Payne: ELVs no snag as Reds eye Magners League crown

THE great northern hemisphere debate on the contentious Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) is expected to rumble on throughout the season until, perhaps, the IRB finally come to a decision regarding their future in rugby union next March.

The traditionalists north of the equator regard the ELVs as a scar upon the game, while in Munster there is a perception that they may work against the European Cup holders, a province whose success since the turn of the millennium has been hammered out on the anvil of its maul, general forward thrust and line-out nous.

Yet it would be disingenuous to label Munster one-dimensional, especially in light of the manner in which they regained their Heineken Cup crown just three months ago, managing to execute a variety of game-plans on their path to a glorious May coronation in Cardiff.