KEY POINTS:
Six Nations Grand Slam-winning coach Warren Gatland predicts the only Northern Hemisphere aversion to the law variations trialled in the Super 14 will centre the free kicks at the breakdown.
"That has been the big problem from what I've seen and it seems the free kick is a
little bit of a cop out."
Strong, decisive referees were essential in policing the breakdown - that element of the game had not changed. But the introduction of free kicks instead of full penalties for breakdown infringements had indulged players and officials.
"Players will ride the line and that is no different from last year," said Gatland. "Since rucking was removed, it has become much tougher for referees because where once players would know what was coming if they were on the wrong side of the ruck, now they make the tackle, hold on then make a slight effort to roll away."
Gatland has taken in some Super 14 rugby during a break in New Zealand before returning to Wales to prepare for his side's June trip to South Africa.
And the Wales coach could not see any dramas with the bulk of the experimental laws but he had reservations about the breakdown and free kick sanctions.
"It depends on how strong a referee is in that area, the big thing is they need to tidy that up," he said. "They need to come down hard, use their yellow cards for repeated infringements, that sort of thing."
European countries would argue there was little wrong with the state of their rugby because sell-out crowds, increased revenue and some RWC success indicated improvement. Gatland said in many of Wales' Six Nations tests there were less than 15 penalties and that delivered a good spectacle.
But in the Super 14, he had noticed an escalating number of free kicks and teams prepared to concede them if it meant they could reset their defensive lines or even pinch a turnover.
"And if you've done your defensive work, then you can cope with conceding a free kick," he said.
As a coach he had increased his pre-match research on referees and had taught players to have one crack for the tackled ball and then roll clear.
"In the last 10 years, looking at how referees control games has become huge. We look at what they are hot on, what areas they are particularly vigilant on and their past record against certain sides. It is huge."
Gatland had kept a keen eye on the Sharks' and Stormers' form as a pointer to some of the difficulties Wales will run into in South Africa.
"The Springboks have got a new coach and players still in Europe; and it will be a very tough tour. Our big thing is to avoid the peaks and troughs we have had in the past."
The continuing disillusionment about rugby in New Zealand had been apparent on his short trip back home.
"There seems to be a lot of disharmony and all the same issues being aired which we heard about two or three years ago," he added.
Gatland said November would be great for Wales because they would be put under repeated heat with successive tests against the Tri-Nations sides.
"We are excited about that in Wales and if we can get our regions together and sort out the politics then we see a huge amount of potential."
