News

Smit questions ELVs

July 01 2008

As South Africa captain John Smit arrived in Wellington on Tuesday he was quick to question the need for new laws in rugby.

Smit arrived late in New Zealand after taking part in the Top 14 Final in France on Saturday, ending up on the losing side with Toulouse beating Clermont 26-20.

Having played all season under the 'old laws' Smit is now preparing to play his first game under the ELVs, and was not so sure they were needed.

"They haven't tried to re-invent the wheel for some time and I thought rugby was pretty good beforehand," he told NZPA.

"I've come from Europe where the old rules are going well and there you can't get any seat in any stadium.

"It's a world I will have to experience for the first time on Saturday and after I've had a few Tests with them in I'll be able to tell you a bit more but I didn't think it was broken before."

This Saturday's opening Tri-Nations game will be the first Test to be played under the ELVs, with teams now allowed to pull down mauls and have unlimited numbers in the line-out if they so wish. The decision to allow players to drag mauls down is the one that concerns Smit the most.

"That is one that does concern me but we will see how it runs out at Test rugby. The world will get to see what it looks like and what kind of affect it will have," he said.

"We are probably safest at the top of the pile in terms of we're playing with good players all the time. That kind of rule makes me worry about the lower-echelon rugby that gets played around the world.

"It is controversial but I don't know if I agree with it, I haven't tried it."

The 30-year-old hooker has experienced virtually everything in world rugby but still yearns for a Test victory on New Zealand soil.

"I would like that, I would like that very much," he said.

"I've been here for eight seasons with the Springboks and come close too many times."

But Smit does not believe a relatively inexperienced New Zealand side, without the inspirational Richie McCaw, will be an easier prospect than in past encounters.

"I can't think in my lifetime when the All Blacks have been vulnerable at home so I wouldn't subscribe to that," he said.