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'We've got our eye to the future': All Blacks prepping for changes

New All Blacks head coach Ian Foster. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

All Blacks head coach Ian Foster has given his verdict on World Rugby’s recently introduced laws and how his team might potentially adapt to them.

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The new laws will be subject to a trial period of one year, commencing on 1st August and could potentially be introduced a year out from the World Cup in 2023.

Foster, speaking to press on Thursday ahead of his side’s clash with Fiji in Hamilton this weekend, said that the laws to be trialled were definitely something he had given thought to.

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John Kirwan on why Fiji and Japan must be allowed to join the Rugby Championship.

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John Kirwan on why Fiji and Japan must be allowed to join the Rugby Championship.

Indeed, Foster himself highlighted two of the laws to be trialled have already been seen in Super Rugby this year, with the goal-line drop out included in the Trans Tasman competition and the 50:22 operational in the AU competition. The latter in particular was of interest to Foster.

“I think the 50:22 will be the interesting one from a tactical side,” he said. “It’s obviously encouraging teams to have more defenders in the backfield covering that, which lends itself to open space. Some of the systems that we’re trying to get going now are with an eye to the future with that but it does expose you if [you] haven’t got players in the backfield.”

The other three laws to be trialled, stem from welfare considerations.

The first will see the introduction of increased sanctioning of clear-outs targeted specifically at the lower limbs. The second law to be trialed will outlaw the practice of multi-player (three or more) pre-bound pods, whilst the third law will tighten the definition of what is permissible in the practice of one-player latching.

Foster believed that the latching laws specifically, would serve to have an effect in altering collision areas.

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“I think particularly the latching, where if you latch onto the ball carrier and end up going to ground, well that’s losing your feet, makes it like a normal ruck situation and that’s going to be really intriguing,” said Foster. “[It will be interesting to see] how it’s going to de-power that collision area a little bit. How teams manage with that is going to be interesting.”

Foster’s attention in the meantime will solely be focused on Saturday and the final test of the Steinlager Series against Fiji in Hamilton.

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Hellhound 50 minutes ago
Springboks' dominance of the world rankings comes under increased threat

There is that yes, but to grow the game, you can't leave those teams down and out. In any sport, if a team loses, no one will be interested and no new talent will join the game. What is the aim? To grow the sport. Will any sport grow if you leave it unattended? What incentive is there for players and countries to play rugby? To spend money on rugby to grow the sport in your country? Especially if you never can compete against the top teams, not even the top 50 teams? There is no money for the players to play the sport as any other job will provide food, but rugby won't. Those players will stay amateur because they have to work a day job, play for their club and then their countries too, which don't pay much as the sport is not big enough. Those athletes leave sport or go to another sport. Chuck them out, dismiss them, give them no crumbs. Yeah, that's a way to grow any sport isn't it? By ignoring them, you think rugby will grow in those countries? They can't afford proper rugby fields, never mind to pay players to be professional athletes. Why would they encourage a sport that is costly to maintain with no incentive? Who runs a business at a loss? Why even bother to try and grow the game is smaller countries? Especially with that attitude of amateur players? Ever stop to think why they are so average? Why they are still amateur? Unlike the bigger nations, they can't afford to pay professional salaries. Those athletes will always stay amateur because they can't afford to make rugby their daily lives. They have to work to survive. They can't improve themselves on a rigorous training schedule like the top stars. The stars have one job. Rugby. They have 2 to 3 jobs, club rugby, national rugby and then their daily grind jobs, all to survive. Your thinking is wrong about this. It isn't enough to just show someone the sport. That isn't growth. It's lazy thinking.

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