Spiro Zavos offers his thoughts on the glut of tries in the opening two rounds of this year's Super 14 - read his latest in the Sydney Morning Herald.
"On Saturday we saw Mark Gerrard virtually win the match for his side with his kicking in general play. His low-trajectory punts into the corner were crucial in setting up strong field positions for the Brumbies against the Crusaders.
"The AFL-style drop punt has taken over from the spiral punt as the kick of choice in recent years because of its accuracy . My guess is "the Gerrard" - a throwback to the skid-punting of great fullbacks in the 1920s such as George Nepia - will, or should, become the new method for kickers trying to find field position.
"The fact that the ball is in play for more than 46 per cent of the match under the hybrid ELVs is significant - call it the running of the bulls factor. Big forwards, particularly, tire quicker and fitter players can exploit this."
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