Rugby: Rules a headache for Sir Pinetree

Meads, capped 133 times for the All Blacks during his stellar career, admitted most of his rugby watching was on TV nowadays.

Colin Meads has a problem with modern rugby - he can't understand the rules.

The legendary rugby knight told Newstalk ZB's Tony Veitch that he is often confused by what he sees on television.

"Well, I just worry about the rules - I can't understand them," said the 80-year-old when prodded by Veitch on any concerns he had about rugby.

"And I'm sure the players are wondering which way the referee will go (on decisions).

"They have to do something about the rucks and mauls to make it more positive so it's not such a complicated game for the average person.

"We're all like that (confused) and that's what worries me. If you go back to the old days, you knew what it (a decision) was for."

Meads, capped 133 times for the All Blacks during his stellar career, admitted most of his rugby watching was on TV nowadays.

"I didn't go to much live rugby this year," he said. "I went to one game only and that was the Lochore Cup with my old mate (former team-mate Brian Lochore). But I watched just about everything on TV.

"The wife wasn't overly happy with me watching so much rugby but there you go."

But other than that criticism, Meads said he was thrilled with the performances of the All Blacks this season and felt their only defeat, at the hands of the Irish in Chicago, was good for international rugby.

"Somewhere along the line it will happen with all teams. We've seen it with South Africa going through a patch now where Japan and Italy have beaten them for the first time."

"In many ways, it's good for rugby.

"It couldn't have been a nicer lot than the Irish. They're great fellas and great players. I just wish their press would be more positive. That was disappointing for me because the Irish are good people.

"I think they just caught us on an off-day in Chicago."

Meads also admitted his concern about the demise of the All Blacks' traditional foes, the Springboks.

"I think South Africa made the wrong choice by letting them go overseas and still play for South Africa.

"If New Zealand did that too, all of our players would be over in France, Italy, Japan or the UK and that's where all their players have gone," he told Veitch.

"They've tried to get them back to play test rugby but they can't have them all the time because the clubs are the bosses and they won't release them for the camps like the All Blacks have."