Aaron Cruden's kicking technique produced a second successful conversion attempt to beat Ireland last week but raises questions whether charges should be allowed or are worth the risk.
A replay of the match's final act shows the All Black first five-eighths going through his familiar preparation. He stands tall, looksat the posts, looks at the ball, moves his knees back and forth while his feet stay relatively stationary. The Irish, who can't have studied previous footage of his routine, seemed to mistake that for forward movement and promptly charged. It was an easy mistake to make but, arguably, robbed them of a draw.
A pragmatic Cruden may have seen the approach of emerald green jerseys in his peripheral vision so had an attempt anyway, knowing he'd get a second shot if he missed - the law governing charges stipulates a second kick is awarded if an early charge results in a missed attempt.
One way to solve future conjecture in such circumstances is to remove the opportunity to charge the kick, as happens for a penalty. Such a law works well in rugby league. Alternatively, the option to convert could be removed and a try increased to six or seven points, to further encourage attack and place less pressure on one person (the kicker) in a team.
A few years back, halfbacks feinted with their passes from the base of scrums and rucks to lure opposition tacklers offside to gain a penalty. The false movement was outlawed - but the halfbacks' movement was deliberate. Movement by kickers before conversions are not. Unless the charging team is familiar with the kicker, their style can stimulate an early charge when the kicker seems to move but is merely going through his routine - like Cruden's knee-moving.
Removing a kicker's right to excess movement or idiosyncrasies in their various routines would be unrealistic, draconian and difficult to police. Is shaking the hands to ease the nerves okay, a la Grant Fox, but moving the knees back and forth, a la Cruden, discouraged? What about James O'Connor's Ministry of Silly Walks preamble, Nick Evans' holding-the-baby routine or Jonny Wilkinson's laying an egg pose?
The Cruden incident might now be rugby history and perhaps it is generated out of sympathy for 83 minutes of Irish courage. But establishing a clearer definition might be prudent should the same sort of incident happen two years hence in a World Cup final.
