Every team contesting this year's Super 14 knows one thing going into Friday’s opening round of the competition – it is adapt or die. Brendan Nel writes for SuperSport.
"From what we’ve witnessed pre-season, we’re in for a massive amount of penalties in the first few weeks – where referees traditionally decide to enforce the laws to the letter, before relaxing as the tournament goes on.
"Now the tackler has no rights – there has to be “daylight” between the tackled player and the ball, meaning that the fetcher is likely to be a lost art in rugby, and the ball should flow a lot quicker out to the backs.
"Or should it? How long will it be before teams realise that the ruck is just a setup point for the next attack, and commit less players to it, ensuring the defensive lines can get spread out quicker and try and cover the gaps that will come?"
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