Inga Tuigamala: Hoping an open spirit survives beyond ELVs

Opinion

It looks as though the IRB will throw out a number of the key experimental rules, which is disappointing.

I'm still hopeful, however, that a new attitude to rugby, which has developed in the Southern Hemisphere because of the ELVs, will allow an entertaining style of rugby to survive.

The debate continues over the rules and Sean Fitzpatrick, the legendary All Black captain, certainly fired things up with his comments that the game was too loose down here.

He said this would be detrimental to the All Blacks and that, right now, he would rather watch rugby the way it was played in Europe.

Maybe living in England has influenced Sean's thinking but I believe that in terms of what constitutes winning rugby, the Lions tour of South Africa will decide that argument.

I think the Lions will be in for a rude awakening this year and that they will struggle to compete with the growing athleticism of the South African game, a style that has been encouraged by the experimental rules.

I've actually been quite happy with what I've seen of European rugby, but still believe it could be so much better, and am disappointed they will not give the new rules a full trial to find out what they could do.

In contrast to Fitzy's position, I really enjoyed the high-scoring match between the Chiefs and Blues a few weeks ago - a game he cited as an example of the sort of rugby that could bring the All Blacks down.

Rugby has to entertain the audience to survive and that match was an example of what the philosophy behind the experimental rules is all about.

The game doesn't need a return to the days when teams could hide the ball away for long periods.

I just wish the sport could have shown a bit more patience with the ELVs and not expected instant success.

They were rules worth persisting with and working on.

Under the ELVs, it is difficult for teams who are unable to do much with the ball to protect it for too long. And when mistakes occur, the opponents can pounce.

Although it will be a shame if the key ELVs - including the ones governing the maul - are scrapped, I remain confident that a new attitude to the game will survive. The new laws have required players to be fitter and that alone should help the attacking emphasis.

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It is make or break for the Blues this week when they take on the Lions at Eden Park. As a true Blues fan, I am hoping the presence of All Black coach Graham Henry at the Blues training sessions will help spark a revival. Henry and Wayne Smith have been with the Blues as a part of their routine checking of teams around the country. Henry's presence had a terrific effect on the Chiefs and they have hardly looked back.

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My thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and teammates of the Brumbies forward Shawn Mackay, who has died after a traffic accident in South Africa.