Hansen questions fairness of rolling maul in the sport
ALL Blacks coach Steve Hansen has called on the game’s lawmakers to restore balance in the way the rolling maul is officiated.
Hansen noted that three tries were scored – two against his team – in last weekend’s clash against Argentina and he wants some of the human caterpillar’s legs clipped.
“It is becoming one of the most predominant ways to score tries. If you are looking at the future of the game you want people to come and watch it. Do they want to watch that? Some will,” he said yesterday.
“You have to be good at it to do it. You have to be good at it to stop it.”
He believes the dice is too loaded in favour of the ball-carrying team.
“It has to be bit more of an even contest. The charter says everything has to be contestable. My bugbear is that it is not a fair contest. Everyone, including ourselves, is taking advantage of it.”
As a means of levelling the contest he believes the defending team should be allowed to collapse the maul. “That is the easiest way, then it doesn’t matter whether people are blocking you. I don’t want them to stop it because it is a good part of the game but it should not be to such an advantage to the attacking team.”
Hansen yesterday named his side to play the Springboks at Ellis Park tomorrow and he opted to hand debuts to flyhalf Lima Sopoaga and lock James Broadhurst.
It may seem brave
against
the team ranked second in the world on their home ground but Hansen pointed to the bigger picture.
“What better opportunity to get young players in. We are mindful of the fact that there is a World Cup at the end of the year.
“We have to have an experienced side to be able to compete, but at the same time we have to be brave enough to make selections that will allow us to go forward in the future.”
There is still no Julian Savea, who has to improve his fitness, but Israel Dagg will be given some precious game time at fullback which means Ben Smith will start on the right wing.
Aaron Smith returns to scrumhalf, as does Dane Coles at hooker and Liam Messam at blindside flank.
“You don’t have to be much of an historian to know what Ellis Park is like. The bus ride in is pretty good. The greeting you get when you get in there is pretty good and then you play the Boks and that is pretty good,” enthused Hansen.
All Blacks: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Charles Piutau, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Liam Messam, Brodie Retallick, James Broadhurst, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Ben Franks, Sam Whitelock, Victor Vito, T J Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Malakai Fekitoa.