News

Skeate getting used to ELVs again

July 02 2008

Ross Skeate, Western Province captain, has claimed it will take players and fans time to get used to the latest set of ELVs being used in the Currie Cup this season.

The Currie Cup has extra ELVs in use, on top of those used in the Super 14, and Skeate has said it will take a while to get used to them.

"I think it is pretty difficult adjusting each time," Skeate admitted to SA Rugby.

"Especially for the international players playing in the Tri-Nations and then the away Tests, where the rules change all the time.""

Rather than moaning at the situation he, and his team-mates, find themselves in Skeate is rather focused on getting used to the ELVs and trying to benefit from them.

"It's something we concentrate on in our training sessions," he said.

"We concentrate on the break-down and the new laws around the tackle-ball and the offside lines at the tackle-ball.

"For us especially, we are a team that needs to concentrate on going through phases, because we are dangerous when we do.

"We need to concentrate on stealing ball and working on the breakdown, which we are good at it."

With the television match official granted further powers the early rounds of the Currie Cup have witnessed a higher than usual amount of time spent referring to the TMO.

Skeate, who has led his side to one defeat and one victory so far, has said the stoppages are akin to those seen in American Football.

"It was a bit weird actually, it felt a bit like gridiron," Skeate said.

"On the plus side it does give you time to marshal in your troops, and allows you to get your next plan in place.

"But it could definitely hurt the momentum if we are on top and then they have a five minute break and then consolidate."

"Hopefully it is something we can adjust to in the future."