News

Wallabies dismiss law disadvantage

Wednesday 25th June 2008

No law worries: George Smith

Wallaby flanker George Smith has replied to French lock S�bastien Chabal's assertion that Australia will struggle under the old laws in Saturday's first Test in Sydney, saying that the home side had ironed out the problems they had against Ireland.

Chabal said on Wednesday that he was under the impression that the Wallabies had battled to adjust to playing under the old laws after spending the Super 14 season getting used to the Experimental Law Variations (ELVS), and this could help the visitors this weekend.

'The Caveman,' as Chabal has come be known, also expressed his bewilderment at rugby administrators' nonsensical chopping and changing of the rules.

"I don't know if it will help (the Wallabies). I think it will be a bit messy, because they play for one year with some rules. Now they have to come back with the old rules," Chabal, who is one of only three members of France's World Cup semi-final side to make the trip to Australia, told the AAP.

"There is not many differences but there are still some differences, so I think it's better for us than them.

"But I can't understand why we try to change some rules every year . I don't know."

Both Wallaby Coach Robbie Deans and Smith admitted that Australia struggled under the old laws in their first Test of the season two weeks against Ireland in Melbourne.

"It's probably fair the intensity around the collision and the immediacy of that contact we probably grappled with and, hence, we struggled a little bit around the breakdown," said Deans.

"We've pushed on and tried to make some progress this week. We still haven't got to the level where we need to be."

Smith, though, didn't believe playing under the old laws would give the French an advantage, saying the Wallabies has worked on their trouble areas.

"I don't think there's any confusion," he said.

"I guess there was an area last week in that breakdown where (Wallabies scrum-half) Luke (Burgess) got, I guess, monstered in that area. But we've worked through the areas that we need to improve and the set piece has been a good part of our play against the Irish, so we'll continue to work on that."

Smith was more concerned with keeping the marauding bearded Frenchman in check.

"He's a player that inspires the French team," Smith said.

"He's a very emotional player out there, so if we can nullify him - and also the other players on the team - I'm sure we'll have a good performance on the weekend."