Farr-Jones: North-South divide over ELVs

World Cup-winning former Australia captain Nick Farr-Jones believes it will be almost impossible to convince European rugby authorities to embrace the controversial Experimental Law Variations.

Australia’s triumphant skipper from the 1991 tournament does not fully endorse all the rule changes currently being trialled in the Tri-Nations.

But the 63-Test veteran insists change is necessary in the face of stern competition from rival codes.

“I think some of them (ELV’s) are working, some of them have my antenna vibrating nervously but we must understand that we are in a competition against other codes,” Farr-Jones said.

“And, of course, one of our major stakeholders are the supporters and the sponsors who want to see an open flowing game where there is ball in play and not too much stop and start and static play.”

“It’s keeping all the stakeholders in mind that I think rugby’s got to work towards and with in that in mind I think the ELV’s – most of them – are working.”

However, Farr-Jones, reckons convincing the all-powerful nations in the north will prove a monumental challenge.

“You won’t get that same (positive) reaction from the northern hemisphere,” he warned.

“I go there occasionally and they’re very happy with the way their game is going over there and, of course, playing under the old rules.”

But he called on those against change to approach the upcoming global trial starting on August 1 without any pre-conceived reservations.

“I’d like to see them embrace a few and have an open mind to that but whilst their game is supposedly thriving with bums on seats, with record numbers watching the game on television, with merchandising doing very well, I don’t think the administrators from the south are going to have too much chance to convince them that change should happen sooner rather than later."