Sort out scrumming laws implores Hansen

Steve Hansen

SYDNEY - All Blacks' assistant coach Steve Hansen has reiterated his call for international rugby's scrummaging laws to be revisited after the under-strength Wallabies succeeded in disrupting the set piece during Saturday night's Tri-Nations/Bledisloe Cup test.

Hansen, the All Blacks' forwards coach, was critical of the Wallabies wheeling the scrum and frequently collapsing it as the New Zealand eight turned the screws at Telstra Stadium enroute to a 30-13 victory.

"The best rule they could get rid of is wheeling the scrum," said Hansen, after expressing frustration at some of English referee Tony Spreadbury's interpretations.

"While it's (wheeling) there you're going to use it aren't you? It's the easiest way to destabilise a scrum.

"If we got back to power scrummaging and no wheeling it'd be great."

The New Zealand front row, bookended by Tony Woodcock and Carl Hayman made life miserable for Al Baxter, Bill Young and his temporary replacement Matt Dunning as the All Blacks bounced back from a slack opening 10 minutes to dominate the Australian pack for the remainder of the test.

Loosehead Young was penalised for collapsing during the second half while another Wallabies scrum caved in in the leadup to Richie McCaw's test-clinching try in the 65th minute.

Lock Ali Williams shared Hansen's annoyance, feeling the All Blacks had often not been allowed to assert their superiority.

"It gets a bit frustrating when the opposition keeps going down. We wanted to scrum and they kept on disrupting," Williams said.

"It's a ref's judgement, that's how it goes."

While the backline failed to finish off at least six potential try-scoring opportunities, Hansen was generally happy with the performance up front.

However, in a repeat of the 16-22 loss to South Africa nine days ago, the lineout malfunctioned early.

Daniel Vickerman stole a couple of Keven Mealamu throws, leading Williams to believe the Wallabies had solved the All Blacks' calls.

"To start with they'd done their homework and it looked like they knew where we were going," Williams said, relieved the situation righted itself as the game continued.

Australian Rugby Union statistics said the Wallabies claimed 18 lineouts -- with two stolen -- while the All Blacks pinched five of their 12 wins.

"We struggled a wee bit," Hansen confessed.

"But all credit to them (All Blacks), they showed some composure after halftime.

"If we look at the Australian lineout we put enough heat on them, they didn't get a huge amount of quality ball."

However, the Blue Bulls behemoths Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha loom large at Carisbrook in the All Blacks' next Tri-Nations assignment on August 27, ensuring the lineout remains a work in progress.

Hansen was also critical of the refereeing of All Blacks' flanker Richie McCaw's play at the breakdown.

"He seems to be targeted. He seems to be the one getting penalised all the time yet everyone keeps telling us he's the best in the world.

"The other guys must have improved a hell of a lot."

McCaw was penalised frequently by Australian referee Andrew Cole during the Cape Town test after the Springbok players complained by shouting out his name at the tackle contest in the hope of drawing a penalty.

The Wallabies often cried "isolated, isolated" when McCaw entered the breakdown at Telstra Stadium.

Hansen blamed Lions' coach Sir Clive Woodward for the perceived clampdown on the All Blacks vice-captain -- who was still named man of the match against the Wallabies

"Clive did a really good job (in New Zealand) to make sure everybody thought Richie was a cheat.

"We know he's not, he's a class player but obviously he's under the microscope."

Meanwhile, the All Blacks hope to learn how serious Dan Carter's left leg injury is today after he undergoes scans in Christchurch.

Carter was assisted from the field with 12 minutes from time after contributing 13 points via his reliable left boot.

Scans are hoped to determined whether the playmaker has suffered a fracture, torn calf muscle or severe bruising.

- NZPA