Henry wants directive on rucking rule

All Black coach Graham Henry has called for some clear directives about rucking from the IRB following the puzzling suspension of Blues lock Ali Williams.

After a short appeal hearing yesterday, Williams' six-week ban was reconfirmed. But the decision has provoked disquiet from his Blues franchise and the All Black selectors.

The Blues questioned the consistency of the original decision, the increase in penalties and the lack of clarity about rucking and trampling charges.

For Henry and his panel, the consequences of the Sanzar judicial decisions was equally disconcerting as they plan their strategies for the mid-year visit from the Lions.

The original Sanzar verdict on Williams signified the demise of rucking as it had been accepted in New Zealand.

"The rucking of a player to remove him as an impediment to securing possession of the football has long been held to be illegal and in view of the committee, amounted to trampling of the player in breach of Law 10," a statement said.

Confirmation of that decision yesterday had Henry working towards several initiatives.

"I think we need to make sure the interpretation of the law is clear worldwide," he said.

"I think there is a concern about players dropping on the ball, and that could kill the game.

"We need a clear statement about the interpretation of the law, we need a clear directive from the IRB."

Convention in New Zealand has accepted that players can be raked if they do not release the ball on the ground or are shielding their opponents from reaching the ball.

But the Sanzar decision and comments from NZRFU referees director Keith Lawrence that there is no unwritten rule allowing bodies to be rucked, will have a huge impact on the rest of the Super 12 and All Black programmes.

Any players using their boots on opponents are liable to be sinbinned, ordered off or cited for trampling.

Henry is planning a long discussion on the topic with Lawrence.