Score-cap rule draws mixed response from Oz

Wallaby great, Greg Cornelsen. Photo / Getty Images

Moves to make junior rugby games more even and fair have received a mixed reaction from across the Tasman.

As part of a move by the Auckland junior rugby committee, winning margins in its under-12 and -13 competitions can be capped at 35 points to stop score blowouts and coaches are encouraged to meet each other at halftime to discuss ways of making the game a more even contest.

But the idea has been widely criticised by Weekend Herald readers and several former All Blacks who say it is a ridiculous attempt to protect children from reality.

The idea also raised the eyebrows of former Australian rugby captain Andrew Slack, who said similar tinkerings with the game there would be unlikely.

Asked if scores would be capped in Australia, he replied: "I doubt it, I doubt it highly.

"I have never heard of that one, limiting the scores and changing blokes at halftime? That does sound a bit odd," he said.

"I know there was an issue with the different physical size of some of the kids - you have an under-14 side and the front-rower is an enormous 14-stone [90kg] kid and the other is eight stone wringing wet - that has been an ongoing issue and I don't think they have got to a solution yet."

But another Wallaby great, Greg Cornelsen - the only man to score four tries in a match against the All Blacks - said rugby administrators in Australia could take a lead from New Zealand rugby authorities to make the games fairer - and more enjoyable for the children.

Cornelsen coached his sons in junior grades and often despaired that there wasn't a system to even things up on the field when his side came up against far bigger teams.

"Whenever we had to play this team with the big kids all of our smaller blokes didn't want to play and we would go up there and they would beat us 70-nil which after 20 minutes each way is a hell of a score.

"So the coach would take these big kids off and all of a sudden it's an even game and the parents on the sideline were a bit miffed they weren't scoring more tries so they put them back on and it was a thrashing."

Cornelsen said rugby union authorities in Australia were still against weight restrictions in junior rugby - something that had become pertinent as bigger Pacific Island boys make their presence felt, not only in rugby's junior grades but in rugby league as well.

As a result, he said many smaller players were turning to soccer and Aussie Rules.

"Thank goodness they are here, they are doing great things for our rugby but the way the competition is at the moment it's not helping our sport," said Cornelsen.

"If they run on terrified and don't participate at all I just can't see the point of it."

* james.ihaka@nzherald.co.nz