Ideas Men: Dunning, Hoiles Put Their Thinking Caps On For A Better Game

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday September 7, 2007

Greg Growden in Montpellier Chief Rugby Correspondent

ADD another prop to an expanded Test squad, and allow extra interchanges during internationals.

These were ideas raised by Wallabies forwards Stephen Hoiles and Matt Dunning on Thursday in a bid to improve the game.

When asked what they would do to make rugby better, Dunning, who will be Australia's starting loose-head prop against Japan in Lyons on Saturday, said it was imperative Test teams were allowed to select two specialist front rows.

"I would love to have four props in the Test squad," Dunning said. "I reckon we should carry 23 players [rather than 22], which would allow the inclusion of an extra prop.

"We should be carrying two front rows, including back-up specialist tight-head and loose-head props. If they changed that at the IRB it would be great. They've done it with the juniors in Australia for a long time. I think it makes sense, because it would avoid uncontested scrums."

Although some teams have put three front-row reserves on the bench, the norm is two, which can cause problems especially if both props get injured in the game. For obvious safety reasons, referees will not allow contested scrums if there are not two specialist props in the front row.

This has often meant uncontested scrums in Tests - which gives the weaker forward pack an unfair advantage.

Hoiles, who is one of the forward reserves for the World Cup opener, meanwhile had his reservations about the experimental Stellenbosch breakdown laws being used during the Australian Rugby Championship.

He instead believed the game would be improved if administrators had a closer look at freeing up the interchange - similar to what has occurred in rugby league in recent seasons.

"They seem to be trying to reinvent the wheel with the new breakdown laws in the new ARC comp," the ACT No.8 said. "It would be better to look at the interchange, rather than all these breakdown laws that ... may confuse people."

Hoiles, who has a close interest in rugby league, said he "couldn't see a problem if in rugby union they had maybe four or five interchanges". "When rugby league went down that path, it sped the game up for them," Hoiles said. "It almost made the game too quick, and they are now talking about taking it back a bit."

Despite some resistance from the conservative forces in rugby, Hoiles said extra interchanges would allow tired players to have a rest rather than holding up play by tying boot laces, for example.

"If there is an injury with a front-rower, they can come on and off. Why not that for everyone? If, for example, you have a second-rower who is a bit tired, you should be able to give them 10 minutes rest."

Hoiles said he thought there was room for a specialist bench player. "It's a risky thing for a coach. There is every chance the person they throw on is injured in the first two minutes and they are down a man."

© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home