Inga Tuigamala: Forget mauls – bring back rucks

Opinion

It's disappointing to see that the IRB is set to scrap the experimental rule which allows players to pull down a rolling maul.

Not only should rugby stick with this rule, in an effort to ensure the boring maul is never seen again, but it should also reintroduce rucking.

I'm also staggered at the northern hemisphere's apparent opposition to key parts of the experimental rules, not having actually trialled most of the rules themselves.

I like the way the game has been going with the ELVs, although the breakdown remains a problem area. There is so much confusion here, and it is too easy for players to slow the ball down.

Legitimate rucking, and I'm not referring to stomping here, would free this area up. I know the image of the game needs protecting and violence cannot be tolerated.

So to further help in this regard, I would also propose that rugby introduce the league-style report system, whereby referees can signal incidents they are uncertain about which can be reviewed later.

Any rucking has to involve the player driving forward and removing players on the ground with a backward motion of the feet. It can't involve static players stamping directly down. Players would have to be told very clearly what rucking meant, and the penalties for not doing it correctly.

A big point about the impact of rucking is that it discourages players from illegally slowing the ball down in the first place because they know the consequences of getting their bodies or hands in the wrong place.

As for the rolling maul, I would hate to see it re-emerge. Teams that become very proficient at rolling mauls are almost unstoppable, but it is a boring sight and goes against the whole ethos of trying to make rugby an entertaining game.

It's a tactic that England excel at and maybe the northern hemisphere's opposition to the experimental rules indicates it would feel disadvantaged by them compared to the southern hemisphere teams, where players such as Richie McCaw (left) have thrived under the new rules.

But isn't the name of the game to make rugby a more vibrant sport, to spread it globally? Players that I talk to say they love the way the game is played in this part of the world - it's just that they can be paid so much more in Europe.

As for the Super 14, the Chiefs have certainly been proving me wrong as they continue their winning ways while scoring heavily, and congratulations to them.

The Blues are struggling, and inexperience in the ranks is costing them dearly. I was so impressed with the maturity of their new players early on, but this has not continued.

One of the great attributes of coach Pat Lam is his calmness. He is like Graham Henry in that he will go to any lengths to find out where he has gone wrong, and what needs to be done. Pat didn't have a great start in his first year with Auckland in the Air New Zealand Cup and then won the title and I've got no doubt he can analyse what needs to be done.

* Inga Tuigamala played 19 tests for the All Blacks.