Deciding kicks may get boot

The IRB will look at stopping kicks at goal deciding the winners of major games by replacing penalties for technical offences with free kicks.

The move was discussed at the Auckland conference, which recommended few changes after the World Cup.

IRB chairman Dr Syd Millar said the consensus of the world's top rugby minds was that the game was in good shape.

The same conference four years ago introduced changes on the tackle laws following confusion over interpretation during the 1999 World Cup, but Millar said few changes were expected this time.

"I don't have too many problems with the game and therefore we don't expect too many changes," he said after the conference ended.

But he said some technical offences that were currently penalties may become free kicks.

"It's a bit unfair to lose a test match because of a technical offence, so what we have agreed to do is look at whether some of what are now penalties may become free kicks rather than penalties."

Australian coach Eddie Jones scored a win with a proposal that players could no longer throw the ball back from a scrum inside the 22-metre line and then kick it out on the full, a move Millar said would speed up the game.

"You have to either play it or kick it from where you are, but you can't put it back inside the 22," Millar said.

"What we're trying to do really is not destroy the game we have and not produce a designer game, but to maintain a fair contest for the ball and to produce as many options as we can. That's what the laws should be about, giving the players and coaches options."

One area of dispute was over replacement of injured players, with some calling for interchange.

"I think the group of people there were split, " Jones said.

- NZPA