O'Neill warning over ELVs

The northern hemisphere countries are being urged to adopt the Experimental Law Variations for the sake of the sport.

The ELV's have been adopted by New Zealand, Australia and South Africa in the Super 14s competition as well as the Tri-Nations, and Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill has warned that the sport could be split in two if England, Wales and Ireland do not at least trial the new laws.

"You'd hate to think we'd end up in a situation of two games (but) it could happen," O'Neill said.

"The last two weekends we've seen the Springboks play the All Blacks in two wonderful Test matches and we've seen Australia versus France and Australia versus Ireland and the All Blacks versus England under the old laws.

"You don't have to be Einstein to figure out which game is a far more impressive spectacle.

"We're simply saying to England, Wales and Ireland - and to the IRB - give it a fair go.

"To sit back and say 'no, we're not trialling them' is not in the best interests of the world game.

"No one wants to see two games but unless there is a degree of reasonableness here (it could happen)."