Proposal will slow down game, says Jones

AUSTRALIA coach Eddie Jones has blasted an IRB suggestion to limit the number of substitutions for Tests.

Instead of accepting a reduction from seven to four replacements, Jones believes rugby would be better served by allowing 12 interchanges from the reserves’ bench.

The IRB proposal is set for further inspection this year and Jones said he would sit down with Australian Rugby Union officials next week to offer a counter-proposal.

“Everyone wants to see a faster game, more ball in play, and with the provision of a reasonable number of substitutions you can do that,” Jones said yesterday on the eve of the opening Tri Nations clash in New Zealand.

“So if we cut the substitutions down, it is basically a retrograde step for rugby. We should instead have 12 interchanges during a match, so when the player goes down injured at a lineout or scrum, you can immediately change them, and keep the game going.

“It is inconceivable that we are heading in the opposite direction to which we should be going. We should be trying to make the game faster, and not slower.”

On the Bledisloe Cup front, Jones was far more diplomatic, even when peppered with questions about whether the All Blacks might suffer because of their Canterbury Crusaders base and the belief of numerous New Zealand rugby pundits that what might work at Super 12 level could bomb in the Test arena.

Wallaby fullback Chris Latham said he could understand that with 13 Crusaders in the All Black starting line-up “there would be a lot of other provinces in New Zealand not happy they haven’t got players in the team”.

Jones said All Black coach John Mitchell knew what he was doing for the Tri Nations opener at Jade Stadium tomorrow.

“I admit it is a funny thing to have a national team dominated by one provincial side and, playing on their home ground. One can understand why New Zealanders believe the All Blacks will play like the Crusaders,” he said. “But John Mitchell has quite rightly pointed out that Super 12 and Test football are considerably different, and that it won’t be the Crusaders playing against Australia.

“In New Zealand there is a fair bit of weight of expectation on their team,” Jones said. “We’re hearing about Andrew Mehrtens making comments about how he is sick of Australia having a cabinet full of trophies, and how the whole country wants to beat Australia. Well, to feel the whole weight of the country puts a lot of pressure on the New Zealand side.”

Australia are injury-free but there may be a late change in the All Black forwards due to second-rower Norm Maxwell’s hamstring injury. Otago lock Simon Maling is on standby.