Henry's wish for daytime All Black tests may be in the offing

The heavyweights of world rugby will put the game under the microscope when they gather in Auckland today for a three-day conference.

The four-yearly International Rugby Board conference has attracted the world's leading coaches, players and officials. They will consider the most pressing issues facing the game with the World Cup still a fresh memory.

New All Blacks coach Graham Henry will be joined by England counterpart Sir Clive Woodward, Australian coach Eddie Jones, France's Bernard Laporte, and Ireland's Eddie O'Sullivan among others in an influential meeting of the minds.

Henry and New Zealand Rugby Union deputy chief executive Steve Tew are New Zealand's two official delegates.

Leading referee Paddy O'Brien and All Blacks doctor John Mayhew will both deliver papers in their fields. Prop Dave Hewett will represent New Zealand's players and chairman Jock Hobbs will be present in an IRB capacity.

Tew said all countries would make a contribution at the conference, with proposals and recommendations to be forwarded to the IRB annual meeting in April.

"The NZRU believes there are some issues that need to be considered as part of the debate," Tew said. "We think there are some improvements that can be made around the tackle ball area and we can look at the substitution issue with front-row forwards."

Meanwhile, Tew said Henry's wish for daytime internationals could be realised as early as June 12 in Dunedin, when the All Blacks play England in their first test of the year.

Night tests at Carisbrook in recent years have been affected by cold, wintry conditions that have influenced the game as a spectacle.

The NZRU has previously said it was bound by the wishes of broadcasters to play the game at night.

But a decision had yet to be made on this year's test, and talks would begin soon between the NZRU and host broadcasters Sky Television.

Daytime tests had obvious benefits, said Tew.

It was unclear which time best suited English broadcasters. "Whether it's better in the English market to be live at 3am or whether it would be better to replay it, remains to be seen," Tew said.

- NZPA