Whole new ball game for kickers

ENGLAND’S 2003 World Cup-winning fly-half Jonny Wilkinson has admitted there is “a challenging effect” created by the balls being used at Rugby World Cup 2007 in France.

New Zealand fly-half and goal-kicker Dan Carter raised concerns that the balls players have been given in practice are different from those used in matches.

World Cup organisers have asked ball manufacturers Gilbert to examine Carter’s comments, which came after he missed five out of nine kicks during the All Blacks’ victory over Scotland at Murrayfield last Sunday.