Rugby: Get fit, refs, or struggle - All Blacks

Alain Rolland will officiate in the second Tri-Nations test this Saturday. Photo / Getty Images

The All Blacks have called on referees to get fitter or they will struggle to keep up with the increasing pace of test rugby.

Assistant coach Wayne Smith said his side, in particular, were taking rugby in a new direction where the ball was in play longer through keeping it in hand and not kicking for touch.

The number of set pieces has reduced considerably.

The lung-busting style has caught some officials out this year and Smith said there was only one solution.

"Just like the players - get fitter," he said.

While reluctant to single out Alan Lewis, who controlled last Saturday's Tri-Nations test against South Africa in Auckland, it was obvious that the former Ireland cricket international was behind the play at times and some of his decisions reflected it.

Lewis, 46, makes way for former Irish rugby international Alain Rolland, 43, for the second Tri-Nations test against the Springboks here on Saturday.

Smith said Rolland would need to be physically primed.

"The ball in play is around 40 minutes in the test matches this year because of the way we're playing," he said.

"If you talk to our tight forwards, they'll talk about how the game has changed, markedly, because of the amount of running they have to do.

"Referees are going to need to make sure they're up there fitness-wise."

Last year, Smith advocated two referees on the field to divide up elements of the game while head coach Graham Henry last week recommended having a replacement whistler sideline, to be employed on an interchange basis.

Smith was relieved rugby's speed had increased for the sake of its spectacle after the dour, kick-based tests that marred 2009.

"I think the game is going in the direction people want it to go in. There can't be too many complaints around from people watching the game at the moment," he said.

"We just have to make sure that the fitness levels of everyone goes up so we can continue playing it."

- NZPA