - they are expected to allot US$2m to get Argentina into the Tri Nations (making it the Four Nations) in 2012.
It's been a long time coming and it's always been ridiculous that the team that finished third in the 2007 World Cup have not been involved in an international tournament.
There's one big obstacle, however. The French clubs - where most of the Pumas play - have to agree to let the Pumas players go at a key time in the French season. Good luck with that one. We all know the French clubs will suit themselves, whatever has been written on a piece of paper or agreed over a handshake.
The IRB and Sanzar will have to work through that one, too. There is some talk about Argentinian players being recruited in the Super 14. I can't see the likes of Canterbury, Wellington and Auckland doing that - although there might be a chance in the franchises based in Australia (and the new Melbourne one in particular).
