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Further calls for rule changes

Tuesday, November 24 The IRB is once again being asked to look at the current rules of the game and to make changes to create a more open and attractive game following more dour rugby in the autumn internationals in Europe.

The calls are being led by Wales assistant coach Shaun Edwards and Toby Booth of London Irish who have asked England's delegates to the approaching IRB summit in Dublin to press for changes to the current rules.

The breakdown is once again being targeted as the biggest problem area with most analysts feeling that the current rules lean too much in favour of the defending team causing the attacking team to rather kick than take chances with ball in hand.

Chairman of the RFU, Martyn Thomas, supported the call for drastic changes to the game.

"There are issues all over the place about the number of tries and the number of injuries," he told the Daily Mail (UK).  "We need to look at those things but they are not England specific.

"The Southern Hemisphere countries have an issue as well, because they are not scoring the tries either and their attendances are dipping. We (England) have got fantastic support."

Shaun Edwards - the Wales and Wasps coach - claims that the most successful sides in the world are those who kick the ball the most.  He identified the Springboks, New Zealand, the Blue Bulls and Premiership leaders Saracens as the sides who put the ball to boot most often.

IRB chief executive Mike Miller, however, lay the blame firmly at the door of the coaches. 

"It is the fear of making a mistake in your half of the field which means no one wants the ball, they seem to be frightened of the ball which is a shame,"  Miller said.

"There are certain concerns in certain countries, but if you take a global perspective you will find the views that tend to be coming out from England are not shared elsewhere around the world."

Any calls for changes to the rules are likely to fall on deaf ears as the game's ruling body have declared a moratorium on rule changes until after the World Cup in New Zealand in two year's time.

The best that Edwards and the other coaches around the world calling for a more appealing game can hope for is that the IRB sends clarification to referees as to which way they want the rules blown at the breakdown.

Miller also called for a level headed approach to any changes. "You have to look at what is best for everyone and the overall shape of the game. If you talk to six different people you get six different views. That’s always the way of rugby."

With thanks to the Daily Mail

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