Photos: Super 14 kicks offKEY POINTS:
Rugby's shiny new experiment did not blow up in the sport's face but nor was it the thrill-seeking adventure trip promised in the Super 14 brochures.
The latest edition of the professional provincial series brought a mix of the new frontier and the old borders: frenetic attack and
staunch grinding drives, increased kicking as sides searched for some respite from the collisions and lung-busting movement combined with the flaws of early season rugby.
Generalisations are usually false including that one but New Zealand sides tried to offload the ball more in the tackle with mixed results; South African sides were more eager to take the contact and drive their way upfield while the Australians based their formula somewhere in between.
However, there were some dictates for success which glowed clearly after the getting-to-know-you opening round of the series which left the Blues and Crusaders as co-leaders as they trekked off to campaigns in South Africa.
Sides who have not been conditioned thoroughly in the off-season will be exposed because of the increased speed in the game, with Blues No 8 Nick Williams suggesting players are doing 30 per cent more running than they did in matches last season. Fitness is imperative and top-grade skills equally essential from every player - combinations which will threaten the effectiveness of someone like Crusaders prop Campbell Johnstone whose ball-playing talents do not yet equate to his scrum power.
Teams without a comprehensive knowledge of how to execute the experimental laws will struggle. The Brumbies fell down on some basics which would have made their past greats wince at their lack of preparation.
A strong scrum is essential. It was a truth which the Brumbies and Chiefs learned in the wet and dry matches in New Zealand. While lineouts might decrease as sides look to keep the ball alive, a strong setpiece will be a massive weapon because of the extra space demanded between the backlines.
The Blues were able to disrupt chunks of the Chiefs' scrum ball while on their own feed they created momentum to hinder the defence and spark Joe Rokocoko's set-piece try.
Defence in a variety of forms is also vital. Individual weakness will be exploited, rushing line speed is a must with the backlines held 5 metres behind the No 8's feet while aggressive gang-tackling is a great way to create turnovers.
Sides seemed to have difficulty racheting up the pressure because of the new law where an unplayable ball gives possession to the opposition. New Zealand sides were wary of that contact while the Stormers and Bulls pounded away at each other and struggled to make much of their slow possession.
Referees, coaches and those on the rugby payroll considered the breakdown to be far cleaner with the new offside line and entry through the "gate" requirement but the amount of bodies on the floor and the quizzical looks from players at match officials often suggested otherwise.
That area of the game seemed as confusing from the Eden Park sidelines as it did last year, and the year before that, and the year before that and the year before ...
Of equal concern should be the dodgy try rulings by the match officials in Brisbane, very amateur efforts in what is supposed to be a rigorous professional series. The speed in the Super 14 has increased and so too referees' difficulties in spotting misdemeanours which the cameras identify. Too often players off their feet and handling in the rucks or defenders cribbing fast starts on defence went unsanctioned by the officials.
Early days though. The more the series advances, the more familiar everyone will be with the ELVs.
There will be rigorous debate on whether the outcome is an improved game before any recommendations are taken to the International Rugby Board.
